WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
International – New Requirements for Import and Export of Porbeagle and Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
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The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) issued a notification on June 27, 2012 informing CITES Parties that two new shark species (porbeagle and scalloped hammerhead) have been listed in Appendix III. The listing of porbeagle and scalloped hammerhead sharks under Appendix III of CITES imposes new import and export requirements for these two shark species beginning on September 25, 2012. Read more for more information on these new requirements.
Please contact the FWS Division of Management Authority's Office of Permits at 703-358-2104 or contact managementauthority@fws.gov with any questions about these new requirements. |
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National – Cooking Up Sustainable Chinook Salmon, Oregon Chef Crowned New King of American Seafood
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| Chef Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant in Portland, Oregon recently took first place at the ninth annual Great American Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans. His dish of slow cooked Oregon Chinook Salmon featuring Butter Clams, Bacon Dashi, Porcini, Roasted Heirloom Tomato, and Crispy Sea Greens impressed a discriminating panel of judges and earned him the title of King of American Seafood. The Cook-off, sponsored by NOAA Fisheries and presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board, is known for pitting up-and-coming chefs against recognized culinary greats from throughout the United States. The chefs were asked to create unique dishes with domestic seafood, and utilize fish that's native to their home states whenever possible. NOAA Fisheries uses the Cook-off to highlight— to American seafood consumers— the agency's commitment to a healthy marine environment and improving the nation's domestic seafood supply. "NOAA has been involved from the start, and I am thrilled to see the event become bigger and bigger each year," said Sam Rauch, Acting Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, and one of six guest judges in the ninth annual Cook-off. "The event has been highly effective in raising awareness of the value of our domestic fisheries, and it displays the skills of our country's most talented seafood chefs." Read more |
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National – Buck Sutter Named New Director for NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation
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| Frederick "Buck" Sutter has been named the new Director for the Office of Habitat Conservation at NOAA Fisheries. He will begin this new assignment on August 26, 2012. Buck brings an array of management experience to his new position where he will oversee the implementation of the NOAA Habitat Blueprint and the Regional Initiatives for Fisheries, as well as managing our programs on fish passage, essential fish habitat protection, coral conservation, Restoration Center initiatives and Chesapeake Bay activities. Read more |
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National – A Closer Look at Shark Conservation
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| As one of the top predators of the oceans, sharks play an important role in the food web and help ensure balance in the ocean's ecosystem. As demand and exploitation rates for some shark species and shark products (i.e., fins) have increased, concern has steadily grown regarding the status of many shark stocks and the sustainability in global fisheries. Globally there is a general lack of data reporting on the catch of sharks, particularly species-specific data. For these reasons, sharks present an array of issues and challenges for fisheries conservation and management both domestically and internationally. Despite the challenges, NOAA Fisheries is committed to achieving sustainable management of sharks. Read more |
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National – Understanding the Elusive Giant Pacific Octopus
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| In a new NOAA Fisheries video feature, NOAA researcher Liz Conners of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center points out the challenges of managing the Pacific octopus in Alaska and how researchers are working to develop new technology to better capture, tag, and study the octopus. The octopus research study is a collaborative effort among the North Pacific Research Board, NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska fishing community. Watch spectacular underwater footage of octopus swimming and octopus eggs hatching and learn more about the Pacific Giant Octopus here. |
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National – NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports through Nov. 5
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| NOAA Fisheries has reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NOAA Fisheries solicits public comments on draft 2012 SARs. Comments must be received by November 5, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
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National – Circle Hooks: The Preferred Thresher Catcher?
