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National

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National – National Gravel Extraction Guidance Released for Public Comment

NOAA Fisheries recently released the draft National Gravel Extraction Guidance for public review and comment. The guidance is a revision of the 1996 National Gravel Extraction Policy and provides an updated review of the potential adverse impacts to anadromous fish and their habitat associated with the removal of gravel from streams and flood plains throughout the United States. The guidance also includes a number of impact avoidance and minimization recommendations to be referenced by NOAA Fisheries staff during the consultation and review of proposed extraction operations. Gravel extraction operations have been subject to a critical evaluation of potential impacts due to recent draft jeopardy biological opinions for listed salmonids issued in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

The National Guidance was revised through a collaborative effort by NOAA Fisheries headquarters staff, regional field staff, and representatives from the aggregate mining industry. Regional field offices are encouraged to review the national guidance and develop more detailed guidelines, as appropriate, to address regional needs. The NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region performed this task in May 2003 with the release of the draft Sediment Removal Guidelines.

A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, March 18, 2004 (page 12837), inviting the public to comment on the National Gravel Extraction Guidance document until May 3, 2004. The guidance is posted on the Web at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat. For further information contact Kerry Griffin or Katie McGlynn, NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation (301) 713-4300.

National – Announcement of Extension of Public Comment Period for Counterpart Regulations for Pesticide Consultations

NOAA Fisheries, together with the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), with whom we administer the Endangered Species Act, are announcing the extension of the public comment period for the proposed regulations for pesticide consultations until April 16, 2004 . The proposed regulations were originally published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2004 , with a 60-day comment period scheduled to close March 30, 2004.

In the original publication of the proposed rule, the FWS agreed to take responsibility for receipt of public comments, however, on March 15, 2004 , the Department of the Interior and the FWS were directed to disconnect all of their Information Technology systems from the Internet, which precluded any agencies or other entities from submitting electronic comments on the proposed rule. Consequently, comments submitted electronically on or after March 15, 2004 , to the FWS e-mail address PesticideESARegulations@fws.gov should be re-submitted to Pesticide.ESARegulations@noaa.gov. Additional information regarding this proposed rule may be viewed online at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/pesticides.htm.

National – NOAA, United Nations Environment Program Announce Creation of Caribbean Coordination Office for White Water to Blue Water Activities

NOAA and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), through its Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from land-based activities, announced the signing on March 22 of a collaborative agreement to establish an office in NOAA’s National Ocean Service to help provide effective follow-up support to the White Water to Blue Water related activities in the wider Caribbean Region.

WW2BW activities are designed to promote the practice of integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based management in support of sustainable development.

The establishment of an office to facilitate and coordinate NOAA and UNEP’s activities in support of the marine environment will allow for the active application of best management practices in the region. The office will provide answers to questions, information on marine ecosystem management, and as resources allow, technical assistance in the form of training or on-site expert assistance.

WW2BW's international Steering Committee is working to identify existing programs and develop new partnerships that enhance integrated approaches in areas such as wastewater and sanitation, sustainable agricultural practices, integrated coastal management, sustainable tourism, and environmentally sound marine transportation in the Caribbean .

For more information, contact Ben Sherman at (301) 713-3066 or visit www.international.noaa.gov/ww2bw.

Atlantic – NOAA Assembles Rescue Team to Save Entangled Right Whale

This week, veterinarians and whale experts from NOAA Fisheries have been coordinating a rescue team to remove ropes and buoys from a moving endangered North Atlantic right whale currently off the coast of N.C. Left alone, the entangled lines would kill the whale. The team plans to use sedation and specially constructed tools to remove the lines and the buoys that are wrapped around the juvenile male’s body.

Rough seas off the Carolina coast prevented the team from attempting to remove the rope and buoys on Wednesday and Thursday. Tissue samples were collected on Wednesday in order to help NOAA veterinarians assess the animal’s health. The whale is still quickly moving north, and a satellite-tracking device is helping NOAA keep tabs on its whereabouts. On Friday NOAA divers joined the effort, but the rescue attempt had to be postponed again because the whale had moved out of range and weather conditions were not ideal.

The North Atlantic right whale is the most endangered off American coasts. After a period of intense whaling in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was on the brink of extinction. Although whaling practices have ceased, right whales face serious risks from ship collisions and entanglements in fishing gear and marine debris. The North Atlantic right whale population is now estimated to be approximately 300 animals and is listed as “Endangered” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973. Right whales and all other species of marine mammals are also protected under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. For more information, contact Connie Barclay at 301-713-2370.

