National

Mid-Atlantic

Atlantic

Pacific

National – NOAA Fisheries Congratulates 2004 Wetland Awardees

Six outstanding people from across the country were honored Thursday evening on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, for their contributions to wetlands conservation. As a co-sponsor of the award, along with several government agencies and the Environmental Law Institute, NOAA Fisheries congratulates the recipients and extends heart-felt thanks for their important work. Their efforts will help ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy high quality wetlands, biological diversity and clean water.

"NOAA Fisheries congratulates this year's National Wetlands Awardees on their hard work and dedication in protecting and restoring our nation's wetlands," said Dr. Bill Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries. "So many fish and shellfish depend on wetlands for habitat and cleaner water. The awardees' efforts are felt by many."

The 2004 Awardees are Peg Bostwick of Michigan, Jack Branning of Mississippi, Norman Brunswig of South Carolina, Francis Golet of Rhode Island, Sky Lewey of Texas and Barbara Salzman of California. The award has been given annually since 1989. To learn more about program, the awardees and their accomplishments, contact Erica Pencak at the Environmental Law Institute at (202) 939-3822 or visit www.eli.org.

Mid-Atlantic – Management Measures Proposed for Bluefish; Deadline for Public Comments is June 3

Proposed 2004 specifications for the Atlantic bluefish fishery were published in the Federal Register on May 19. The proposed rule specifies total allowable landings (TAL), state-by-state commercial quotas, recreational harvest limits, and recreational possession limits. The intent of the specifications is to conserve and manage the bluefish resource.

Copies of supporting documents, including the Environmental Assessment (EA), Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and the Essential Fish Habitat Assessment (EFHA) are accessible via the Internet at http://www.nero.noaa.gov FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Raizin, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281-9104.

Public comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on June 3, 2004. You may submit comments by E-mail to 2004bluefishspecs@noaa.gov. Include the following document identifier: "Comments-2004 Bluefish Specifications'' in the subject line of the message.

Atlantic – NOAA Scientists Hunt for “Lions” in the Atlantic

Divers and deep-water fishermen along the Atlantic Coast may encounter lionfish, venomous coral reef fishes that have found their way into east coast waters. Scientists from NOAA will conduct field studies this summer to examine the status of the lionfish population and examine life history characteristics to determine the risk of lionfish to Atlantic coast ecosystems. The public is encouraged to report all lionfish sightings and collections to Paula Whitfield at the NOAA Beaufort Laboratory, (252) 728-8714 or by e-mail: paula.whitfield@noaa.gov.

In March, the first known capture of a lionfish by hook and line occurred off the coast of North Carolina. The fish was 17 inches long and weighed 2.5 lbs. It’s the largest specimen to date in the Atlantic. Lionfish are venomous coral reef fishes from the Indian and western Pacific oceans that have invaded East Coast waters. They were likely first introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid 1990s and by the summer of 2000 were found along the Atlantic coast of the United States from Florida to Cape Hatteras, N.C. NOAA scientists conclude that lionfish are established and reproducing along the southeast United States coast. It is likely that the introduction of lionfish in the Atlantic is from either intentional or unintentional releases related to the aquarium trade including amateur home aquarists.

Lionfish have distinctive red, maroon and white stripes; fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth; fan-like pectoral fins; and long separated dorsal spines. All of the spines on a lionfish are venomous, creating a danger to primarily divers and fishers if stung. Researchers urge caution to anyone who encounters these fish. Lionfish also are believed to pose particular risks to the local environment. They are voracious predators that feed not only on small shrimps but also on large fishes, perhaps including the young of important commercial fish species such as snapper and grouper, many of which use the region's "live bottom" reefs as nursery grounds. The invasive lionfish have few if any natural predators in their new Atlantic environment.

Pacific - Puget Sound Hatchery Environmental Impact Statement

NOAA Fisheries is inviting public involvement in development of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for two resource management plans submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Puget Sound Treaty Tribes (referred to as co-managers). One resource management plan discusses hatchery programs that produce Chinook salmon. The other describes steelhead, coho, pink, chum and sockeye hatchery programs. Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to ensure that the EIS considers the full range of related issues and alternatives to the proposed action. See the Web at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1srd/Propagation/PSHatchEIS for more information.