Atlantic

Atlantic

Atlantic

New England

Pacific Northwest

Research Set-Aside Program Workshop; in Ronkonkoma, NY, October 5

Lecture on Human Noise and Impacts to Marine Mammals; in Seattle, WA, Sept 30

Atlantic - Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Meeting Concludes

The 26th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) was held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, September 13-17, 2004. The U.S. delegation was led by U.S. Commissioners John H. Dunnigan, John Pappalardo, and James Salisbury.

The United States led a successful effort to set a total allowable catch limit for thorny skates. The U.S. delegation was disappointed that advice of NAFO’s Scientific Council for a more conservative cap was not followed, but the adopted measure is an important first step. Skates, like sharks and rays, are particularly susceptible to overfishing because they grow slowly, mature late, and produce few young. Another major success for the United States was NAFO's adoption and commitment to apply the Precautionary Approach Framework, an initiative that had been ongoing for many years.

The United States requested an allocation of yellowtail flounder in 2003 and again in 2004, based on several factors, including the good health of the stock, a traditional U.S. history of fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area, and significant scientific, leadership, and fiscal commitments to NAFO. However, NAFO once again refused to provide U.S. fishermen an allocation of yellowtail flounder on the tail of the Grand Banks, in spite of the total allowable catch increasing by 500 metric tons. John H. Dunnigan, head of the U.S. delegation remarked: “The United States is extremely disappointed by the failure of parties to recognize the role that the U.S. plays in NAFO; and provide us with some reasonable allocation to fish in the NAFO regulatory area.”

For more information on NAFO, go to http://www.nafo.ca/

Atlantic - Bluefin Tuna Daily Retention Limit Increased in the General Category

General category landings rates have been slow this season in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Based on a review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, and the availability on the fishing grounds, NOAA Fisheries has determined that an adjustment in the daily retention limit is necessary in order to maximize utilization of the General category quota, while maintaining a fair distribution of fishing opportunities.

The General category daily retention limit has been adjusted to two large medium or giant bluefin per vessel per day/trip, effective September 20, 2004 through October 20, 2004, inclusive. The retention limit will revert to one large medium or giant bluefin per vessel per day on October 21, 2004. The Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (888) 872-8862 or (978) 281-9305 provides updates on quota monitoring and retention limit adjustments.

For further information contact Brad.McHale@noaa.gov.

Atlantic - Comment Period Extended for Proposed Strategy to Address Ship Strikes of North Atlantic Right Whales

NOAA Fisheries has extended the public comment period on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that published June 1, 2004. This ANPR announces a strategy to reduce mortalities to North Atlantic right whales as a result of vessel collisions. A copy may be obtained at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ under the "Recent News and Hot Topics'" link. Using the drop-down menu, the link "Ship Strike Strategy'' provides access to the ANPR, as well as links to background and supporting documentation related to the proposed strategy.

Comments on the ANPR must be received no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on November 15, 2004. Comments can be submitted via E-mail to: shipstrike.comments@noaa.gov.

For further information, please contact Michael.Payne@noaa.gov.

New England - New Regulations Proposed in the Multispecies Fishery

Framework 40-A was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council to provide additional opportunities for vessels to target relatively healthy stocks of groundfish at levels that approach optimum yield. This proposed action would create three programs to allow vessels to use Category B Days-at-Sea (DAS) (both Regular and Reserve) to target healthy stocks: Regular B DAS Pilot Program; Closed Area (CA) I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program (SAP); and Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP Pilot Program. In addition, this proposed rule would relieve a restriction that currently prohibits vessels from fishing both within the Western U.S./Canada Area, and outside that area on the same trip. Framework 40-A is intended to provide fishing opportunities that would mitigate some of the negative economic and social impacts caused by the effort reductions in Amendment 13.

NOAA Fisheries welcomes public comments on this proposed action. Copies of Framework 40-A and supporting analyses can be found at: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com.html.

All comments must be received by September 29, 2004.

Send via E-mail to: FW40A@NOAA.gov and include in the subject line the following: "Comments on the Proposed Rule for Groundfish Framework 40-A''.

For further information, contact Thomas.Warren@noaa.gov.

Pacific Northwest – Derelict Fishing Gear Removed from Puget Sound

On September 13, Vice-Admiral Lautenbacher, Mr. Connaughton, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, Robert Lohn NOAA Fisheries Northwest Regional Administrator, and other NOAA staff observed as one of two-dozen entangled nets was removed off a sunken barge near Shilshole Marina in Puget Sound. Divers removed a 130-foot-long gillnet with dead crab, lingcod, and a still-struggling rockfish trapped in the mesh. The demonstration was part of a removal project led by the Northwest Straits Commission and NOAA Restoration Center with matching funds from private organizations and tribal, state, and local governments.

To date, Derelict Gear Removal Project field operations in the Pacific Northwest have removed 482 derelict crab, shrimp, and octopus pots and traps; 173 gillnets that would cover about 35 acres; and three other large nets totaling about 18,000 pounds. Caught in those nets were 62 birds, 161 salmon, more than 2,000 crabs, and three harbor seals.

For more information on this initiative and how it helps to restore the marine environment, contact Jennifer.Steger@noaa.gov.

September 21, 2004

Rule - I.D. 091404I. Closure of Directed Illex Squid Fishery.
Proposed Rule - I.D. 082704E. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revision of Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures for the Pollock and Pacific Cod Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska.
Proposed Rule - I.D. 072704A. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic

September 22, 2004

Notice - Commercial Shark Management Measures; Rescheduling of Public Hearings
Rule - I.D. 091604A. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries

September 23, 2004