FishNews June 29, 2004
Available Now – 2004 Edition of "International Agreements Concerning Living Marine Resources of Interest to NOAA Fisheries"
REMINDER – Comments Due Today on the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Rule to Reduce Bycatch and Bycatch Mortality of Sea Turtles in the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishery
Workshop on Bycatch in Northeast Fisheries: "Moving Forward" June 29-July 1, 2004 in Wakefield, Massachusetts
Smithsonian Folklife Festival Features "Water Ways: Mid-Atlantic Maritime Communities" June 23-27 and June 30 - July 4, 2004 in Washington, DC
Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan Meetings – Next Meetings in Orange Beach, Alabama, and Houston, Texas
WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
National – Draft National
Standard 1 (NS1) Guidelines on “Overfishing” and
Environmental Assessment Posted On-Line for Council
and Public Review
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NOAA Fisheries Office of Sustainable Fisheries
has posted online draft codified text for the NS1 Guidelines along with a
preliminary draft of an Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review
for this action. These documents have also been sent to each of the eight
regional fishery management councils for their review and comment. A mailbox
is located at nationalstandard1@noaa.gov to receive public comments on these
documents. Comments are due by August 31, 2004. The NOAA Fisheries Working
Group Report on NS1 (WG Report on NS1) is also available online.
NOAA Fisheries intends to publish a proposed rule for this action soon after
receiving comments from the Councils and the public. The document containing
the draft codified text has "language in bold" to represent proposed
new codified text, "strikeout language" to represent current
text being proposed for removal, and "italicized language" to
represent language that is typically italicized in the Code of the Federal
Regulations.
The ideas reflected in these documents should not be new. The goal has been
only to translate the WG Report on NS1 to regulatory language. There will
be another opportunity to provide comments again after the proposed rule
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is the result of our review of the current NS1 guidelines and
public comments we received on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking published
in February 2003 which outlined specific concerns NOAA Fisheries had and
sought comments on whether or not the NS1 guidelines should be revised, if
so, what parts and why. The preliminary draft EA/RIR provides a brief overview
of the public comments that NOAA Fisheries received on the ANPR. To view
all documents and contact information visit us at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/index.htm#PR
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National – Public Comments Sought on Petition
to List Elkhorn Coral, Staghorn Coral and Fused-Staghorn Coral under the Endangered
Species Act
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On June 23, NOAA Fisheries announced
the receipt of a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to list
elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), staghorn coral (A. cervicornis), and fused-staghorn
coral (A. prolifera) as endangered or threatened, and to designate critical
habitat under the Endangered Species Act. These species are found in the
Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and tropical portions of the Atlantic Ocean.
All three acroporids are fast growing branching corals, found predominantly
in shallow reefs from subtidal to 30 m depth.
NOAA Fisheries will conduct a status review to determine if the petitioned
action is warranted. To ensure that the review is comprehensive, NOAA Fisheries
is seeking the following information:
(1) Historical and current distribution
and abundance;
(2) historic and current condition;
(3) population status
and trends;
(4) information on any current or planned activities that
may adversely impact these species; and
(5) ongoing efforts to protect
their habitat. Any information should be accompanied by supporting documentation
such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of pertinent
publications, and the submitter's name, address, and any association, institution,
or
business that the person represents.
Members of the public are also asked to suggest individuals who may be qualified
to take part in the peer review process. Information related to this petition
must be received no later than August 23, 2004. You may submit comments via
E-mail to: Acropora.Info@noaa.gov. Include "Docket No. 040610181-4181-01"
in the subject line of the message. You may also send information on paper,
disk, or CD-ROM to the Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources,
NMFS Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, Suite
102, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. For more information, contact: Jennifer Moore
or Dr. Stephania Bolden in the Southeast Regional Office at (727) 570-5312,
or Marta Nammack in the Office of Protected Resources at (301) 713-1401,
ext. 180.
