FishNews - December 12, 2012 - Investing in Habitat for Fish and Protected Species, Turtle Strandings Up in the Northeast, Sustainable Seafood in the News, and More

Join List     FishNews Archive     NOAA Fisheries Home           Highlights - December 12, 2012  National Dr. Jason Link Named NOAA Senior Scientist for Ecosystem Management Healthy ecosystems are vital for sustainable fisheries and protected species. Dr. Link will lead our ecosystem research activities and development of tools and approaches to help us deal with the impacts of climate change on our marine trust species.   Cape Fear River Basin Action Plan for Migratory Fish-Request for Comments Recognizing the economic, ecological, social, and cultural importance of migratory fish in the Cape Fear River basin in North Carolina, NOAA and multiple stakeholders of the Cape Fear River Partnership developed an action plan to help address pressures impacting fish habitat. Comments are due December 19, 2012. Investing in Habitat Restoration-Funding Available NOAA's Restoration Center recognizes that healthy habitat is critical to recover and sustain fish populations. To that end, we are currently soliciting applications for restoration projects that use a habitat-based approach to foster species recovery and increase fish production. Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee - Request for Nominations The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) seeks nominations for new members to join a Recreational Fisheries Working Group.. Nominations are due January 9, 2013.  Northeast Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries NOAA Fisheries announced new measures for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery for fishing year 2013, which begins on January 1. Potential Record Number of Sea Turtle Strandings in Northeast this Year Each year when autumn rolls around, sea turtles tend to strand along the Northeast coast as a result of "cold stunning." It has been an extraordinarily busy sea turtle stranding season, with a running total of 150 reported strandings so far from Massachusetts to New York. Southeast Gulf of Mexico Unusual Mortality Event Update A December 2012 update on the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event in the Gulf of Mexico shows 817 dolphin and whale strandings since February 2010.  Alaska Sustainable Seafood - Newspapers in Education In partnership with The Seattle Times Newspapers in Education, this five-part series was created to help educators introduce the science behind sustainable seafood. Groundfish Fisheries - Comments Wanted NOAA Fisheries proposes 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. Comments due January 7, 2013. Rockfish, Flatfish, Sculpin, and Squid - Comments Wanted  NOAA Fisheries proposes temporary rule for the allowable catch of various Bering Sea and Aleutian Island species that will help promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan in this area. Please comment by December 19. Marine Mammals Take Proposal-Comments Wanted Apache Alaska Corporation applied for an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals in Cook Inlet, Alaska, between January 2013 and January 2014. Please comment by January 9, 2013.    Southwest  Pacific Mackerel-Comments Wanted NOAA Fisheries proposes to implement the annual catch limit, harvest guideline, annual catch target, and associated annual reference points for Pacific mackerel in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast for the fishing season of July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. Comment by January 7, 2013. Scientists Propose New Name for Mammal-Eating Killer Whales Scientist John Durban of our Southwest Fisheries Science Center, among others, proposes new name-Bigg's killer whale-for the type of killer whales originally called "transients."    Alaska  Science at Sea-Understanding Bering and Chukchi Sea Ecosystems For our scientists onboard Alaskan research cruises, it was a busy season-studying walleye Pollock, conducting ecosystem surveys, analyzing distribution and abundance of phyto- and zooplankton and pelagic fishes, and examining linkages between climate, sea-ice, krill, and baleen whales. Events  Nov-Dec: NOAA Fisheries holds training workshops on Electronic Reporting System for Federal Atlantic Swordfish, Shark, and Tuna Dealers May-Jan: Crimes Against Marine Mammals-NOAA-Sponsored Exhibit in D.C. extended through January 2013 Upcoming: Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops in January, February, and March of 2013.   Announcements Dec. 13: Applications for 2013 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Shark Research Fishery due. Dec. 13: The Pacific Fishery Management Council's South of Humbug Policy Workgroup (Workgroup) for Pacific halibut will hold a work session which is open to the public.  Dec 14: Nominations for National Wetlands Awards due. Dec. 20: NMFS solicits nominations until December 20, 2012 for the Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review.  Dec 28: Applications due for Director position in NOAA Research Climate Program Office. Jan. 18, 2013: Call for Nominations is open for the Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award. May 7-9, 2013: Registration opens soon for Managing Our Nation's Fisheries-3 conference in Washington, D.C.   Federal Register Actions  Click here for a list of only those actions open for public comment. Scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For a list of all daily actions, check the Federal Register online.

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