NOAA FISHERIES: FishNews

FishNews January 23, 2004

 

WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

National

 Preliminary U.S. Positions for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

National

 Proposal to Modify Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements

National

 Proposed Regulations Within the Madison and Swanson Sites and the Steamboat Lumps Marine Reserves

National

 Rebuilding Plan for Red Grouper is Open for Public Comment

National

 Proposed Rule Would Change Management of Skates

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stock Assessment Review Workshop for Goliath Grouper and Hogfish Extended by a day, January 27-30, 2004, Tampa, Florida

Interim Scientific Committee For Tuna & Tuna-Like Species Convenes in Honolulu at the Hawaii Convention Center during February 2-4, 2004

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island, February 3-4, 2004

Joint Highly Migratory Species & Billfish Advisory Panel Meeting, Holiday Inn, Silver Spring, February 9-11, 2004.

Miami International Boat Show - Fisheries Administrator, Bill Hogarth, will meet with recreational fishermen

Florida State University Mote International Symposium in Fisheries Ecology “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Integrating marine and human ecology in managing fisheries” - Call for Abstracts, Due June 1, 2004

NOAA Fisheries Actions

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WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

National - Preliminary U.S. Positions for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The notice of preliminary decisions for the 13th Conference of the Parties (COP13), to be convened in Bangkok, Thailand, October 2-14, 2004, was published in the Federal Register on January 12, 2004. An open meeting to request public comment on the notice is scheduled for February 5, 2004, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Rachel Carson Room of the Department of the Interior. No final decisions have been made; marine species that are still under consideration for proposal by the U.S. include humphead wrasse, spiny dogfish and sharks. The U.S. may also discuss documents on seahorse management, whaling, cooperation between CITES and FAO and permit requirements for species caught on the high seas.

For further information, see the FWS International web site at http://international.fws.gov .
 

Northeast - Proposal to Modify Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements

NOAA Fisheries has proposed some modifications to existing reporting and recordkeeping requirements for federally permitted seafood dealers participating in the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, Atlantic sea scallop, Northeast multispecies, monkfish, Atlantic mackerel, squid, butterfish, Atlantic surfclam, ocean quahog, Atlantic herring, Atlantic deep-sea red crab, tilefish, Atlantic bluefish, skates, and/or spiny dogfish fisheries. The purpose of this action is to improve monitoring of commercial landings by collecting more timely and accurate data, to enhance the enforceability of the existing regulations, and to ensure consistency in reporting requirements among fisheries.

This action would require daily electronic reporting of all fish purchases by federally permitted dealers; eliminate dealer reporting via an Interactive Voice Response system; require dealers to report the disposition of fish purchased using a trip identifier; and modify the dealer reporting requirements for the surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries to make them consistent with the requirements of other fisheries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Pentony at (978)281-9283; or email Michael.Pentony@noaa.gov.

Copies of the proposed regulatory amendment and supporting materials are available from via the Internet at http://www.nero.nmfs.gov. Written comments on the proposal should be sent to:

Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator
Northeast Region, NMFS
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

The outside of the envelope should be marked “Comments on Proposed Rule for Dealer Electronic Reporting.'' Comments may also be sent via fax to (978) 281-9135. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. All comments must be received on or before February 20, 2004.
 

Gulf – Proposed Regulations Within the Madison and Swanson Sites and the Steamboat Lumps Marine Reserves

NOAA Fisheries has issued proposed regulations to implement Amendment 21 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 21) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). These proposed regulations would modify the fishing restrictions that apply within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and would extend the period of effectiveness of those restrictions through June 16, 2010. The regulations are designed to protect the spawning aggregations of species within these areas and prevent overfishing.

Comments on the proposed rule must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on February 19, 2004. Written comments on the proposed rule must be sent to:

Phil Steele
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS
9721 Executive Center Drive N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Comments also may be sent via fax to 727-570-5583. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet. Copies of Amendment 21 can also be downloaded from the Council's website at http://www.gulfcouncil.org. The previous link is an external link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Steele at 727-570-5305, or e-mail: phil.steele@noaa.gov.
 

