National

Atlantic & Gulf

Atlantic

Northwest

W. Pacific

Climate Workshop for Alaska Region: "Enhancing Decision-Making Through Integrated Climate Research", February 18-19, Anchorage, Alaska

Watch a mural come to life at our Santa Cruz lab!

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting, February 24-25, 2004, Washington, D.C.

National – NOAA Fisheries Awards $900 Thousand for Projects Through the Endangered Species Act

NOAA Fisheries awarded more than $900,000 to six Atlantic coast states and two territories to conserve and protect threatened and endangered marine species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). For the first time in the history of the ESA, Congress provided funding to NOAA Fisheries specifically for the implementation of a program, under section 6 of the Act, to foster state cooperation in national conservation efforts.

The funds will be matched in a 3:1 cost-share (state to federal funding) for conservation and research efforts on ESA-listed marine species along the Atlantic coast and U.S. Caribbean Territories. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive funding for work on shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon, smalltooth sawfish, and leatherback, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles.

Projects range from tracking movements of sturgeon and sawfish to determine habitat preference; to identifying endangered species interactions with gillnet fisheries. Public education about species conservation is a primary component of many projects.

To submit a grant proposal, the states entered into a cooperative agreement with NOAA Fisheries that demonstrates a commitment to conservation, and an ability to implement and monitor such programs. The funding of these projects was conducted through a competitive proposal process. NOAA Fisheries plans to continue and expand the Section 6 program in the future, and welcomes agreements with any state interested in conserving their marine species. For more information contact Susan Pultz, Recovery Coordinator for Protected Resources, (301) 713-1401.

Atlantic & Gulf - NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comment on Proposal to Lessen Fishing Impacts on Sea Turtles & Reopen Grand Banks to U.S. Pelagic Longline Fleet

The conclusion of a three-year experiment in the Northeast Distant statistical reporting area and recent estimates of sea turtle bycatch in the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery have prompted NOAA Fisheries to propose mandatory changes in fishing practices for the fleet. Estimates show that the number of turtle takes in this fishery in 2003 were too high. Under the proposal, turtle takes would be reduced dramatically and U.S. fishermen would regain access to prime swordfish grounds in the Grand Banks.

“We are concerned about the level of incidental take of sea turtles last year,” said Dr. Rebecca Lent, deputy director of NOAA Fisheries. “But the good news is that longline fishermen want to protect sea turtles and have worked alongside us over the past few years to develop new turtle-friendly fishing methods and gear technology.”

The agency is proposing changes that could lead to up to a 90% reduction in sea turtle captures. The proposal calls on fishermen to switch from the traditional “J” style hook to large circle hooks. Fishermen would be able to use either 18/0 circle hooks with an offset not to exceed 10 degrees and mackerel bait, or 18/0 non-offset circle hooks and squid bait.

All pelagic longline vessels would further be required to carry certain types of equipment and handling protocols to facilitate the safe release of turtles that couldn’t avoid capture. Depending on the hook and bait combination used, fishermen could realize some increases or significant decreases in the amount of target catch (tunas and swordfish). The economic effects of the use of these new gear combinations will likely vary by region, and may have more severe socio-economic impacts for vessels fishing warmer waters.

NOAA Fisheries prohibited the American pelagic longline fishery from operating in the Grand Banks in 2001 because of turtle catches in that area. Since then, the agency has conducted cooperative research with the industry to determine which hook and bait treatments successfully avoided sea turtles and to develop technology that would aid in safe turtle handling and release techniques.

For more background on these experiments go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/turtles To read the proposed rule, go to:www.regulations.gov/fredpdfs/04-02982.pdf

The public comment period closes at 5 P.M. on March 15, 2004. Written comments should be submitted to:

Christopher Rogers, Chief
Highly Migratory Species Management Division (SF/1)
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Comments may also be faxed to 301-713-1917, or sent via e-mail to: 648AR80.PROPOSED@noaa.gov.

Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 0648-AR80. Public hearings will be held March 2-9 in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Louisiana. For further information, contact Russell Dunn, Greg Fairclough, or Rick Pearson at (727) 570-5447.

Atlantic – Name That Shark! New Identification Guide for Sharks, Tunas and Billfishes is Available

NOAA Fisheries, in partnership with Rhode Island Sea Grant, released a “Guide to Sharks, Tunas & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic & Gulf of Mexico.” The book presents 44 of the sharks, tunas and billfishes commonly found in these waters. Developed for use in the field, NOAA Fisheries intends this as a quick reference to assist commercial and recreational fishermen, and fish dealers with accurate identification of these fishes and their efforts obey the laws and support conservation efforts for these marine species. The book also includes information about reducing the risk of shark attack as well as procedures for the protection, handling and release of entangled marine mammals and turtles. The book is available for $25 from Rhode Island Sea Grant, with discounts offered for multiple purchases.

It can be purchased online at http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu or by calling 401-874-6842.

Northwest - Scientific Panel Completes Preliminary Report on Haro Strait
Porpoise Investigation

NOAA Fisheries released a preliminary report on the investigation of the large number of harbor porpoise strandings that occurred last spring in Washington State around the time that the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup was conducting mid-range sonar exercises in Haro Strait. A scientific panel investigated the possible causes of death of 11 harbor porpoises and did not find any definitive evidence of acoustic trauma that could be linked to sonar from the Navy operation. The 60-page preliminary report was made available for scientific review.

For more information and to see the report, go to:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/mmammals/cetaceans/necropsypage.htm

Western Pacific – Volunteers Count Humpback Whales off Hawaiian Shores

600 volunteers gathered data from the shores of O’ahu, Kaua’I, the Big Island and Kaho’olawe at the eighth annual Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count to tally sightings and document surface behaviors. The sanctuary monitors the status of the whales that migrate in the winter to Hawaiian waters to breed, calve and nurse. Scientific studies have shown that Hawaii’s humpback population has been increasing at an annual rate of approximately seven percent for the last 10 years. Over time, data from the Sanctuary Ocean Count can be used to corroborate these scientific findings. Hawaiian waters provide critical breeding habitat for an estimated 5,000 whales, or approximately two-thirds of the N.Pacific stock of humpback whales.

Two more Sanctuary Ocean Counts are scheduled for February 28 and March 27. Final results of the Ocean Count will be analyzed and compiled, and will be available on the Sanctuary web site in Fall 2004. For more information go to http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov

February 9, 2004

February 10, 2004

February 11, 2004

February 12, 2004

February 13, 2004