NOAA Fisheries FishNews—March 21

MARCH 21, 2024

Highlights Recent Prescott Grants Supporting Seal and Sea Lion Conservation Partners The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program provides funding to stranding network participants. Our marine mammal network partners leverage this funding to improve their stranding response and investigation capabilities for pinniped conservation. We are proud to highlight the recent accomplishments of organizations that used Prescott Grant funds to respond to and conserve seal and sea lion populations. Nominate an Outstanding Steward in Marine, Coastal, or Riverine Habitat Conservation NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation and the American Fisheries Society are seeking nominations for the 2024 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award. Nominations are due by June 1, 2024.

West Coast Closure of 2019–2023 Eastern North Pacific Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Event NOAA Fisheries has determined the Unusual Mortality Event involving eastern North Pacific gray whales is over. We made this determination, in consultation with the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events and outside experts, because the increased stranding rate that triggered the declaration is no longer occurring.

Pacific Islands Meet Makana—One of the First Hawaiian Monk Seal Pups of 2024 We are excited to announce the first Oʻahu-born Hawaiian monk seal pup of 2024! The pup was reported on February 6 on the north shore of Oʻahu. The tradition of naming is important in Hawaiian culture. Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response has a program with local schools that gives students the opportunity to name new pups. Learn more about how Makana’s name was chosen.

New England/Mid-Atlantic Friends of Hood Pond: How Partnerships Build Community Wildlife, fish passage, and communities are strengthened through partnerships and restoration efforts in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Stock Assessments Benefit from Rockhopper Trawl Efficiency Study The results from a collaborative study led by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center are helping produce more accurate estimates of abundance, which can increase the confidence in catch advice for some species. Understanding how efficiently our survey gear captures bottom-dwelling species is a key improvement. Science Blog: A Food Blog For Planktivores While sampling plankton aboard NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow, research fishery biologist Katey Marancik wondered what a “planktivore” food blog would look like—so she decided to write one! Read what she came up with during the 2024 Ecosystem Monitoring Survey.

Upcoming Deadlines March 31: Applications due for the Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement funding opportunity April 1: Applications due for the Fiscal Year 2024 Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Projects April 5: Deadline for Public Comment on National Aquaculture Development Plan April 10: Pre-proposals due for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Coastal Resilience Fund April 11: Applications due for USDA Value-Added Producer Grants April 12: Applications due for established Regional Ocean Partnerships funding opportunity April 15: Applications due for United States Department of Agriculture Special Research Grants Program Aquaculture Research April 25: Deadline for Public Comment on Proposed Rule for Updating and Clarifying Provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act April 26: Applications due for the Alaska Indigenous Engagement Program Grants April 30: Applications due for the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program funding opportunity May 2: Applications due for the Young Fishermen’s Career Development Projects competition May 7: Applications due for the Sea Grant FY 2024 American Lobster Research funding opportunity May 14: Applications due for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Food Promotion Program funding opportunity May 14: Applications due for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Promotion Program funding opportunity May 14: Applications due for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Regional Food System Partnerships funding opportunity May 28: Applications due for two Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports Program grant competitions June 1: Deadline for nominations for the 2024 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award  View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events March 27: Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting March 28: Public Listening Session for the Atlantic Tunas Harpoon Category Fishery April 4–16: North Pacific Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting April 5–18: Public Listening Sessions for the Seafood Import Monitoring Program April 5–11: Pacific Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting April 8–11: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting April 9–11:  Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting April 16–18: New England Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting May 18: Ocean Fun Days 2024 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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