Gulf – Rebuilding Plan for Red Grouper is Open for Public Comment

Amendment 1 to the Reef Fish FMP would establish a 10-year stock rebuilding plan for red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the Amendment would establish measures designed to protect other shallow-water grouper, deep-water grouper, and tilefishes. The proposed rebuilding plan seeks to achieve a 9.4-percent reduction in the recreational and commercial harvest of red grouper, relative to the average landings for 1999-2001, during the first 3 years of the 10-year rebuilding plan. Measures to accomplish this reduction equitably for the commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery include:

(1) establishing a red grouper commercial quota of 5.31 million lb, gutted weight;
(2) establishing a 2-fish red grouper recreational bag limit (within the aggregate 5-fish grouper bag limit); and
(3) including a provision that would close the entire shallow-water grouper commercial fishery when either the red grouper quota or the shallow-water grouper quota is reached.

Written comments must be sent to:

Phil Steele
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS
9721 Executive Center Drive N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

or

via fax to 727-570-5583

Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet. Comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 8, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Steele at 727-570-5305; e-mail: Phil.Steele@noaa.gov.
 

Alaska – Proposed Rule Would Change Management of Skates

NOAA Fisheries has published a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 63 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Amendment 63, if approved, would move skates from the "other species'" list to the "target species" list in the FMP. By including skates as a target species, a directed fishery for skates in the Gulf of Alaska may be managed to reduce the potential for overfishing skates.

Comments may be sent to:

Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator
Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802
Attn: Lori Durall

or delivered to room

Federal Building, Room 420
709 West 9th Street
Juneau, AK

 

Comments may also be sent via fax to 907-586-7557. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet. All comments must be received by February 20, 2004.

For more information contact Melanie Brown, 907-586-7228 or melanie.brown@noaa.gov.
 

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stock Assessment Review Workshop for Goliath Grouper and Hogfish Extended by a day, January 27-30, 2004, Tampa, Florida

The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center will hold a Stock Assessment Review Workshop in Tampa, Florida as part of the Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process to evaluate the status of goliath grouper (formerly known as jewfish) and hogfish stocks. The Stock Assessment Review Workshop will convene a select group of scientists, commercial and recreational fishing representatives, environmental organization representatives, and other knowledgeable persons to review recently completed stock assessments on these species. The goliath grouper assessment was prepared by assessment biologists at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and the hogfish assessment was prepared by the University of Miami under contract to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The workshop will evaluate the scientific validity of the assessments and determine whether the assessments are suitable for management purposes. The workshop may also recommend status determination criteria (minimum stock size thresholds and maximum fishing mortality thresholds) needed for determination of the overfished and overfishing status, and may recommend levels of allowable biological catch. A report will be produced by the workshop which may be used by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in preparing rebuilding plans, if needed, and future management actions for these stocks.

The meeting will be held January 27-30, 2004 at the

Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore
2225 North Lois Avenue
Tampa, FL 33607
phone: 813/877-6688

It will begin on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., and will conclude by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2004. An agenda and materials to be reviewed at the workshop are available from NMFS SEDAR Coordinator John Carmichael (843-769-4520, e-mail John.Carmichael@safmc.net. The goliath grouper and hogfish assessments can also be downloaded from the Downloadable Files page of the Gulf Council website (http://www.gulfcouncil.org). The previous link is an external link.

Interim Scientific Committee For Tuna & Tuna-Like Species Convenes in Honolulu

An international group of fishery scientists will meet at the Hawaii Convention Center during February 2-4 to review fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species in the North Pacific Ocean and discuss research on the status of the fish stocks.

This will be the fourth meeting of the Interim Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-Like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC). This inter-governmental committee was formed in 1995 by Japan and the United States to enhance scientific research and stimulate multi-national cooperation for the conservation and rational utilization of tuna, swordfish, and other tuna-like species of the North Pacific and to establish the scientific groundwork for possible future discussions concerning multi-lateral arrangements for the conservation and utilization of these resources in the region. Because the fish stocks of interest typically range over wide expanses of the North Pacific during their life cycle and are harvested by highly mobile fishing fleets from many countries, a multilateral approach to research and conservation is essential. Participating members of the ISC include Canada, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United States. Representatives of several intergovernmental fisheries organizations and marine science organizations participate as observers. A report of the ISC plenary session will be prepared by delegates and issued to the public.

The ISC meeting is being coordinated and facilitated by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. For further information, contact Keith Bigelow 808-983-5388.

