WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
National - President's Proposed 2013 Budget Released
|
| On February 13, 2012, President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013. This year's NOAA budget request of approximately $5.1 billion aims to provide immediate life-saving and job-supporting services needed to prepare and protect American communities and infrastructure and invest in science and research that will enhance America's competitiveness. It also reflects a continued commitment to stewardship of coastal and ocean resources, which in turn benefits coastal economies. Read more |
| |
National - Study: Seafood Safe After Deepwater Horizon
|
| The prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences recently published a paper outlining the steps that federal and state experts used to safeguard seafood safety. The report, co-authored by Gina Ylitalo of NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center and others from NOAA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, shows that the public can be confident about the seafood they eat, solely based on the integrity of the science process. Read more |
| |
National – NOAA Proposes to Amend Regulations that Implement the National Saltwater Angler Registry and State Exemption Program; Comments due April 6
|
| The proposed amendments would eliminate duplicative permitting and registration requirements for holders of Main Hawaiian Islands Non-commercial Bottomfish Permits; allow states that exempt minors under the age of 17 from the state license or registration requirements to be eligible for Exempted State designation; allow the U.S. Virgin Islands to be designated as an Exempted State under the qualifying regional survey option of the rule; and clarify and update various provisions of the rule. Comments must be received by April 6, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
| |
Northeast - NOAA Doubles Gulf of Maine Winter Flounder Catch Limits
|
| NOAA recently announced that it is doubling the amount of Gulf of Maine winter flounder commercial fishermen can catch from almost 510,000 pounds to more than 1.1 million pounds for the current fishing season, which ends April 30. New scientific information shows that overfishing is no longer occurring on this important fish stock. This past year, NOAA scientists completed a new Gulf of Maine winter flounder stock assessment using three years of additional catch data and a more sophisticated stock assessment model. The assessment shows that fishing effort was well within the sustainable level, allowing catch limits to be increased. Read more |
| |
Northeast - NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Groundfish Sector Operations Plans; Comments due March 1
|
| NOAA is seeking public comment on 19 Northeast multispecies (groundfish) sector operations plans and contracts for fishing year 2012. The Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan requires sectors to submit their operations plans and contracts to NOAA for approval or disapproval. Approval of a sector operations plan and contract is necessary for that sector to be allocated fish, and allows the sector members to be exempted from certain effort control regulations. The deadline for public comment is March 1, 2012. NOAA is also notifying the public that deadline to join a sector for fishing year 2012 has been extended through April 30, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
| |
Northeast - NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Bluefish Regulations for 2012; Comments due March 1
|
| NOAA is seeking public comment on proposed commercial and recreational harvest levels and associated management measures for the Atlantic bluefish fishery for 2012. The deadline for public comment is March 1, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
| |
Northeast - Satellite Tags Help Unravel Mysteries of Atlantic Salmon Migration at Sea
|
| Satellite tags from adult Atlantic salmon tagged and released near Nuuk, Greenland are telling researchers where the fish go in the ocean and what environmental conditions are experienced during their journey. The archival tags record information continually and remain on the fish for months, then pop-off or dislodge. Once on the ocean surface, the tags transmit information about water depths, ocean temperatures, and sunlight levels experienced by the fish since the time of release. Researchers analyze these data to re-create salmon migration routes and provide information on the oceanographic conditions the fish experienced en route to their natal rivers to spawn. This satellite tagging project is headed by Tim Sheehan and Mark Renkawitz at NOAA's Woods Hole Laboratory of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Read more |
| |
Northeast/Southeast - Video PSA: Boaters Asked to Brake for Right Whales
|
| Although they are one of the biggest creatures on Earth, right whales are hard to spot from the deck of a ship. This new PSA outlines steps that boaters can take to ensure safe travels for these endangered whales. View the PSA |
| |
Northwest/Southwest – NOAA Extends Comment Period on Draft Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Plan; Comments Now Due May 4
|
| On January 5, 2012, NOAA Fisheries announced the release of the Draft Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Plan for public review and comment. NOAA Fisheries is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Draft Plan. As part of that proposal, NOAA provided a 60-day comment period, ending on March 5, 2012. Due to requests for an extension of the public comment period, NOAA is extending the comment period for the proposed action an additional 60 days. Comments are now due May 4, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
| |
Pacific Islands – NOAA Proposes Regulations for Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Comments due April 16
|
| NOAA Fisheries proposes regulations under the authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to implement requirements for U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing that offload or receive transshipments of highly migratory species , U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing that provide bunkering or other support services to fishing vessels, and U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing that receive bunkering or engage in other support services, in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean Convention Area. Some of the requirements would also apply to transshipments of fish caught in the area of application of the Convention Area and transshipped elsewhere. NOAA Fisheries also proposes requirements regarding notification of entry into and exit from the "Eastern High Seas Special Management Area" and requirements relating to discards from purse seine fishing vessels. Comments must be submitted in writing by April 16, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
| |
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOAA Fisheries Announces Workshops on Protected Species Release, Disentanglement, and Identification and Atlantic Shark Identification in February and March 2012
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in February and March of 2012. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2012.
