National

National

Northeast

Northeast

Northeast

Northeast

Atlantic

Atlantic

Southeast

West Coast

West Coast

Western Pacific

EVENT - Regional Habitat Restoration Efforts Will Be Celebrated in Maine – Monday August 30

PUBLIC MEETINGS - DRAFT Shrimp Industry Analysis & Options Paper Released and Public Meetings Scheduled – Public Meetings

PUBLICATION AVAILABLE - NOAA Fisheries Northeast Bycatch Workshop Proceedings Document

PUBLICATION AVAILABLE – "Salmonid Savers" an educational booklet for kids

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - Fisheries Extension Advisor with California Sea Grant

National – Save the Date for ‘Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries II – Focus on the Future’

Mark your calendar to save March 24-26, 2005, for the second national fisheries management conference, co-sponsored by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils, the three Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, and NOAA Fisheries. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C. and will be open to the public.

Managing Our Nation's Fisheries II - Focus on the Future will focus on key issues raised by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, and issues surrounding re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which governs management of our nation's marine fisheries. The conference will provide a forum for information exchange and for participants to examine a wide range of perspectives on potential legislation that would impact future fisheries management.

Primary focus will be on implementing an ecosystem-based approach for fisheries, strengthening scientific advice for fishery management decisions, addressing the various statutes governing our nation's fishery management process, and design of IFQ programs for fisheries. For further information and conference logistics go to www.managingfisheries.org

National – Public Comment on Oceana’s Deep-Sea Coral Petition Is Reopened

NOAA Fisheries has received over 26,000 comments in response to its Federal Register notice of receipt of Oceana's rulemaking petition to protect deep-sea corals. The public comment period ended August 13, 2004. Due to the high level of public interest in this matter, and in response to a request that the relevant Fishery Management Councils have adequate time to consider and comment upon the petition, NOAA Fisheries is reopening the public comment period for an additional 45 days beginning August 31, 2004. To view a copy of the petition and request for comments visit our Office of Habitat Conservation at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatconservation/DSC_petition/index.html

Northeast – NOAA Fisheries Issues Dynamic Area Management (DAM) Ruling to Protect Right Whales Off Coast of Cape Cod

On August 10, 2004, NOAA Fisheries received a report of 6 right whales in the proximity of 41° 15' N latitude and 69° 18' W longitude. This position lies southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A DAM zone is triggered by a single reliable report from a qualified individual of 3 or more right whales within an area (75 nm2) such that a right whale density is equal to or greater than 0.04 right whales per nm2. Pursuant to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan regulations and the agency’s protocol for implementing a DAM ruling, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center has identified a DAM zone for this group of right whales. NOAA Fisheries issued the DAM temporary ruling the area for 15 days, effective August 25 through September 8. The DAM zone covers approximately 1,942 nm2.

For more information, contact Molly Harrison with the Office of Protected Resources, at Molly.Harrison@noaa.gov or (301) 713-1401.

Northeast – Large Whale Gear Competition: Proposals Requested

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries are now accepting proposals, in cooperation with the Northeast Consortium and the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, for The Large Whale Gear Competition, a new project under NFWF’s National Whale Conservation Fund.

The purpose of this team competition is to develop innovative fishing gear or gear modifications that decrease the incidence of entanglement of large whales, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Selected teams will receive grants up to US$10,000 to build gear prototypes, as well as travel stipends, to test their gear at sea with commercial New England fishermen. An additional grant of up to US$50,000 will be awarded to the team that has designed and tested a prototype that shows the most promise in becoming a new, commercially-viable whale-friendly fishing gear or gear modification.

The National Whale Conservation Fund was established to support research, management, conservation and education/outreach activities related to the conservation and recovery of whales.

Interested applicants must form a team and secure an advisor from a college/university or from a related fishing industry, private company, fishing association or other entity qualified to advise on potential solutions to gear-whale interactions.

For more information on the requirements and how to apply go to the NFWF web site at http://www.nfwf.org/programs/large_whale_gear.htm or contact Leslie Ricketts, Program Director at (202) 857-0166.

