NOAA Fisheries FishNews — July 28

JULY 28, 2022 NOAA Celebrates Habitat Month 2022 Celebrating Habitat Month 2022: Healthy Habitat, Resilient Infrastructure During the month of July, we have been sharing the many habitat conservation efforts of NOAA Fisheries on 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. First Comprehensive Policy on Mitigation to Conserve Natural Resources We are pleased to announce our first comprehensive Mitigation Policy for Trust Resources, which will improve conservation through avoiding, minimizing, and compensating for adverse impacts to natural resources, simultaneously advancing clean energy, infrastructure, and environmental goals. Highlights Final Reminder: Draft Climate Science Regional Action Plans NOAA Fisheries released seven draft 2022–2024 climate science regional action plans for public comment. These come in response to high and growing demands for information on what is changing, what is at risk, and how to respond to climate-related changes in U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems. Each plan identifies specific actions to better track changes, assess risks, provide early warnings, and evaluate best management strategies for changing conditions in each region. The comment deadline is July 29. Alaska Science Blog: Winter Observing on a Commercial Longline Vessel Join fish biologist Rory Morgan as she braves the Arctic winter on a commercial fishing vessel in the Bering Sea to collect valuable scientific information as part of the North Pacific Observer Program. This is the seventh post in the ongoing Winter Observing on a Long-Line Vessel science blog series. Southeast Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration to Protect Georgia’s Coast NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center is working with partners at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on two oyster reef restoration projects that will protect Georgia’s saltwater marshes and coastline. New England/Mid-Atlantic Ocean Models Help Link Environmental Conditions to a Fishery Stock Assessment NOAA scientists used ocean models to develop more detailed information about a seasonal, offshore cold-water mass called the “cold pool.” They helped unlock a mystery: why have yellowtail flounder off southern New England and the mid-Atlantic not rebounded despite nearly 30 years of recovery efforts? We are one step closer to using ocean and climate information to improve stock assessments and management measures. Upcoming Deadlines 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 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 August 1–5: Educator Workshop: Teachers on the Estuary August 3–31: Summertime Tours at NOAA’s Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute (Wednesdays at 9 a.m. AKT) August 8–11: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Hybrid Meeting 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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