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| How do NOAA scientists and recreational fishermen work together to improve catch and release techniques for thresher sharks? Watch this video to find out how they do this off the coast of Southern California. The waters in this area are well-known hot spots for the common thresher shark, a recreational fishing favorite that can weigh more than 500 pounds with a uniquely long whip-like tail.See more |
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National – Ocean Health Index for World's Oceans
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| NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center's Jameal Samhouri and a team of collaborators introduce the Ocean Health Index, a new world standard for gauging ocean health, in a recent study published by the journal Nature. Globally, the oceans received an ocean health score of 60, with the lowest score of 36 for Sierra Leone's waters and the highest score of 86 for the waters surrounding uninhabited Jarvis Island, near Hawaii. Read more |
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Northeast – NOAA Fisheries New Northeast Regional Administrator Holds Listening Sessions Around the Region
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| NOAA Fisheries' new Northeast Regional Administrator, John Bullard, is holding a series of public meetings around the region. He wants to hear from fishermen, scientists, environmentalists, seafood dealers and processors and other members of the interested public about not only the challenges facing the fishing industry, but also ideas about what a successful fishery would look like. We hope you can attend one of the meetings that are being scheduled. For more information please contact Olivia Rugo via email at olivia.rugo@noaa.gov. Read more |
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Northeast – NOAA Announces Details about Longfin Squid Fishery Trimester 3 and Ongoing Actions
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Trimester 3 of the longfin squid fishery was scheduled to open on September 1, 2012. As of August 6, 2012, 112 percent of the butterfish mortality cap in the longfin squid fishery has been harvested. Therefore, the longfin squid fishery will likely not open for directed fishing in Trimester 3. However, we are working on two changes to the regulations that may allow us to keep the longfin squid fishery open for some or all of Trimester 3.
• We are currently working on a rule change that would enable us to consider a higher butterfish catch limit and butterfish mortality cap for the longfin squid fishery for the remainder of 2012.
• If we approve this rule change, we will publish a final rule for 2012 butterfish specifications in the Federal Register and send a letter to all longfin squid vessels and dealers describing the final 2012 butterfish quotas and management measures.
We have worked closely with the Council to develop these regulatory changes, and we are making every effort to ensure our review is complete and we make a final decision by September 1. However, if we do not approve this rule change, or we cannot implement it by September 1, 2012, the longfin squid fishery will not open on September 1, 2012, for Trimester 3. If this rule change is approved, and the final butterfish specifications are implemented before the end of the fishing year, we would re-open the longfin squid fishery for Trimester 3 as soon as the rulemakings are effective.
We are aware that this information is confusing and apologize that the situation remains uncertain. Please call the Sustainable Fisheries Division of NOAA Fisheries at 978-281-9315 for more information and ask to speak with someone who works on the longfin squid fishery. Read more |
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Northeast – 2012 Northeast Vessel Cost Survey Is in the Mail
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| The first of three new or redesigned surveys designed to collect vital information on the operational costs and culture of commercial fishing launched Friday August 10, when an annual vessel cost survey hit the mail. The annual vessel cost survey, last conducted in 2009, has been significantly redesigned with the help of fishermen. About 1700 vessel owners will receive a 2012 survey. Although that's not every owner, the pool covers all the fisheries, gear types, and vessel sizes in the Northeast, to capture how these costs may vary. Collected over time, these economic data will be used to evaluate proposed changes to fishery management plans, provide a more complete picture of economic impacts from regulatory actions in the fisheries. Read more |
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Northeast – Underwater Noise Decreases Whale Communications in Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary
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| According to a NOAA-led paper published recently in the journal Conservation Biology, high levels of background noise, mainly due to ships, have reduced the ability of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to communicate with each other by about two-thirds. From 2007 until 2010, scientists from Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and Marine Acoustics Inc. used an array of acoustic recorders to monitor noise levels, measure levels of sound associated with vessels, and to record distinctive sounds made by multiple species of endangered baleen whales, including "up-calls" made by right whales to maintain contact with each other. Vessel-tracking data from the U.S. Coast Guard's Automatic Identification System was used to calculate noise from vessels inside and outside the sanctuary. By further comparing noise levels from commercial ships today with historically lower noise conditions nearly a half-century ago, the authors estimate that right whales have lost, on average, 63 to 67 percent of their communication space in the sanctuary and surrounding waters. The authors suggest that the impacts of chronic and wide-ranging noise should be incorporated into comprehensive plans that seek to manage the cumulative effects of offshore human activities on marine species and their habitats. Read more |
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Alaska – North Pacific Fishery Management Council Seeks Public Comment on Essential Fish Habitat Amendments through Oct. 9
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| The North Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted the following essential fish habitat (EFH) amendments to NOAA Fisheries for review: Amendment 98 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 90 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Amendment 40 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs; Amendment 15 to the FMP for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska; and Amendment 1 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area. If approved, these amendments would update the existing EFH provisions based on a 5-year EFH review. Comments on the amendments must be submitted on or before October 9, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
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Alaska – Feds, State, UAF Scientists Team Up for Major Marine Ecosystem Survey in Arctic Seas
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A team of marine scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, federal, and state agencies is heading to the Arctic to begin the first comprehensive oceanographic and fisheries survey of the Chukchi Sea. The first of two vessels being used for the survey departed August 6 from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. It's the first survey that will sample all major components of the marine ecosystem at the same time throughout the U.S. waters of the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea. It covers the entire eastern Chukchi Sea shelf, with sampling in offshore waters at least 50 feet deep from south of Hooper Bay to north of Barrow (61 to 73 degrees latitude).
