NOAA Fisheries FishNews November 27, 2019

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

NOAA Fisheries Celebrates Thanksgiving As we pause to spend time with our families and friends to reflect and celebrate our American holiday of Thanksgiving, we also acknowledge the many families around the country who have experienced tragic losses and displacement that can make this time of year especially difficult. We are thankful for the many acts of kindness, heroism, and contributions by so many who are helping families and communities recover. 12 Shark Facts That May Surprise You

Highlights U.S Achievements at ICCAT Include Measure to Address Overfishing of Marlin - Statement by Drew Lawler, US Commissioner to ICCAT The United States achieved several victories for our commercial and recreational fisheries at the 2019 meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in Mallorca, Spain. The U.S. delegation was central to the negotiations to address juvenile mortality of overfished big eye tuna through increases in fish aggregating devices (FADs) closure periods Atlantic-wide as well as a reduction in the total allowable catch. Of particular note was a win for observer safety, an issue that NOAA has long been advancing in multiple regional fisheries management organizations. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Exempted Fishing Permits—Comments Requested NOAA Fisheries intends to issue exempted fishing permits, scientific research permits, display permits, letters of acknowledgement, and Shark Research Fishery permits for the research and collection of Atlantic highly migratory species in 2020. We generally receive fewer than 50 applications, and we issue the appropriate permit based on the applications. By December 23, please submit your comments on issuing these types of permits. Draft Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports Open for Comment Today, NOAA Fisheries published a Federal Register Notice soliciting input on its DRAFT 2019 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports and is seeking input prior to finalizing these reports.  NOAA Fisheries prepares marine mammal stock assessment reports annually, as directed by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). We currently track 246 stocks of marine mammals and have an associated Stock Assessment Report for each species. In 2019, we updated information for 76 stock. Comments are due February 25, 2020.

Alaska Speech Recognition Technology Provides Fast, Accurate Fisheries Data Collection Newly developed speech recognition software will help scientists further improve the way they record essential fisheries data at sea under challenging weather conditions. Neither rain nor salt spray, or even fish slime, keeps scientists from collecting data crucial to successful management of Alaska’s fisheries. Rock Sole in Alaska May Do Well in Warmer Ocean New findings on how fish populations respond to climate change could help fisheries managers and industry plan for the future. Northern rock sole stocks may benefit from warming in the Bering Sea, a new NOAA Fisheries study suggests. Scientists found the first quantitative evidence that the absence of the “cold pool” from northern rock sole nursery grounds during the first year of life was associated with strong recruitment. Proposed Rule To Designate Critical Habitat for Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales: Open for Comment NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific distinct population segments (DPSs) of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). We also announce that an additional public hearing will be held on this proposed rule.

Greater Atlantic 2019 Northeast Fall Ecosystem Monitoring Cruise Concludes Data collected during this cruise helps researchers monitor changes in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean ecosystem. The 2019 Northeast fall ecosystem monitoring survey aboard NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter sampled 117 stations along the U.S. East Coast. In all, 75 percent of the cruise objectives were accomplished. The limited number of available days at sea was the main reason more stations were not completed, although weather delays were also a factor. Final Rule: 2020 Commercial Shark Fishing Quotas, Dates & Retention Limits NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule that establishes quota levels, opening dates, and retention limits for the 2020 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries.  The final 2020 quotas, adjusted as appropriate to account for over- and underharvests, are summarized at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/2020-commercial-atlantic-shark-fishing-quotas-dates-retention-limits.

Upcoming Deadlines November 29 Nomination packages due for openings on the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel. November 30 Applications due for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary’s Sanctuary Advisory Council. December 18 Nominations due for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species SEDAR Pool. December 20 Nominations due for Outstanding Leaders in Wetland Conservation award. January 16 Proposals due for Pacific Islands Region’s Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program. January 19 Nominations due for MAFAC’s Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force.

Upcoming Events December 2–6 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. December 3–5 New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. December 4 Texas Trustee Implementation Group Conducting Annual Meeting via Online Video Presentation. December 5 Public Webinar: 2020 NOAA Community-based Restoration Program Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants. December 10–12 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Annapolis, Maryland. December 23 Applications due for participation in 2020 Shark Research Fishery. January 13-15 Milford Aquaculture Seminar. January 17 Maine Aquaculture Research, Development, and Education Forum in Belfast, Maine. February 12–13 West Coast National Electronic Monitoring Workshop in Renton, Washington.

Federal Register Actions Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations web page to learn more about recently proposed and finalized regulations in your region.

Corrections or technical questions should be sent to the FishNews Editor at editor.fishnews@noaa.gov. www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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