NOAA Fisheries FishNews — July 14

July 14, 2022

NOAA Celebrates Habitat Month 2022 Celebrating Habitat Month 2022: Healthy Habitat, Resilient Infrastructure All month long, we will share NOAA Fisheries’ many habitat conservation efforts through our website and social media. The theme this year is "Healthy Habitat, Resilient Infrastructure.” Learn more about the role of healthy habitat in building coastal resilience.

Highlights Actions to Address Findings of the 2022 National Recreational Fisheries Summit NOAA Fisheries is undertaking an extensive public review of the 2015 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy and many other projects to address input received at the 2022 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit.

Alaska NOAA Fisheries to Review Critical Habitat for Rare Large Whale Species in Alaska NOAA Fisheries is initiating a review of designated critical habitat for endangered North Pacific right whales, of which only an estimated 30 animals remain. This review is in response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Save the North Pacific Right Whale. NOAA Fisheries seeks public comments, information, or data by September 12, 2022. Directed Fishing for Pacific Ocean Perch Prohibited in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska NOAA Fisheries is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska, effective on July 13, 2022, at 12 noon (AKT).

West Coast $95 Million in NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Funding Recommended Funding for 19 new and continuing programs and projects will support conservation efforts for West Coast salmon and steelhead populations in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. Inseason Adjustments to the 2022 Pacific Halibut Recreational Fishery NOAA Fisheries announces additional season dates for the Oregon Central Coast Pacific halibut recreational fisheries in Area 2A (Washington, Oregon, and California).

Pacific Islands New Updates on Hawaiian Monk Seals After some incredible teamwork, juvenile Hawaiian monk seal RP92 finally made his way back home to Kalaupapa on Molokaʻi on July 8, 2022. On July 9, Hawaiian monk seal RH58, also known as Rocky, gave birth to a male pup at Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī, Oʻahu.

Southeast REMINDER: Recreational Blueline Tilefish in South Atlantic Federal Waters Will Close on July 26 The recreational sector for blueline tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m. local time on July 26, 2022. For more information, contact Mary Vara, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, at (727) 824-5305. Long-Term Monitoring Highlights Continued Recovery of Roanoke River Fish and Mussel Populations Eighteen years after restoring flow to an important section of the Roanoke River, populations of key species—including the American eel and beneficial freshwater mussels—are growing.

New England/Mid-Atlantic New Research Addresses Need for Bottom Trawl Survey Gear Standardization Fishermen and researchers collaborate on a new study that evaluates the use of a restrictor rope on bottom trawl surveys and its impacts on catch.

Upcoming Deadlines July 18: Pre-proposals due for FY23 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants July 20: Applications due for Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program grants July 21: Proposals due for America the Beautiful Challenge funding July 29: Deadline for 2022–2024 Climate Science Strategy Regional Action Plans public input August 1: Nominations due for the 2022 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award August 15: Proposals due for Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal grants August 29: Proposals due for Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal grants August 31: Online comments due for the NOAA Fisheries Draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy September 12: Comments due for 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Revise the Critical Habitat Designation for the North Pacific Right Whale View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events July 18: Educator Workshop: Summer Institute for Climate Change Education July 19: Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy Webinar (4 p.m. EST) July 26: Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST) July 27–August 31: Summertime Tours at NOAA’s Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute (Wednesdays at 9 a.m. AKT) August 1–5: Educator Workshop: Teachers on the Estuary September 17: 2022 Belugas Count! 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.

Send corrections or technical questions to the FishNews Editor at editor.fishnews@noaa.gov. www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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