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National – Commerce
Secretary Certifies Iceland For Its Whale Hunt; Keeps
Japan Certified
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U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans has certified that Icelandic nationals
are hunting whales in a manner that diminishes the effectiveness of the International
Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation program. Evans also kept Japan certified
for its annual whale harvest. "Iceland began this hunt despite the appeals
by a majority of IWC member countries and scientists to do otherwise," said
Evans. "The lethal research whaling conducted by both Iceland and Japan
is unnecessary for the management of whales, and we urge them to use non-lethal
research methods. We will use all diplomatic channels to request both countries
to end their respective lethal research whaling activities." The Pelly Amendment to the U.S. Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 requires
the Secretary of Commerce to certify to the President that "nationals
of a foreign country... are conducting fishing operations in a manner or under
circumstances which diminish the effectiveness of an international fishery
conservation program." President Bush has notified Congress of his decision
to implement the non-trade actions recommended by Secretary Evans. For a copy
of the June 22 press release, go to http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/.
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Atlantic – Daily
Retention Limits are Temporarily Increased for the
Recreational Bluefin Tuna Fishery
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NOAA Fisheries has adjusted the
daily retention limit for the recreational fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
From June 21 through July 21, 2004, vessels in the Angling Category are permitted
to retain two bluefin tuna (27-73" length) per day/trip, while vessels
in the Charter/Headboat category are permitted to retain three bluefin tuna
(27-73" length) per day/trip. In addition, the Angling category trophy
fishery for large medium and giant bluefin (measuring 73" or greater)
is open in all areas, with a retention limit of one fish per vessel per year.
All bluefin landed must be reported within 24 hours of landing to the www.nmfspermits.com website or by calling (888) 872-8862. If landed in the states of North Carolina
or Maryland, the bluefin must be checked into a reporting station prior to
offloading. Information on reporting requirements in North Carolina can be
obtained by calling (800) 338-7804, and in Maryland by calling (410) 213-1531.
Subsequent adjustments to the daily retention limits, if any, will be announced
through publication in the Federal Register. In addition, permit holders
may visit our website, www.nmfspermits.com or call the Atlantic Tunas Information
Line at (888) 872-8862 for updates on quota monitoring and retention limit
adjustments. For further information contact Brad McHale by telephone at
978-281-9260 or Brad.McHale@noaa.gov.
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Northeast – NOAA Fisheries Announces
New Regulations Implementing Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Scallop Fishery
Management Plan |
The final rule to implement Amendment
10 was published on June 23, 2004. Amendment 10 includes a long-term, comprehensive
program to manage the sea scallop fishery through area rotation management
that will maximize scallop yield. Defined areas will be closed and re-opened
to fishing on a rotational basis, depending on the condition and size of
the scallop resource in the areas. This rule includes measures to minimize
the adverse effects of fishing on Essential Fish Habitat to the extent practicable.
Amendment 10 also includes updated days-at-sea (DAS) allocations, measures
to minimize bycatch to the extent practicable, and other measures to make
the management program more effective.
The new DAS allocations became effective on June 23, 2004, and with the
exception of the 4-inch minimum ring size outside of the Hudson Canyon access
area, all other measures are effective July 23, 2004, including the 4-inch
minimum ring size requirement in the Hudson Canyon Access Area. The new dredge
ring size restriction for all areas is effective December 23, 2004. All federal
permit holders and federally permitted dealers should get a copy of the complete,
official regulations.
For more information related to Amendment 10 and its final rule, visit the
Northeast Regional Office homepage at: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/amend10/,
or contact the Sustainable Fisheries Division at (978)281-9315.
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Pacific - Information Requested on the Status of North American Green
Sturgeon |
NOAA Fisheries plans to reconvene its Biological Review Team (BRT) to consider
the most recent scientific and commercial information available regarding
the biological status of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris).
The 2003
status review is available at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1salmon/salmesa/pubs/GSstatus_review.pdf.
Interested parties are invited to submit pertinent
information that will assist the agency in updating
its status review and making a new Endangered
Species Act listing determination. For additional details regarding
the type of information that NOAA Fisheries is seeking,
please go to: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/news/69FR34135.pdf.
Comments may be sent via email to GreenSturgeon.Comments@noaa.gov or by mail to the Assistant Regional Administrator,
Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, NMFS,
501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.
For further information, contact: Craig Wingert, Southwest
Region (562) 980-4021; Melissa Neuman, Southwest Region
(562) 980-4115; Scott Rumsey, Northwest Region (503)
872-2791; or Lisa Manning, Office of Protected Resources
(301) 713-1401. All public comments must be received
by August 17, 2004.
