National

National

National

National

National

Commerce Department Announces 2004 Fishery Management Council Appointments

National

Atlantic

Atlantic & Gulf

Atlantic & Gulf

NOAA Fisheries Requests Public Comment on Issues and Options Paper for Highly Migratory Species Management

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

Interim Report Suggests Red Tide Probable Cause of Florida Dolphin Deaths

Southwest

NOAA Brokers Agreement to Remove Dams and Protect Threatened Steelhead

National – NOAA Fisheries Director Launches New Monthly Communications Initiative to Reach Out to Constituents; “Bill’s Corner” Now Online!

“Dear Constituents, in continuing efforts to develop new and better ways to communicate with you, I am pleased to kick off this new forum called “Bill’s Corner,” a monthly e-note where I will highlight important fisheries issues and address public topics you might find interesting….” Read the full text of Bill’s Corner for June 2004.

National – U.S. Fish Stocks Are Rebounding, According to Government Report; NOAA Releases 2003 Status of Fisheries of the United States to Congress

The “Status of Fisheries of the United States ” report, released this week by NOAA, shows that progress continues to be made in addressing excessive fishing rates and rebuilding fish stocks to healthy levels. In 2003, four fish stocks were fully rebuilt, a record ten species were removed from the list of overfished stocks, and overfishing practices were stopped for five species.

Over the past several years, NOAA Fisheries has been steadily turning around decades of overuse of our fishery resources. This year’s report to Congress shows that the agency’s partnerships with the regional fishery management councils, commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental groups and the states are working to ensure long-term healthy ocean ecosystems off America ’s coasts. The annual report identifies fish stocks that are overfished and in need of rebuilding plans, those where overfishing is occurring, and those that have been rebuilt. The report illustrates that fisheries management programs are successfully restoring our nation’s marine resources while providing important economic opportunities for our fishing industries. Read more about it.

National – Public Comment Requested on a Petition for Rulemaking to Protect Deep-sea Coral and Sponge Habitat

Oceana, a non-governmental organization, has petitioned NOAA Fisheries to develop a rule to protect deep-sea coral and sponge habitats. The petition seeks increased mapping of areas containing deep-sea coral and sponge habitat; increased protective measures for these habitats, including implementing additional closed areas, and increased enforcement and penalties; enhanced monitoring infrastructure for deep-sea corals and sponges; and increased funding for further research to identify, protect, and restore damaged deep-sea coral and sponge habitats. Click here to view the petition.

NOAA Fisheries has determined that the petition contains enough information to enable the agency to consider the substance of the petition. NOAA Fisheries also will consider public comments when determining whether to proceed with the development of the regulations that have been requested by Oceana.

Comments will be accepted through August 13, 2004 . You may submit comments by e-mail to DSC-EFH@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following identifier: DSC Petition. For more information, contact Tom Hourigan at 301-713-3459 Ext. 122, or tom.hourigan@noaa.gov.

National – NOAA Recognizes Second Anniversary of the United Nations Atlas of the Oceans

This week marks the second anniversary of the United Nations Atlas of the Oceans, a major new tool to aid in sustainable development of the oceans. The Internet-based Atlas of the Oceans contains information relevant to sustainable development of the oceans and to the advancement of ocean science.

The Atlas includes background on the oceans, from how they were formed to their physiology, biology, and climatology; the uses of the oceans, from food to shipping, mining, and energy; and other ocean issues, such as sustainability, food security and global change. It also includes a geographic dimension to enable users to explore materials for their own region of interest. Under development for several years, the site was opened to scientists, government officials and the public in June 2002. It currently hosts about 15,000 pages and serves 2,000 users per day. Visit the Atlas to learn more.

National – Commerce Department Announces 2004 Fishery Management Council Appointments

The Commerce Department has announced the appointment of 17 members to the eight regional fishery management councils. The appointments of two members to obligatory seats on the South Atlantic and Pacific Councils will be made by August 11.

The councils, established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, prepare fishery management plans for marine fish stocks in their respective geographical areas of responsibility. Council members represent diverse interests, including commercial and recreational fisheries as well as environmental, academic, and other interests from each geographic area.