Northeast - Four Rehabilitated Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles Released to the Wild off Cape Cod

On August 26, a team of scientists and volunteers released four endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles to waters off the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The turtles, ranging from 14 to 22 pounds, washed ashore on Cape Cod beaches last November. The turtles were cold stunned, and rescued by volunteers from Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. They received critical medical care at Boston's New England Aquarium. Two were moved to NOAA Fisheries' Woods Hole Science Aquarium (WHSA) in December, and two more in June, for convalescent care while local waters warmed up enough for release.

The turtles have been tagged to provide information if they re-strand, or appear in Mexico where Kemp’s ridleys breed. The release team included NOAA Fisheries WHSA veterinarians, rehab staff from New England Aquarium, and several of the Massachusetts Audubon volunteers who initially rescued the turtles.

Since 1992, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium has rehabilitated and released 6 Kemp’s ridleys, two green sea turtles, and two loggerhead sea turtles. Green sea turtles and loggerheads are also protected under the Endangered Species Act. For more details go to http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/

Northeast – Unusual Mortality of Harbor Seals Continues Off Coast of Maine

A team of seal stranding experts led by Marine Animal Lifeline (MAL) of Portland, Maine has examined 27 harbor seals found dead on Stratton Island in Saco Bay. NOAA Fisheries announced on Wednesday that the seal deaths are under investigation as part of an ongoing ‘unusual morality event’ involving harbor seals in coastal Maine that began in 2003.

"Last year, NOAA began to investigate the high numbers of harbor seals stranding dead along Maine’s coast from Pemaquid to Saco," said Greg Early, onsite coordinator for NOAA Fisheries in response to this unusual mortality event. “The Stratton Island event is similar enough to that situation-- the same time of year, mostly adults in good body condition—that it may very well be related.” Greg Jakush, president of MAL, said today that his group will continue to monitor the island for the near future, in addition to its stranding response and rehabilitation work.

A panel of experts established under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act to advise the Federal government on marine mammal health concerns has determined that the situation is best investigated as a continuation of the 2003 unusual mortality event. This designation allows use of a contingency fund to further investigate the cause of the deaths, and makes it easier for the agency to call on a wider pool of experts for assistance.

In 2003, 66 adult harbor seals were found dead from the mid-coast to southern Maine, most during September through November, and all some weeks after they died. Those deaths were related to one another owing to the size and overall condition of the carcasses, in addition to the numbers being about twice what would be expected for observed deaths during that time of year. Samples from those carcasses produced no conclusive results pinpointing cause of death.

Reports of stranded seals, seen dead or alive south of Rockland, can be made to Marine Animal Lifeline at 207-851-6625. North of Rockland, call Allied Whale at 207-288-5644. To view a complete copy of this press release, go to http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/news04.11.htm

Atlantic – NOAA Fisheries Announces Call for Nominations to the Atlantic
Billfish and Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panels

Advisory panel members assist NOAA Fisheries in the development of fishery
management plans (FMPs), FMP amendments, and regulatory amendments for
Atlantic billfish and Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks. Nominations are invited from all individuals and constituent groups and will be accepted through October 12, 2004. Nominations may be sent to:

Christopher Rogers, Chief
HMS Management Division
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

faxed to (301) 713-1917, or submitted by email to ID081204B@noaa.gov.

For additional information please contact Othel Freeman at (301) 713-2347.

Atlantic - Effective Dates Established For Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) On Directed Shark Vessels

On August 17, NOAA Fisheries published a final rule (69 FR 51010) that lifts the stay on the requirement to have a NOAA-approved VMS unit installed and operating on vessels with a directed shark limited access permit. These VMS units will assist in both managing shark species sustainably as well as providing additional protection measures for the North Atlantic right whale.

The VMS requirement provides that as of November 15, 2004, directed shark vessels with gillnet gear onboard, regardless of location, will be required to have VMS installed and operating Right Whale Calving Season (November 15-March 31).

As of January 1, 2005, directed shark vessels with bottom longline fishing gear onboard that are located between 33 and 36 30’ North latitude will be required to have VMS installed and operating during the mid-Atlantic shark closure (January 1 – July 31).

