NOAA Fisheries FishNews – April 14, 2022 – Sustainable Seafood Interview, Aquaculture Opportunity Areas, and More

APRIL 14, 2022 Highlights Talking Sustainable Seafood with Janet Coit, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator In this new podcast, Janet Coit shares her thoughts on a number of major themes and how they relate to our role in ensuring sustainable seafood, including the pandemic, climate change, working waterfronts, and more. Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Featured at Aquaculture America At a recent aquaculture conference, NOAA staff presented a process to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas. These are small geographic areas that are potentially suitable for commercial aquaculture. The ability to farm seafood within AOAs will expand economic opportunities in coastal and rural areas, and increase seafood security. Announcing the Winner of NOAA’s Favorite Catch Photo Contest Last August, NOAA Fisheries partnered with Bonnier Corporation (publisher of saltwater fishing magazines) to host the 2021 “NOAA’s Favorite Catch” photo contest. We received 1,200 submissions! Congratulations to Captain Barbara Evans of Marco Island, Florida, for her winning entry. Pacific Islands Four Deep 7 Bottomfish Projects in 5 Days Hawaii’s “Deep 7” bottomfish species live near the seafloor in deep water offshore. This spring, scientists aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette will conduct four research projects in 5 days to learn more about the biology and population status of these commercially valuable species. New Photo Gallery: NOAA and Partners Respond to Hooked Hawaiian Monk Seal NOAA Fisheries, together with partners and volunteers, responded to a hooked juvenile male Hawaiian monk seal in Maui on March 30. It is now recovering after the hook was removed. Southeast NOAA Seeks Information about Impaled Fort Myers Beach Dolphin NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is asking the public for any information about a dead dolphin found recently on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. A necropsy revealed the dolphin was impaled in the head with a spear-like object while alive. Harming wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. New England/Mid-Atlantic Small Fish and Lobster Fascinate on Spring Bottom Trawl Survey The Northeast Fisheries Science Center has kicked off their 2022 field season with the spring bottom trawl survey on NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. The latest post in their science blog, Science in Motion, shows off photos of some of the fascinating finds from the first leg.  New Photo Gallery: History of Milford Lab In the late 1920s, research began in Milford, Connecticut, to help expand oyster harvests. Throughout the illustrious history of NOAA Fisheries' Milford Laboratory, scientists have made fundamental contributions to our understanding of shellfish biology, working closely with the aquaculture industry and academia. Upcoming Deadlines April 15: Deadline for public comments on draft outline of the Strategic Plan for U.S. Aquaculture Economic Development. April 18: Application deadline for East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Workshop. April 25: Deadline for letters of interest to apply for Federal Financial Assistance for Western Alaskan Community Development Groups. Full applications accepted April 25-June 24. May 6: Deadline to comment on Draft NOAA Fisheries and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Federal Survey Mitigation Implementation Strategy. USDA DEADLINES April 18: Public comments due for Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. April 25: Applications due for Value Added Producer Grants. May 6: Grant applications due for Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (seafood is eligible). May 16: Applications due for Farmers Market Promotion Program grants. May 16: Applications due for Local Food Promotion Program grants. May 16: Applications due for Regional Food System Partnerships grants. May 16: Public comments due for Competition in Food Retail and Distribution Markets and Access for Agricultural Producers and Small and Midsized Food Processors. June 17: Applications due for Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program grants. View more news and announcements. Upcoming Events April 19–20: Caribbean Fishery Management Council meeting in Carolina, Puerto Rico (hybrid in-person/virtual event). June 7–9: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Riverhead, New York. June 7–14: Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Vancouver, Washington. June 13–17: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Key West. June 21–24: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Fort Myers, Florida. June 28–30: New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Portland, Maine. View more events. Federal Register Actions Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations web page to learn more about recently proposed and finalized regulations in your region.  Send corrections or technical questions to the FishNews Editor at editor.fishnews@noaa.gov. www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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