The primary purpose of the survey is to gather scientific data needed to avoid or mitigate effects of potential future offshore oil and gas development projects on arctic marine life. The information will provide the scientific underpinning to help guide future responsible economic development activities in the Arctic region, including possible transportation and fisheries opportunities. It will also help determine potential impacts of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems. Read more |
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Alaska – NOAA's Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals: No One Flies Where These Scientists Fly
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NOAA scientists participating in the annual Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals (ASAMM) project say they have seen an unprecedented number of gray whale calves so far this year. More than 50 calves have been sighted in just the first month of the survey. Even though some of the calves are undoubtedly repeat sightings, the total number is far higher than normal.
The ASAMM project kicked off about a month ago from Barrow, Alaska, with additional effort based out of Deadhorse beginning mid-July. It covers a massive study area in the Alaskan Chukchi and Beaufort seas. The goal of the surveys is to document the distribution and relative abundance of bowhead, gray, right, and fin whales, belugas, and other marine mammals in areas of potential oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production activities in the Alaskan Arctic.
NOAA scientists from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's National Marine Mammal Laboratory will be conducting almost daily flights through October, weather permitting. Survey conditions are sometimes less than optimal in the Arctic but, despite the usual episodes of fog and low cloud ceilings, the survey teams have had much success so far and excellent data have been collected.Read more |
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Northwest – NOAA Works with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry to Bring Salmon Education Directly to Your Doorstep
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| This month, NOAA Fisheries and the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) unveiled the "Salmon at Your Doorstep" sidewalk mural. The mural depicts the life cycle of salmon and is located at the OMSI pavilion on the banks of the Willamette River—a river that is home to several species of salmon and steelhead. The mural's purpose is to educate visitors about the relationship between salmon, local ecosystems, and people. It uses interactive media and works of art to help the public visualize and understand this dynamic relationship. By describing how people's choices influence salmon and local ecosystems, Salmon at Your Doorstep promises to attract and engage large numbers of visitors—more than 800,000 museum visitors and at least 500,000 public users of the Willamette waterfront annually. Read more |
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Northwest – Genetic Diversity of Captive Broodstock Program for Redfish Lake Sockeye
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| Captive propagation is widely used to manage small populations. However, its short term goals of avoiding complete extinction of the gene pool and conserving as much genetic diversity as possible—without compromising prospects for long-term survival of the species—is a tall order. How effective was the nearly 20-year captive breeding program in that regard for the critically endangered Redfish Lake sockeye population? NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center scientists Don Van Doornik and Robin Waples, together with lead author Steven Kalinowski (previously at NWFSC, now with Montana State University) and Christine Kozfkay of Idaho Department of Fish and Game, developed a study to find out—and their results were surprising. Read more |
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Southwest – California Hatchery Scientific Review
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The California Hatchery Scientific Review Group Report was released on August 7th with a news conference at Nimbus Fish Hatchery near Sacramento. The report is the culmination of a comprehensive, independent review of nearly all of California's salmon and steelhead hatchery programs by an expert panel of 11 scientists, including NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center's Fisheries Ecology Division researchers. The review was commissioned by Congress in 2009, and organized and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through an agreement with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The report provides detailed recommendations on all aspects of hatchery operations and their effects on naturally spawning salmon and steelhead populations, with major foci on Broodstock Management, Program Size and Release Strategies, Incubation, Rearing, Fish Health Management, and Monitoring and Evaluation. The Review Report is expected to provide the blueprint for major changes to California's salmon and steelhead hatcheries over the next several years. Read more |
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Pacific Islands – Trash to Treasure: Removing Marine Debris from Hawaii's Coral Reefs
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Marine debris has been in the news lately, as trash and other debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan has started washing up on our shores. In Hawai'i, NOAA has been removing debris from coral reefs in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Since 1996, we've removed more than 700 metric tons of debris: that's the same weight as 24 humpback whales!