Terms of the council members expire annually on August 10 for approximately one-third of the 72 obligatory and at-large members appointed to the councils. Obligatory seats are state-specific, while at-large seats are regional in scope. On behalf of the secretary of commerce, the director of NOAA Fisheries solicits nominations from the governors of fishing states and oversees the annual appointments process. Governors must submit completed gubernatorial nominations by March 15, and the secretary of commerce announces the. New members take their seats on August 11. Find out who was appointed this year.

National – NOAA Fisheries Seeks Nominations to Secretarial Advisory Committee

On June 14, 2004 , NOAA Fisheries published a Notice announcing solicitation for nominations to fill four upcoming vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The MAFAC is the only advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce to address all matters involving living marine resource issues under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. MAFAC is composed of 21 members representing the broad spectrum of interests and expertise involved with the management, science, use and enjoyment of the nation’s living marine resources. Members serve a term of three years, not to exceed more than two consecutive terms. The current membership, charter and meeting summaries are all posted online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mafac.htm Nominations will be accepted until July 15, 2004. For more information contact Laurel.Bryant@noaa.gov (301) 713-2379, or view the Federal Register notice.

Atlantic – Draft Recovery Plan Issued for Maine Atlantic Salmon; Agencies Seek Public Comment

NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission are seeking comments on a draft plan to recover endangered Atlantic salmon in eight Maine rivers. The plan complements current conservation efforts, particularly those described in Maine’s Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan. All comments received from the public during the 90-day comment period will be considered by the agencies during preparation of the final Atlantic salmon recovery plan. The agencies will hold two public meetings in Maine to discuss the plan with the public and to accept comments. A panel of independent experts will also review the plan.

Wild Atlantic salmon in the Sheepscot, Dennys, Machias, East Machias , Narraguagus, Ducktrap and Pleasant rivers, and Cove Brook were identified as an endangered distinct population segment and were afforded protection in 2000 under the federal Endangered Species Act. The population has continued to decline, with fewer than 100 adult fish returning to the eight rivers to spawn in 2003. The primary objective of the recovery plan is to halt the decline of endangered Atlantic salmon.

Comments must be received by September 16. Comments can be submitted by e-mail to salmonrecovery@noaa.gov, or by postal mail to: Attn: Mark Minton, Atlantic Salmon Recovery Plan Coordinator, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. For further information, contact Mark Minton at NOAA Fisheries, 978-281-9328 x6534 or Martin Miller at USFWS, phone 413-253-8615. Information about Atlantic salmon and the Endangered Species Act and the draft recover plan are available online on NOAA Fisheries’ Northeast Region’s Web site.

Atlantic & Gulf – Public Input Requested on Sea Turtle Recovery Strategy

NOAA Fisheries is now seeking public input on a draft information framework and draft criteria for evaluating fishing gear relative to the Strategy for Sea Turtle Conservation and Recovery in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this notice is to propose a framework for the comprehensive evaluation of commercial and recreational fisheries, and the effects on different gear types on sea turtles.

These draft documents were published in the Federal Register on May 28 in the form of a Notice. Comments on this Notice are requested by June 28 may be sent to PR3.Strategy@noaa.gov. Include the following document identifier number in the subject of the email: 043004. All comments, including attachments, must not exceed a 10 megabyte file. For more information, contact Barbara.Schroeder@noaa.gov or call (301) 713-1401.

Atlantic & Gulf – NOAA Fisheries Requests Public Comment on Issues and Options Paper for Highly Migratory Species Management

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on an issues and options paper for Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks Fishery Management Plan and Amendment 2 to the Billfish Fishery Management Plan.

Comments received on the Issues and Options paper will assist NOAA Fisheries in determining suitable alternatives for rulemaking and improve the management of Atlantic HMS. Click here to read the issues and options paper. The last three public meetings are scheduled for June 22 in Montauk, NY, June 24 in Port Aransas, TX, and June 30 in Cocoa Beach, FL. Click here to get the full public meeting schedule, including locations and times.