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Alaska - NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on Ocean Surveys that Could Harass
Marine Mammals |
NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on a proposal by the Lamont Doherty Earth
Observatory (L-DEO) of Columbia University that may result in harassment
of marine mammals during scientific seismic studies in the Gulf of Alaska
set for August 2004.
L-DEO scientists want to conduct the surveys to learn more about environmental
change in the region, including glacial melting of the past century and dynamics
of erosion and deposition associated with glaciers. Scientists believe that
this research has important implications for understanding long-term
variability of
North Pacific ecosystems, and the potential effects on fish, marine mammals
and other species.
Scientists onboard the R/V Maurice Ewing will deploy a pair of low intensity
airguns as an energy source and tow a long hydrophone streamer behind the
vessel. As the airguns are operated along the survey lines, the hydrophone
receiving system will receive and record the returning acoustic signals.
Because the noise generated by the airguns has the potential to disrupt the
behavior patterns of marine mammals in the vicinity of the ship, the L-DEO
must request an authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
While the number of potential incidental harassment takes will depend on
the distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the vicinity of seismic
operations, NOAA Fisheries believes the number of potential harassment takings
will have a negligible impact on affected marine mammal stocks. Low numbers
of marine mammals are expected in the North Pacific, where the activities
will take place. Also, the activities will take place for a relatively short
period of time. The scientists involved in this activity plan to incorporate
mitigation measures, such as ramping up the volume of the airguns over several
minutes to allow marine mammals to move away from the noise, and ensuring
no marine mammals are within established safety zones, through monitoring
by trained biologists.
NOAA Fisheries will accept comments on the application and proposed authorization
through July 23, 2004. Comments may be sent via e-mail to pr2.051704a@noaa.gov.
A copy of the application and Federal
Register notice may be obtained by
calling (301) 713-2322.
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EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Available Now – 2004 Edition of “International
Agreements Concerning Living Marine Resources of Interest
to NOAA Fisheries.”
Produced annually, this publication
provides a comprehensive listing and description of international
agreements, treaties and organizations in which NOAA Fisheries
is involved. The document is available online from the International
Fisheries Division (link this to their page), Office of
Sustainable Fisheries. For more information or to request
a hard copy, contact Dean Swanson, (301) 713-2276 or Dean.Swanson@noaa.gov
The Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a Final
Rule to Implement Management Measures to Reduce Bycatch and Bycatch Mortality
of Atlantic Sea Turtles in the Atlantic pelagic longline (PLL) fishery is now
available on the web.
The preferred alternatives would provide significant benefits
to endangered and threatened Atlantic sea turtles by reducing
bycatch and bycatch mortality, based on the findings of
a three year research experiment in the Northeast Distant
Statistical Area (NED), and other available sea turtle bycatch
reduction studies.
Several changes from the Draft SEIS were made, including
modifying the preferred hook and bait requirements. The
preferred alternatives would limit vessel operators participating
in the PLL fishery for Atlantic HMS, operating outside of
the NED, at all times, to possessing onboard and/or using
only 16/0 or larger non-offset circle hooks and/or 18/0
or larger circle hooks with an offset not to exceed 10 degrees.
Only whole finfish and squid baits may be possessed and/or
utilized with allowable hooks outside the NED. PLL fishing
in the NED closed area would be allowed for vessels possessing
and/or using only 18/0 or larger circle hooks with an offset
not to exceed 10 degrees. Only mackerel and squid baits
may be possessed and/or utilized with allowable hooks, within
the NED.
In addition a preferred alternative would require vessel
operators aboard all federally permitted vessels, or those
required to be permitted, for Atlantic HMS with PLL gear
onboard to possess and maintain line cutters and dipnets
meeting newly revised design and performance standards,
and to possess, maintain, and utilize additional equipment,
in compliance with sea turtle handling protocols, to remove
fishing gear from incidentally-captured sea turtles.
A new Biological Opinion issued for the Atlantic PLL fishery
on June 1, 2004 found that the preferred alternatives are
not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of loggerhead,
green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, or olive ridley sea
turtles, but are likely to jeopardize the continued existence
of leatherback sea turtles. This Biological Opinion included
a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative to avoid jeopardizing
leatherbacks.
