NOAA Fisheries FishNews—December 13th

DECEMBER 13, 2023

Highlights Secretary of Commerce Allocates $8.2 Million for Pacific Salmon Fishery Disasters Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the allocation of $8.2 million in funds for the Yurok Tribe impacted by salmon fishery disasters in 2021 and 2022.  2024 Highly Migratory Species Art Contest Deadline Extended NOAA Fisheries is extending the Highly Migratory Species Art Contest submission deadline to January 31, 2024. Students from kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to participate. Entries should highlight Atlantic tuna species such as bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack. The winning artwork will be featured in our 2025 Atlantic tunas calendar. International Collaboration Improves Understanding of Tuna Populations A recent study found that Atlantic bluefin tuna populations are more interconnected than previously thought. The study was done through international collaboration with eight countries, including three NOAA Fisheries scientists. This research is vital to our understanding of highly migratory species, such as bluefin tuna, that cross international boundaries.

Alaska Vocal Repertoire of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales Documented for the First Time Beluga whales are highly social and vocal animals, using acoustics to navigate, find prey, avoid predators, and maintain group cohesion. A new study of the Cook Inlet beluga population is the first to document the complex vocal repertoire of the population, and quantify how ship noise may be masking specific beluga calls in the region.

West Coast Video: Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Clam Garden We recently worked with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to help build the first modern clam garden in the United States. The ancient practice of building clam gardens helps provide food and environmental resilience for the community.

Pacific Islands Meet Your Pacific Islands Protected Coral Species In 2014, 15 Indo-Pacific corals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to challenges such as climate change, disease, and overfishing. Five corals from that list can be found in U.S. waters—get to know them!

Southeast Right Whale “Horton” Keeps Fighting to Save Her Species North Atlantic right whale “Horton” was spotted with a new calf during the 2023–2024 calving season. Although this is good news for a species fighting to survive, biologists remain realistic, knowing more calves need to be born during a given season.

New England/Mid-Atlantic Explore a NOAA Career: Summer 2024 Paid Internships in the Chesapeake Bay NOAA summer interns work with our experts for roughly 12 weeks during the summer. They contribute to NOAA’s mission, gain valuable experience, boost their resumes, and try out a potential science career. Applications are due January 28, 2024. Ipswich and Parker River Dam Removals in Massachusetts to Restore Fish and Protect Communities The Ipswich River Watershed Association and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will receive $2.5 million in funding through NOAA to address problematic dams on the Ipswitch and Parker rivers. These removals will address dams that block fish passage, as well as pose a risk for flooding due to climate change. North Atlantic Right Whales Have Better Food in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Copepods are planktonic crustaceans that occur in large numbers across the North Atlantic Ocean and are the North Atlantic right whales’ primary prey. New research shows that copepods are more nutritious in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, providing a higher quality diet for right whales compared to those in the Gulf of Maine and off Nova Scotia, even though abundance may be less dense.

Upcoming Deadlines December 15: Deadline for nominations to the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee December 15: Pre-proposals due for the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program 2024 Funding Opportunity December 18: Public comments due for the 60-day request for information on Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska  December 18: Public comments due for proposed federal management of salmon fishing in Cook Inlet December 19: Applications due for Coastal Habitat Restoration Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities  December 20: Applications due for Fiscal Year 2024 Small Business Innovation Research Notice of Funding Opportunity December 31: Application window for Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants January 3: Applications due for Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program January 31: Highly Migratory Species Art Contest submission deadline February 5: Applications due for NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training Program February 13: Applications due for NOAA’s Climate Ready Workforce Funding Opportunity February 13: Applications due for NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge Funding Opportunity February 14: Proposals due for Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grant funding February 16: Applications due for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Program February 20: Applications due for NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training Program March 4: Applications due for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund funding opportunity March 20: Full proposals due for the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program 2024 Funding Opportunity View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events December 14: Webinar for Educators: Performance Assessments and MWEEs in Elementary School December 15: Webinar on the Seafood Import Monitoring Program review December 16: Woods Hole Science Aquarium Hosting Santa December 18: Webinar on the application process for the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Program January 8: Workshop for Educators: Climate Resources for Supporting MWEEs January 29–February 1: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council January 2024 Meeting January 30–February 1: New England Fishery Management Council January 2024 Meeting February 5: Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Research Summit February 6: Workshop for Educators: Creating a District Environmental Literacy Plan  February 6–8: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council February 2024 Meeting February 8–12: North Pacific Fishery Management Council February 2024 Meeting March 5–7: North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Risk Reduction Technology Workshop 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.

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