Gulf of Mexico – Final Rule Implements Secretarial Amendment 1 Establishing a Rebuilding Plan for Red Grouper

On July 15, 2004 , new regulations will take effect to end overfishing and rebuild red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico within 10 years. The new regulations are part of Secretarial Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico, developed by NOAA Fisheries in cooperation with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. The new regulations include annual commercial quotas and a recreational retention limit of two red grouper. Written copies of the new regulations are available from the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive N. , St. Petersburg , FL 33702 . For more information, go to the Southeast Regional Office Web site.

Gulf of Mexico – Interim Report Suggests Red Tide Probable Cause of Florida Dolphin Deaths

This week, NOAA released an interim report outlining the initial findings and the ongoing analyses in the investigation of the bottlenose dolphin mortality event. One hundred and seven bottlenose dolphins stranded dead along the Florida Panhandle between March 10 and April 13, 2004 . Hundreds of dead fish and marine invertebrates were also discovered in the area. NOAA Fisheries formally declared the dolphin die-off an “Unusual Mortality Event.” A multi-agency investigation was initiated and is being conducted by federal and state marine wildlife officials working in partnership with private research organizations and universities. Analyses conducted to date found brevetoxins, naturally occurring neurotoxins produced by the Florida red tide, at high levels in the stomach contents of all dolphins examined to date and at variable levels in the tissues of these animals. The lack of evidence of infectious disease, the wide age class spread of the mortalities, and the fact that most animals had recently fed (demonstrated by full stomachs) implicates a toxin of some type as one of the causes of the event.

The Investigative Team is continuing to look at all potential causes of the mortality event and will conduct further analyses of the brevetoxin metabolites, prey and stomach contents, and genetic identification of the Florida Panhandle population. In order to fully understand what is happening in these dolphin mortalities, the investigation will continue to work with an interdisciplinary team of scientists using an ecosystem approach to understand the factors that contributed to this mortality event. Read the full report to learn more.

Southwest – NOAA Brokers Agreement to Remove Dams and Protect Threatened Steelhead

NOAA entered into a settlement agreement with a local rancher in California to help protect steelhead listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. The agreement was reached between NOAA Fisheries and James Soper, the operator of Hedgpeth Ranch, after an estimated 34 threatened Northern California juvenile steelhead were killed in House Creek, a tributary of Gualala River , in May of 2002.

An investigating team from NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement, California Department of Fish and Game, and biologists from NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources in Santa Rosa , determined the steelhead mortality occurred when a tractor was employed to remove woody debris from behind two flashboard dams on the ranch’s property. The tractor made numerous passes through House Creek, thereby damaging the streambed and killing young-of-the-year steelhead fry in the tractor’s path.

Soper has taken full responsibility for the ESA violation, and has agreed to allow NOAA Fisheries to remove the two flashboard dams in House Creek, which have been in place for decades. Removal of the dams should greatly improve the habitat for steelhead there. View pictures of the dam and read the press release to learn more.

June 15, 2004

Rule. Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico ; Red Grouper Rebuilding Plan.
Rule. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries; Adjustment of the Semiannual Quotas for Large Coastal Sharks (LCS) in the North Atlantic Region; Shark Fishing Season.
Notice. New England FMC; Public Hearings; Correction.
Notice. Pacific FMC; Public Meetings (Groundfish Mgmt Team)
Notice. Pacific FMC; Meetings (SSC)
Notice. Pacific FMC; Meeting (Ad Hoc Groundfish Analytical Team)

June 16, 2004

Rule. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska ; Groundfish Observer Program.
Notice. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for Commercial Fisheries Authorization Under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Rule. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States ; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Closure of the Quarter II Fishery for Loligo Squid

June 18, 2004

Notice. Groundfish Fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Area and the Gulf of Alaska, King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the BSAI, Scallop and Salmon Fisheries Off the Coast of Alaska.
Proposed Rule. NOA of Amendment 16-3 to Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP.
Notice. Marine Mammals; File No. 1065-1749 and 1034-1685
Notice. NOA of Draft Recovery Plan for GOM DPS of Atlantic Salmon
Notice. Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)
Notice. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Tag Recapture Card
Notice. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [ Alaska Region Gear Identification Requirements]
Notice. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Fishermen's Contingency Fund
Notice. Updated Status Review of North American Green Sturgeon
Notice. Take of Anadromous Fish by the Nez Perce Indian Tribe