Marine debris—material that is disposed of or discarded in the marine environment—is a persistent problem worldwide. It can range from a plastic bottle thrown on the beach to abandoned fishing gear left trapped under the sea. Sometimes, marine debris can come from a ship that has been deserted by the owner or has run aground.
In 2005, the M/V Casitas ran aground on a coral reef at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. We worked with other agencies to remove the ship, and since then have been addressing the damage to the reef. As part of that effort, we've been removing fishing gear and other marine debris—from the shoreline, in the water, and even underwater with help from divers.
Just this past month, we removed 50 more tons of debris—so much that the ship carting it away couldn't hold anymore. The nets we removed will be used as fuel for electricity generation. Hawaii'sNets-to Energy program burns the broken-down nets, and the steam produced from the fires runs a turbine to create energy. Read more |
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EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Aug. 21-23: Pacific Islands Recreational (Non-Commercial) Fishing Summit
NOAA Fisheries will host a two-day meeting of 35 invited fishermen from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Hawaii to help the agency identify fishery projects for possible implementation in FY-2013. The meeting will be held at the Harbor View Center at Pier 38 from August 21-23, 2012. Public is welcome to attend. The meeting will run from 1-4 pm on August 21, from 9am-4pm on August 22, and from 9am to noon on August 23.
NOAA Fisheries has completed nearly all of last year's recreational fishery projects including:
1. An agreement developed by the State of Hawaii to exchange fisheries information with NOAA
2. Hiring a full-time marine recreational fishery specialist in the Pacific Islands Regional Office
3. Starting a boat-based recreational fishing survey to characterize recreational fishing activities.
Read more
Deadline Aug. 24: NOAA Fisheries Seeking Proposals for Cooperative Research in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean; $2 Million in Funding Available
The Cooperative Research Program provides opportunity to compete for financial assistance for projects which seek to increase and improve the working relationship between fisheries researchers from NOAA Fisheries, state fishery agencies, universities, and the U.S. fishing (recreational and commercial) in the Gulf of Mexico (FL, AL, MS, LA, TX), South Atlantic (FL, NC, SC, GA) and Caribbean (USVI and Puerto Rico). The program is a means of involving commercial and recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information in support of management and regulatory options. Proposals must address one of the priority areas. Approximately $2.0 million may be available in fiscal year (FY) 2013 for projects. Actual funding availability for this program is contingent upon FY 2013 Congressional appropriations. NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center estimates awarding approximately eight projects that will range from $25,000 to $300,000. The average award is $150,000. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2012 to be considered for funding. Read more or submit an application.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Workshops on Protected Species Release, Disentanglement, and Identification and Atlantic Shark Identification in August and September 2012
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in July, August, and September 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 and will be announced in a future notice. Click here for dates, times, and locations.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Electronic Dealer Reporting System Workshops to be Held from July through September 2012
On June 28, 2011, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule that considered requiring, among other things, Federal Atlantic swordfish, shark, and tunas dealers (except for dealers reporting Atlantic bluefin tuna) to report commercially-harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (tunas through one centralized electronic reporting system. This electronic reporting system will allow dealers to submit Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tuna data on a more real-time basis and more efficiently, which will reduce duplicative data submissions from different regions. NOAA Fisheries proposed to delay the effective date of the electronic reporting requirements until 2013 in order to give sufficient time for dealers to adjust to implementation of the new system and the additional requirements. On December 14, 2011, NOAA Fisheries conducted an initial training workshop in the Caribbean area in order to introduce the new reporting system to HMS dealers. NOAA Fisheries is now announcing the date and location for additional training workshops in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic regions in order to continue introducing HMS dealers to the new electronic system. Training workshops for the new electronic dealer system will be held from July through September 2012. Read more for specific dates, times, and locations.
