NOAA Fisheries FishNews April 10, 2020

Recreational Fishing, Genetics and more.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. April 10, 2020 Highlights Coastal Projects to Enhance Recreational Fishing and Restore Habitat NOAA is funding four projects that will enhance recreational fisheries engagement and restore habitat through the coastal National Fish Habitat Partnerships. Saltwater recreational fishing is an American pastime and important economic driver, and anglers make critical contributions to the conservation of fish habitat nationwide. West Coast West Coast Salmon Fishing and Southern Residents: Part 1 Southern Resident killer whales have long pursued the biggest and most nourishing Chinook salmon from coastal Pacific waters. Chinook salmon fishing is also a mainstay of the West Coast economy, generating nearly $72 million in income last year. West Coast Salmon Fishing and Southern Residents: Part 2 The NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works with the Pacific Fishery Management Council to set salmon fishing seasons. We also set sustainable harvest levels consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Annual catch limits are set to achieve science-based conservation objectives that constrain fishing when abundance is low and to support recovery of the runs protected by the Endangered Species Act that co-mingle in the ocean with the abundant runs. Pacific Islands Pacific Islands Region Evaluates Improvements to Hawaii's Marine Recreational Fishing Survey Fisheries managers and scientists reviewed the strengths and limitations of several potential survey designs to estimate recreational catch in Hawaii. In May 2019, NOAA Fisheries hosted a workshop to design a new data collection program for the Hawaii Marine Recreational Fishing Survey. Participants included state, regional, and federal scientists, managers, and survey statisticians, as well as independent statistical consultants. Greater Atlantic New State of the Ecosystem Reports Document Big Picture Around Fishing Two newly issued reports provide a snapshot of the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem. They look at everything from phytoplankton production at the bottom of the food web to the fishery harvests at the top. One report focuses on Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine and the other on the waters of the Mid-Atlantic Bight—the three major regions within the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem. Upcoming Deadlines April 10 NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Revised Management Plan for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary May 6 NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule: Removal of Regulations Implementing the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program Federal Register Actions Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations web page to learn more about recently proposed and finalized regulations in your region.

http://live.oysterradio.com/