NOAA Fisheries FishNews – July 29, 2021

JULY 29, 2021

Treat Your Brain Right—Eat Seafood, America! We all know that eating seafood is good for our taste buds, but did you know it's also associated with better brain health as we age? People who eat seafood regularly are associated with a 20% lower risk for Alzheimer’s type dementia. Plus, eating fish is linked to lower rates of depression. Learn more from our friends at Seafood Nutrition Partnership!

Highlights Nominations Sought for Positions on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Do you want to help make a difference for the stewardship and sustainable use of our marine resources? NOAA Fisheries is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. MAFAC advises the Secretary of Commerce on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. All materials must be submitted before midnight on July 29. Additional information about MAFAC and the nomination process can be found here. Explore Essential Fish Habitats with Our Updated Interactive Mapper We’re excited to launch an updated version of the Essential Fish Habitat Mapper with improved layout, navigation, and functionality. EFH is the habitat needed by managed species to complete their life cycles and it serves a foundational role in sustainably harvested U.S. seafood. The EFH Mapper is an interactive tool for viewing important habitats for managed fish species. NOAA’s Exploration and Research Efforts Inform Management Decisions for Deep-Sea Coral Communities NOAA’s Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is participating virtually in NOAA Ocean Exploration’s current expedition to map and explore the New England and Corner Rise seamounts in the high seas (or international waters) of the North Atlantic. Equipped with a remotely operated vehicle and telepresence technology, the team aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer transmits video data in real time to shore-based scientists who help to guide the exploration and contribute their expertise during dives. Photo Contest Winners Connect Viewers with Habitat We’re delighted to share with you images from talented photographers that celebrate Habitat Month! We received impressive entries in both of the categories. Thank you to all the photographers who sent in entries, from Guam to Cape Cod. The Effects of Climate Change on Sharks Research into the effects of climate change on fish species and finding creative ways to adapt fisheries management is a priority for NOAA Fisheries. NOAA’s Draft Mitigation Policy Public Comment Period Closes July 30 The public comment period for NOAA's draft Mitigation Policy for Trust Resources will close July 30, 2021. The purpose of the draft Mitigation Policy is to improve conservation of NOAA’s trust resources through more effective mitigation of adverse impacts to them.

Alaska Alaskan Scientists Continue Humpback Research as Whale Watching Industry Aims to Rebound Juneau, Alaska, is one of the most popular whale watching tourism destinations in the world. Roughly 1.3 million tourists visited the city in 2019 via cruise ship, and more than 330,000 of those visitors participated in local whale watching trips during their port-of-call.

West Coast California Current Fish Surveys Resume with 3-Month Assessment of Sardine, Anchovy, and Mackerel NOAA Fisheries has begun an ambitious assessment of small pelagic fish that reaches from the Canadian border to the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. The assessment, in cooperation with Mexico, will help determine how many fish can be caught off the West Coast. Low-Oxygen Waters Off Washington and Oregon Coasts Risk Becoming Large “Dead Zones” Oxygen-depleted bottom waters occur seasonally along the continental shelf of Washington and Oregon, and these waters fuel blooms of plankton. The plankton in turn feeds small animals like krill, which themselves serve as food for many fish. When the plankton blooms die off, they sink to the bottom, where their decomposition consumes oxygen, leaving less for organisms such as crabs and bottom-dwelling fish.

Southeast Cameron Meadows Project to Rebuild Hundreds of Acres of Marsh in Louisiana An additional $1.2 million in funding has been approved for an ongoing NOAA-supported effort to rebuild more than 300 acres of marsh in coastal Louisiana. The Cameron Meadows Marsh Creation and Terracing Project is helping restore the natural buffer that protects communities in southwest Louisiana from damage caused by hurricanes and storm surge.

Upcoming Deadlines July 29 NOAA Fisheries is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee July 30 NOAA’s Draft Mitigation Policy Available for Public Comment through July 30 View more news and announcements.

Upcoming Events August 26, September 13 NOAA is hosting listening sessions for the public to learn about, and provide input on, "Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful 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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