NOAA Fisheries recently announced the date and location for an additional training workshop in the Caribbean. The additional training workshop will be held on August 29, 2012, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.) at the following address: Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Office of the Commissioner, 8100 Lindberg Bay, Suite #61, Cyril E. King Airport, Terminal Bldg., Second Floor, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., 00802.
Crimes Against Marine Mammals—NOAA-Sponsored Exhibit in D.C. Open through Sept. 3
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act through an eye-opening exhibitthat showcases different violations of the Act, how law enforcement agents investigate those violations, and how you can help protect marine mammals. Created by NOAA Fisheries and the Crime Museum in D.C., the exhibit runs through September 3, 2012. Read more
Through Sept. 28: NOAA Fisheries Brings Back Summertime Tours of Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
Discover the science behind the success of Alaska's fisheries, with a tour of one of NOAA's leading science facilities—the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute—located in Juneau. NOAA Fisheries is once again offering free daily tours of the 60,000 square foot facility, located north of Juneau at Lena Point. Juneau residents are invited to share this local secret with their out-of-town guests. Free behind-the-scenes lab tours will be offered once daily at 1 p.m. each weekday throughout the summer beginning Monday, June 4 and continuing through September 28, except for holidays. Read more
Due Oct. 1: Nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
NOAA Fisheries is soliciting nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as established by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). NOAA Fisheries is also soliciting nominations for technical advisors to the Advisory Committee's species working groups. Nominations must be received by October 1, 2012.Read more or submit a nomination.
Due Oct. 3: FY13 Prescott Grant Funding Opportunity for Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance
The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, or Prescott Grant Program, provides grants or cooperative agreements to eligible stranding network participants for:
• recovery and treatment (i.e., rehabilitation) of stranded marine mammals,
• data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals, and
• facility upgrades, operation costs, and staffing needs directly related to the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals and collection of data from living or dead stranded marine mammals
Eligible applicants are currently active, authorized participants or researchers in the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network. An applicant cannot be a current full- or part-time DOC or DOI employee. Eligible applicants must be:
1. Stranding Agreement (SA) holders or their designee organizations
2. holders of researcher authorization letters issued by a NMFS Regional Administrator; or
3. an eligible Federal, state, or local government personnel or tribal personnel (pursuant to MMPA Section 109(h) (16 U.S.C. 1379(h))
Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, the online portal to all Federal grant opportunities. Only submit your proposal by mail if you have extenuating circumstances and are unable to submit online. Electronic submissions through Grants.gov must have been received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 3, 2012; proposals submitted by mail must have been postmarked by October 3, 2012.
Oct. 17-18: Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT Will Hold Its Fall Meeting in Silver Spring, MD
In preparation for the 2012 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT is announcing the convening of its fall meeting. The meeting will be held October 17-18, 2012. There will be an open session on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, from 9 a.m. through approximately 1:30 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will be closed to the public and is expected to end by 5 p.m. on October 18. Interested members of the public may present their views during the public comment session on October 17, 2012. The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree/Hilton Hotel, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Written comments should be sent via email (Rachel.O'Malley@noaa.gov). Comments may also be sent via mail to Rachel O'Malley at NMFS, Office of International Affairs, Room 12622, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 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
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