Click here for dates, times, and locations.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Meeting March 13-15
NOAA Fisheries will hold a 3-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel meeting March 13 through March 15, 2012. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic highly migratory species. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Read more
Northwest Fisheries Science Center Hosts Science Symposium on March 14-15
NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center is hosting its 3rd Science Symposium on March 14-15, 2012 at NOAA's Sand Point facility, Building 9 Auditorium in Seattle, WA. The goals of this event are to foster communication and collaboration among our scientists as well as to showcase new and exciting areas of our fisheries science in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The 2-day symposium will consist of oral presentations and posters contributed by Northwest Fisheries Science Center scientists. Presentations will highlight research areas related to the four key themes that encompass our research:
1. Ecosystem management for the California Current Large Marine
2. Habitats to support sustainable fisheries and recovered populations
3. Recover, rebuilding and sustainability of marine and anadromous species
4. Sustaining marine ecosystem and human health
Registration, an agenda, and other event information are forthcoming.
Woods Hole Science Aquarium Announces 2012 Summer Programs for High School Students; Applications due March 15
The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is offering two summer programs for high school students in 2012, a five-week internship and a two-week seminar devoted to careers in marine science. Both programs are designed for students who are interested in marine science and marine animals, aquarium operations, and marine education and conservation. To participate in either the internship or the seminar, students must have finished 10th, 11th or 12th grade and must be at least 16 years old by July 2. Applicants must have U.S. citizenship. Application forms are available in the aquarium and
online. Applicants must also provide a transcript and two references. E-mail applications are welcome. All application materials must be postmarked by March 15. The 2012 interns and seminar participants will be announced by March 30.
Read more
NOAA Seeks Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to the International Pacific Halibut Commission; Nominations due March 19
NOAA is soliciting nominations for two individuals to serve as United States Commissioners to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The IPHC is a bilateral regional fishery management organization established between Canada and the United States for the preservation of the halibut fishery of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. The IPHC recommends fishery conservation and management measures for approval by the two member countries.
Three U.S. commissioners, one of which is a NOAA official, represent the United States on the IPHC. The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for the two U.S. Commissioners for the IPHC who are not NOAA officials. Commissioners will represent the interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the Pacific halibut fishery. These duties require a modest amount of travel (typically two or three trips per year lasting less than a week), and travel expenses are paid by the U.S. Department of State. Commissioners receive no compensation for their services. Nominations must be received by March 19, 2012.
Read more or submit a nomination.
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Announces 2012 Bradford E. Brown Summer Internship Program for Undergraduate Students; Applications due April 15
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center is offering summer employment /internship positions in 2012 through its Bradford E. Brown Student Internship Program. Named for a retired NOAA Fisheries scientist who was a leader in introducing young people to fisheries science, the program offers a limited number of paid summer positions during May to September distributed across Center programs and laboratories. Research topics include population biology and dynamics, resource assessment and environmental surveys, taxonomy, physical and biological oceanography, social sciences, data management, larval fish/plankton ecology, large marine ecosystems, aquaculture, biotechnology, remote sensing, protected species and apex predators. To participate in the internship program, applicants must be an active full-time student or half-time undergraduate/graduate student at a college or university for the upcoming 2012 school year at the time of application, or be accepted as a full-time or half-time student in an academic program for the 2012 school year by the time the summer position begins. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen. All completed application materials must be postmarked by April 15, 2012.
Read more
FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS
For a list of only those actions open for public comment, go to
http://www.regulations.gov and scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For a list of all daily actions, check the
Federal register online
http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail
manager@oysterradio.com with comments
No comments:
Post a Comment