NOAA Fisheries FishNews—September 7

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Highlights $45 Million Available to Advance Habitat Restoration Priorities of Tribes and Underserved Communities NOAA Fisheries has announced the availability of $45 million in funding for projects that will advance the coastal habitat restoration priorities of tribes and underserved communities. The funding will support capacity building, actionable science support, and restoration activities that benefit tribes and underserved communities and enhance their resilience to climate change. Applications are due by December 19, 2023. Infographic: Plunge into the Deep-Sea World of Squat Lobsters Get up close and personal with squat lobsters in a new infographic based on research led by Dr. Martha Nizinski of the NOAA National Systematics Laboratory. This new information advances our understanding of squat lobster’s ecology, behavior, and habitat use. Photos: 2024 Shark Art Calendar Contest Winners We are pleased to announce the winning drawings of the 2024 Shark Art Calendar Contest! Thanks to the K-8th grade students who submitted their work. Take a look at their amazing art and order a calendar for yourself!

West Coast New Research Predicts Effects of Marine Heatwaves on Top Ocean Predators New research published in Nature Communications finds that the effects on marine predators such as sharks, tuna, and mammals vary widely and can redistribute species across international boundaries. This information will help managers consider how species could redistribute during heatwaves and how to adjust regulations to account for these shifts. Answering The Call: SeaWorld San Diego SeaWorld is an important member of NOAA Fisheries West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Since its inception in 1965, SeaWorld has rescued more than 40,000 stranded marine mammals. Meet some of the members of the people who work every day to rescue and rehabilitate marine animals in distress.

Pacific Islands Continuing a Conservation Science Legacy: 40 Years of Monitoring Hawaiian Monk Seals For more than 40 years, our monitoring and recovery work in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument has been critical to guiding the protection of Hawaiian monk seals. Science Blog: Sailing the High Seas—Two Decades of Counting Whales and Dolphins in Hawaiian Waters The Hawaiian Islands Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Surveys of 2002, 2010, and 2017 provided critical data on the sizes of whale and dolphin populations. With the 2023 survey underway, we reflect on what we have learned about cetacean abundance in Hawaiʻi.

Southeast Science Blog: Studying Seabirds in the Gulf of Mexico Scientists are gathering information about seabirds for restoration planning and evaluation. This information will assist with management and restoration planning to ensure that projects are designed to provide maximum benefits to seabird species injured during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Upcoming Deadlines September 12: Comments due for Proposed Rule to Revise the Guidelines for National Standards 4, 8, and 9 September 22: Comments due for Proposed Rule to Designate Critical Habitat for Rice’s Whale October 17: Comments due for Proposed Rule to Designate Critical Habitat for Green Sea Turtles October 30: Comments due for the proposed reclassification of pillar coral from threatened to endangered November 17: Applications due for Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants November 30: Letters of intent due for NOAA’s Climate Ready Workforce Funding Opportunity December 19: Applications due for project proposals to advance habitat restoration priorities of tribes and underserved communities February 13: Applications due for NOAA’s Climate Ready Workforce Funding Opportunity February 13: Applications due for NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge Funding Opportunity View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events September 7–14: Pacific Fishery Management Council September 2023 Meeting September 11–15: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council September 2023 Meeting September 15, 18–20: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council September 2023 Meeting September 20: Listening session on the management strategy for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico September 23: Alaska 2023 Belugas Count! September 26: Public hearing for the proposed reclassification of pillar coral from threatened to endangered September 26–28: New England Fishery Management Council September 2023 Meeting  September 27: Webinar on using Magnuson-Stevens Act Authority for fisheries in the geographic area of more than one council October 3–5: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council October 2023 Meeting October 5–10: North Pacific Fishery Management Council October 2023 Meeting October 23–26: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council October 2023 Meeting November 1–8: Pacific Fishery Management Council November 2023 Meeting November 4–5: 2023 Right Whale Festival 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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