For frequent updates on the status of the rescue attempt, photos, and more information about right whales, visit our media center at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter.

Southeast – King Mackerel Trip Limit Reduced to 500 Pounds Per Day in Southern Florida West Coast Subzone for Commercial Hook and Line Vessels

The daily vessel trip limit was reduced to 500 pounds on March 20 for commercial hook-and-line vessels fishing for Gulf group king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone. NOAA Fisheries reduced the trip limit after determining that 390,234 pounds (or 75 percent) of the 520,312-pound quota for this fishery segment would be taken by that date.

The 500-pound trip limit is a daily landing/possession limit that applies to commercial hook-and-line vessels fishing for king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone. The trip limit will remain in effect until the quota is reached or through the end of the fishing year, June 30, 2004 , whichever occurs first. When the quota is reached, the fishery will close for the remainder of the 2003/2004 fishing year. For more information, contact Mark Godcharles at mark.godcharles@noaa.gov; or (727) 570-5305.

Southeast – Red Snapper Recreational Fishery in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters Opens April 21

The recreational fishery for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters will open on April 21 with a 16-inch minimum size limit and a four-fish bag limit that includes captain and crew of for-hire vessels. The fishery will close on October 31, when the recreational quota of 4.47 million pounds is projected to be caught. For more information, contact Phil Steele at phil.steele@noaa.gov or (727) 570-5305.

Southeast – Red Snapper Commercial Fishery in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters Opens April 1

The commercial fishery for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters will open at noon on April 1, and close at noon on April 10. The 2004 Gulf of Mexico commercial red snapper quota is 4.65-million pounds. The commercial fishing season is divided into spring and fall seasons. The spring season began at noon on February 1, with 3.10 million pounds available, and the fall season begins at noon on October 1, with the remainder of the annual quota available. During the spring and fall seasons, fishing is allowed the first 10 days of each month until the quota is caught. Preliminary landings data for February 1-10, 2004 (482,863 pounds), and March 1-10, 2004 (546,627 pounds) totaled 1,029,490 pounds of red snapper landed. Therefore, a total of 2,070,510 pounds remain in the spring quota.

The operator of a vessel with a valid reef fish permit and a Class 1 or Class 2 red snapper license having red snapper aboard must have landed and sold such red snapper before noon on April 10. The minimum size limit for the commercial fishery is 15 inches total length. For more information, contact Phil Steele at phil.steele@noaa.gov or (727) 570-5305.

Mid-Atlantic – Council Agrees on Multi-Year Specs for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

During its March 2004 meeting in Wrightsville Beach , NC , the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council agreed to move forward with Framework Adjustment 5 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. This action is designed to streamline the administrative and regulatory processes related to specifying Total Allowable Landings for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. If adopted by the Council at its next meeting, this action would allow for specifications for total allowable landings to be set in one year for the following one, two, or three years. The current practice is that specifications for the next fishing year are set on an annual basis. For more information, contact Daniel T. Furlong, dfurlong@mafmc.org or 302-674-2331, Ext. 19.

Pacific – NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Announces Advisory Council Members

NOAA Fisheries announced a $96,900 award for fisheries habitat restoration in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Funds were awarded through the NOAA Restoration Center’s NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) this week announced the appointment of one member and two alternates to serve on the site’s Sanctuary Advisory Council.

Named to fill open seats for recreational fishing and the public at-large are the following individuals:

Recreational Fishing – Primary member: Captain Merit McCrea, Santa Barbara , Calif.

Recreational Fishing – Alternate: Stephen Roberson, Camarillo , Calif.

Public At-Large – Alternate: Jim Knowlton, Ventura , Calif.

For more information, contact Michael Murray at (805) 884-1464.

March 23, 2004

Rule. Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements (Modifications)
Rule. Taking Marine Mammals; ALWTRP

March 24, 2004

Notice. Marine Mammals
Notice. Endangered Species
Rule. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska ; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska
Rule. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska

March 25, 2004

Notice. Western pacific FMC; Public Meeting

March 26, 2004

Proposed Rule. NE Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish; Framework Adj. 4.
Notice. Alaska King and Tanner Crab Fisheries; Workshop.
Rule. Fisheries of the EEZ off Alaska ; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the BS&AI Management Area, a closure
Rule. Amendment 13A to South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper FMP