NOAA Fisheries FishNews—October 31

OCTOBER 31, 2024

Highlights Two Fish Passage Funding Opportunities Now Open, One Focused on Tribes We're announcing $95 million to support new fish passage projects through two funding opportunities, with one focused on tribes. Projects will help protect and restore migrating fish and their habitats, and support communities and economies that depend on these resources. Science: The Secret Ingredient Behind Sustainable Seafood Science supports healthy seafood harvests and thriving fishing communities today and for generations to come. Staff from New England-based local seafood restaurant Row 34 visited NOAA Fisheries in Woods Hole, Massachusetts to learn more. New Clues Reveal Genetic Diversity among Alaska's Harbor Porpoises A new study published in Molecular Ecology sheds light on the hidden structure of Alaska's harbor porpoise populations, using environmental DNA and molecular genetic analyses. New Tool Provides Insight into Coastal Community Well-Being The new Community Environmental Justice Explorer web tool describes environmental justice concerns for nearly 5,000 coastal communities in the United States. It helps managers, researchers, and the public explore and compare the different pressures coastal communities can face.

Alaska Responders Prepare to Help Entangled Cook Inlet Beluga Whale On October 1, protected species observers working at the Don Young Port of Alaska reported an entangled Cook Inlet beluga whale to NOAA’s stranding hotline. The Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network quickly coordinated with agencies and partners to evaluate the beluga and its entanglement. Agencies, local businesses, organizations, and the community came together to monitor its movement and help support the response.

West Coast Gray Whale Calf Count Remains Low in 2024 as Population Slowly Emerges from Multi-Year Decline The number of gray whale calves migrating with their mothers along the California Coast this year was one of the lowest on record. The population is still regaining ground after an Unusual Mortality Event that resulted in a sharp decline in overall population numbers. New Science Plan Outlines Research Priorities on Effects of Offshore Wind Development Along the West Coast NOAA Fisheries launched the new Community Environmental Justice Explorer web tool. The tool describes environmental justice concerns for nearly 5,000 coastal communities in the United States. It provides a dashboard to explore and compare the different pressures coastal communities might face.

Pacific Islands Video: Community Members Restore Hawaiʻi Coral Reefs and Reconnect with Traditional Hawaiian Ecological Practices With support from NOAA, Kuleana Coral Restoration is training Native Hawaiians and community members in coral reef restoration. Meet the people taking part in the program.

Southeast Is U.S. Wild-Caught Shrimp Sustainable? The Short Answer Is Yes Learn the facts about wild-caught American shrimp, including what makes it a sustainable seafood choice.

New England/Mid-Atlantic Where Do Atlantic Salmon Go to Beat the Heat? Researchers have successfully used cameras operated from a helicopter to map surface water temperatures in Maine’s Narraguagus River. This is an important step toward habitat conservation for endangered Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish. Clam Survey Dredges Up Ice Age Find Scientists on our 2024 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Survey dredged up a mysterious object. A Smithsonian expert solved the mystery, identifying it as a likely extinct Ice Age walrus jawbone—a once-in-a-lifetime find!

Upcoming Deadlines October 31: Applications due for Species Recovery Grants to States October 31: Applications due for Species Recovery Grants to Tribes November 1: Applications due for Bluefin Tuna Research Program November 4: Proposals due for Citizen Science for Improved Stock Assessments and Climate-Ready Fisheries Management November 21: Applications due for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program November 22: Deadline for the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee’s survey on marine mammal deterrents November 25: Applications due for Partnership for Research Excellence in Sustainable Seafood funding opportunity November 25: Applications due for the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition November 27: Comments close for Incidental Take Authorization—Cargo Terminal Replacement Project in Anchorage, Alaska December 13: Pre-proposals due for Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program funding February 10: Applications due for Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants February 27: Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events November 2–3: 2024 Right Whale Festival November 4–7: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting November 13–18: Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting November 20: Webinar for NOAA Restoring Fish Passage and Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal funding opportunities December 2–6: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 3–5: New England Fishery Management Council Meeting December 4–5: Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting December 5–10: North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting December 3: Webinar for NOAA Restoring Fish Passage and Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal funding opportunities December 9–12: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 12: Tribal-focused webinar for Restoring Fish Passage and Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal funding opportunities December 16–18: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting 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.

Questions? Visit our website for national and regional contact information

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