NOAA Fisheries FishNews — August 4th

AUGUST 4, 2022 NOAA Fisheries Invites Comments to Update Recreational Fisheries Policy To better serve saltwater recreational anglers and our coastal communities, NOAA Fisheries is asking for your guidance in revising our 2015 National Policy for Saltwater Recreational Fisheries. Comments will be accepted online through December 31, as well as during webinars and in-person meetings. Highlights Podcast: A Transformational Opportunity for Habitat Conservation On this podcast episode of Dive in With NOAA Fisheries, we discuss habitat restoration projects with Director of the Office of Habitat Conservation Carrie Selberg Robinson. Historic climate resilience funding for NOAA, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will improve habitat restoration, coastal resilience, and weather forecasting infrastructure. New Updates for North Atlantic Right Whale Road to Recovery The North Atlantic Right Whale Road to Recovery describes NOAA Fisheries’ efforts to halt the current population decline and recover the species, including new vessel speed regulations and a “roadmap” for use of ropeless gear. Celebrating 50 Years of the Marine Mammal Protection Act NOAA Fisheries marks 50 years of marine mammal science, conservation, and recovery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Deadline Extended: Nominate an Outstanding Steward in Marine, Coastal, or Riverine Habitat Conservation by August 22 Do you know someone who has demonstrated exceptional achievement and dedication to marine, coastal, or riverine habitat conservation? The deadline to nominate a colleague for the Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award has been extended to August 22, 2022. Alaska Science Blog: Innovation to Learn More About Alaska's Deep-Sea Corals and the Species that Live There During their most recent dive, researchers encountered more interesting deep sea creatures whose relationships with each other create the deep-sea ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska. This is the eighth post of the Innovation to Learn About Deep-Sea Coral Communities in the Gulf of Alaska blog series. West Coast Survivor Vaquita Porpoises Escape Extinction Longer Than Expected While vaquita remain on the edge of extinction, new research shows that the few survivors are reproducing and may have found ways to evade the gillnets that have otherwise decimated the species. Unfortunately, deadly fishing activities are on the increase. Innovative Partnerships Fast Track Polluted Portland Harbor Toward Restoration To restore habitat after pollution, NOAA and its federal, state, and tribal partners are working together to restore parts of Oregon using an innovative mechanism known as restoration banking. Students and Scientists Design New Antarctic Field Camp for Research in the Extremes Architecture students at the University of Colorado Denver work to design and build sturdy but livable homes for researchers in Antarctica. Pacific Islands Science Blog: Demystifying the Aquaculture Permit Process Hollings Scholar Nicole Adamson dives into aquaculture permitting and public engagement during a summer internship in the Pacific Islands region. Southeast Dodging the Dead Zone: Finding Shrimp During Low-Oxygen Conditions Seasonal hypoxic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico force many shrimp to relocate. Scientists from NOAA and North Carolina State University are trying to make these shrimp easier to find. Upcoming Deadlines August 15: Proposals due for Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal grants August 22: Nominations due for the 2022 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award 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 September 30: Comments due for Rule to Amend the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Regulations View more news and announcements Upcoming Events August 10: Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule Informational Webinar August 10–31: 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 August 16: Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule Informational Webinar August 24: Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule Informational Webinar 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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