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island, February 3-4, 2004

The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) will meet on February 3-4, 2004, in Providence, Rhode Island. The meeting will be held at the Providence Biltmore Hotel, which is located at 11 Dorrance Street near downtown Providence. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9:00 AM on February 3rd and run until 3:30 PM on February 4th. For additional information, see the “Recent and Upcoming Meetings” under the “Take Reduction Team” link on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan web site ( http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/).

You may also contact your ALWTRT member or the ALWTRP Coordinator, Diane Borggaard (978-281-9328 ext. 6503 or Diane.Borggaard@noaa.gov) for additional information. Please note that the final meeting summary for the 2003 ALWTRT meeting is now available on the ALWTRP web site at “Recent and Upcoming Meetings” under the “Take Reduction Team” link.

Joint Highly Migratory Species & Billfish Advisory Panel Meeting, Holiday Inn, Silver Spring, February 9-11, 2004

NOAA Fisheries will hold a joint meeting of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) and Billfish Advisory Panels (AP) on February 9-11, 2004, in Silver Spring, MD (68FR51560, August 27, 2003). The intent of this meeting is to consider the alternatives for the conservation and management of highly migratory species.

The joint AP meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 8777 Georgia Ave. (Rt. 97), Silver Spring, MD 20910 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10; and from 8 a.m. to 5 p. m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2004. The meeting is open to the public.

Materials related to the joint AP meeting will be available after January 26, 2004. Please contact:

Ms. Othel Freeman
Highly Migratory Species Management Division
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-2347

for meeting logistics or materials.

For further information related to HMS please contact Ms. Karyl Brewster-Geisz, 301-713-2347 or see the HMS web page at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.

Miami International Boat Show - Fisheries Administrator, Bill Hogarth, will meet with recreational fishermen

Bill Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, will meet with constituents at the Miami International Boat Show on February 13, 2004, 9:30AM -11:30AM (Conference Room TBA at the show). This is the second year that NOAA Fisheries has coordinated with other line offices of NOAA (Sanctuaries, Sea Grant, Enforcement) and other agencies and organizations to provide attendees an opportunity to visit and obtain up-to-date information from the various government agencies and organizations dedicated to managing marine resources. The Miami International Boat Show is held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center (February 12-17, 2004).

Florida State University Mote International Symposium in Fisheries Ecology – “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Integrating marine and human ecology in managing fisheries” - Call for Abstracts, Due June 1, 2004

Entitled "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Integrating marine and human ecology in managing fisheries", this is the fifth annual Florida State University Mote international symposium in fisheries ecology. The symposium topic will focus on the requirements of successful fisheries management to integrate the dynamic systems of the marine ecosystem, in which the fishery targets are embedded, and the economic and behavioral systems of the people seeking to fish. The problems that scientists and managers address in their attempt to perform this integration include, among others, overfishing, overcapitalization, discarding and high-grading of catch, bycatch of charismatic species, conflicts among stakeholders, and the impacts of fishing gear. This symposium will focus on contrasting the strategies and contexts associated with successful management wit those associated with management failures. The symposium will be held in Sarasota, Florida, November 9-11, 2004.

For more information about this symposium and criteria for abstracts go to: http://www.bio.fsu.edu/mote/current.htm The previous link is an external link. or contact Dr. Felicia Coleman at coleman@bio.fsu.edu

FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS

For a list of only actions open for public comment, try going to http://www.regulations.gov/ and scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For a listing of all daily actions in the Federal Register.

NOAA FISHERIES ACTIONS


January 21, 2004

Notice - Marine Mammals; File No. 821-1588-03 and 909-1726-00

Notice - Taking Marine Mammals, Miami Construction Project

Rule - Fisheries of the EEZ, Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska

Rule - Atka Mackerel Closures and Openings in Stat. Area 451

Rule - Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543


January 23, 2004

Notice - Endangered Species; File No. 1448

Proposed Rule - Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Framework Adjustment


January 26, 2004

Notice – Endangered Species; File No. 1377

Notice – Endangered Species; File No. 1450

Notice - Taking Marine Mammals, in Beaufort Sea



Federal Register Notices

For a list of only those actions open for public comment, try going to http://www.regulations.gov and scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For a listing of all actions in the Federal Register
 
NOAA Fisheries Identity Mark

For more information, contact NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Constituent Services, (301) 713-9501, or via e-mail, Fishnews.Feedback@noaa.gov. The FishNews website is available by going to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov and clicking on the FishNews icon.

 

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