NOAA Fisheries has been authorized to use alternative procedures
for the preparation and completion of the FEIS. The Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has authorized a waiver of
26 of the standard 30-day period before the record of decision
on this action can be finalized. All comments should be
submitted by June 29, 2004. Send comments by e-mail to 0648-AR80.final@noaa.gov and include in the subject line the following identifier:
0648-AR80. A copy of your comments should also be submitted
by e-mail to nepa.comments@noaa.gov.
REMINDER – Workshop on Bycatch in Northeast Fisheries: “Moving
Forward”
This workshop is co-sponsored by NOAA Fisheries, the New
England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The workshop is scheduled for June 29-July 1, 2004 at the Sheraton Colonial
Conference Center in Wakefield, Massachusetts. For more information or
to register
online, go to: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/bycatchconf.
Smithsonian
Folklife Festival Features “Water Ways: Mid-Atlantic
Maritime Communities” June 23-27 and June 30 - July 4, 2004 in
Washington, DC
As one of the largest annual cultural events in the nation’s
capital, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a summer highlight.
Originating in 1967, it is the Smithsonian’s “museum without
walls,” an
annual living exhibition of cultural heritage attracting more than
1 million visitors with music, song, dance, performances, crafts,
cooking demonstrations and educational activities for adults and children
of
all ages.
NOAA is proud to be a major sponsor for the theme Water Ways: Mid-Atlantic
Maritime Communities, highlighting the coastal region stretching from
Long Island to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This summer’s
Folklife Festival provides a unique opportunity for the public to interact
with artists, boat builders, commercial and recreational fishermen,
musicians, storytellers, tradition bearers, scientists, watermen and
women, and others who will communicate the Mid-Atlantic region’s
rich cultural heritage.
NOAA will have a strong presence at the festival, providing interactive
displays, marine species models, fishing gears models, nautical charts,
aerial photographs, and interpretive activities that illustrate NOAA’s
involvement in the Mid-Atlantic region. NOAA scientists and program
staff will be available to help visitors understand the role that ocean
and coastal processes and living marine resources play in shaping the
past, present and future of the Mid-Atlantic region.
The Smithsonian
Folklife Festival will be held on the national mall in Washington,
D.C. from June 23-27 and June 30-July 4, 2004. It is
open daily from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with evening events beginning
at 5:30 p.m. Events are free, so bring your friends and family for
a culturally enriched and fun-filled time. Additional information,
including a schedule of daily activities, will be posted on the Web
at http://www.folklife.si.edu/. 
Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan Meetings
NOAA Fisheries is hosting a series of constituent meetings to receive
input for the development of a Recreational Fisheries Strategic
Plan that will guide decision making for the next five years. For
a copy
of the draft Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan and a listing
of all scheduled meetings, please visit our Recreational Fisheries
Feature Page at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/recfish. The next meetings will
be held on July 6 in Orange Beach, Alabama and July 8 in Houston,
Texas. These meetings are open to the public.
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
June 22, 2004
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Rule - Fisheries
of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
Program; Community Purchase.
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June 23, 2004 |
Notice - Mid-Atlantic FMC; Public
Meetings.
Notice - New England FMC; Public meetings.
Notice - Ttaking Marine Mammals in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Notice - 90-Day Finding on Elkhorn, Staghorn Coral.
Notice - Marine Mammals; File No. 1066-1750
Proposed Rule - Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; American Samoa Pelagic Longline Fishery;
Amendment 11.
Rule - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Bluefin Tuna Catch Limit Adjustments.
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June 24, 2004 |
Notice - Public Meetings (Recreational
Fisheries Strategic Plan) held in AL and TX.
Notice - Reporting Requirements for the Ocean Salmon Fishery Off the Coasts
of
Washington, Oregon, and California.
Notice - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Saltonstall-Kennedy
Grant Program (S-K Program) Applications and Reports.
Notice - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Marine Recreational
Fishery Statistics Survey.
Proposed Rule - 2004 Restrictions for Purse Seine and Longline Fisheries in
the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean.
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June 25, 2004 |
Proposed Rule - Fishing Moratorium
for Western Pacific Bottomfish.
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June 28, 2004 |
Notice - New England FMC; Public
Meeting
Notice - New England FMC; Public Meetings (Herring Adv. Panel)
Notice - Gulf of Mexico FMC; Public Meetings
Notice - Receipt of Application to Take Anadromous Fish by the Bonneville Power
Administration.
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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 |
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