Finalized in December 2003 (68 FR 74746), and delayed pending a type-approval notice (69 FR 19979) that was published in April 2004, the final rule will make the requirement effective but not modify the substantive requirements.

NOAA Fisheries has a limited number of VMS units available to lend to fishermen who currently have a directed shark permit. If you are interested in obtaining one of these units, please contact Karyl Brewster-Geisz by September 24, 2004, via phone (301) 713-2347 x111, fax (301) 713-1917, or email Karyl.Brewster-Geisz@noaa.gov.

For more information regarding approved mobile transmitting units or for installation information, contact Jonathon Pinkerton, National VMS Program Manager, (301) 713-2300 or jonathan.pinkerton@noaa.gov.

Southeast - NOAA Administrator Awards Funds for Florida Restoration

On August 11, 2004, in a small ceremony at Fort De Soto, Park St. Petersburg, FL, NOAA administrator VADM Lautenbacher presented two grant awards to local restoration partners. The Admiral presented a $1.4M check from NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to the Pinellas County Environmental Fund’s (PCEF) project selection committee. PCEF is a program of the NFWF that provides restoration, conservation and environmental education awards throughout the Tampa Bay watershed that furthers the goals of the Tampa Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. In addition, VADM Lautenbacher presented a $144,450 check to the Pinellas County Parks Department to implement one of the final Tampa Bay oil spill restoration projects. The oil spill funds will be used to create two beach dune walkovers at Ft. De Soto Park that will allow natural restoration of dunes by diverting pedestrian foot traffic that has scarred the dunes. After the ceremony, the Admiral met several other local restoration partners to view and discuss some of the restoration projects recently funded through the PCEF.

For more information visit our Restoration Center at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/.

West Coast - Comment Period Extended on Proposed New Hatchery Policy & ESA
Salmon Listings

NOAA Fisheries is extending the comment periods to Oct. 20, 2004, for its proposed ESA hatchery listing policy and updated listing determinations for West Coast salmon and steelhead. The agency has also scheduled community meetings in the Northwest Region to provide opportunities for public comment and discussion on both these proposals. The Federal Register notice about this action is in clearance, but the agency wanted to make the announcement informally so the public has more time to plan. For more information on these documents and activities, see our Northwest Regional Office web page at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/AlseaResponse/20040528/index.html.

West Coast - New Center for Oceans and Human Health

NOAA has designated the Northwest Fisheries Science Center as one of three Centers of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health. This West Coast Center for Oceans and Human Health will use a broad-based ecosystem approach and state-of-the-art biotechnology, models, and environmental assessment to investigate the distribution and persistence of harmful pathogens, biotoxins, and toxic chemicals in seafood (fish and shellfish). The center will also use marine mammals and fish as sentinel species to investigate current and potential human health risks, like cancer and immune suppression, from pathogens, biotoxins, and toxic chemicals. This research will provide the information needed to make sound decisions about the risks and benefits of seafood consumption and to support natural resource and human health managers in forecasting and reducing threats to human health. Research at this West Coast Center for Oceans and Human Health will be interdisciplinary and collaborative.

Key partners include the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, University of Washington, Institute of Systems Biology, The Marine Mammal Center, University of California, Davis, Washington State University, and Oregon State University. This Center is part of NOAA’s new Oceans and Human Health Initiative.

Western Pacific – Moratorium on Seamount Groundfish Extended to Rebuild Fishery

In response to a recommendation from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, on August 19, 2004, NOAA Fisheries issued a final rule to extend the current moratorium on harvesting seamount groundfish from the Hancock Seamount in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for 6 years, until August 31, 2010. The fishery has been closed since 1986. The Council requested the extension while it prepares a fishery management plan that would permanently close Hancock Seamount to bottom fishing. The closure is intended to conserve and rebuild pelagic armorhead, an overfished stock.

For further information contact Mr. Lewis Van Fossen, Sustainable Fisheries Division with our Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 973-2937, or view a copy of the Federal Register document which published on August 19, 2004.

August 23, 2004

August 24, 2004

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August 26, 2004

August 27, 2004