National

National

Atlantic

Mid-Atlantic

Gulf

Gulf

Pacific

Western Pacific

NOAA Scientists Continue Nationwide Lecture Series on Human Noise and Marine Mammals; October 21 in Chicago, IL.

ICCAT Advisory Committee Meets October 21 in Silver Spring

National – NOAA Fisheries Participates in National Conference on Economic Impact Modeling

Federal legislation requires an analysis of the potential economic impacts of fisheries management and regulations, and economic impact modeling is an important part of NOAA Fisheries’ work. For recreational fisheries, the focus is on determining the economic impacts associated with angler purchases on trip-related expenses as well as purchases of equipment and more durable goods such as boats on the local economy. When commercial fishing is analyzed, the economic consequences of the seafood processing and distributing industries is often included; sometimes, the analysis of the seafood industry is extended to retail activities.

NOAA Fisheries staff presented several models at a recent conference. One was a multi-regional model designed to estimate the short-term economic losses (sales, income, and employment) arising from changes in fisheries regulations. Most recently this model was used to analyze the four major management alternatives developed to address the rebuilding requirements Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

For a complete description of the model and results of the analyses, go to: http://www.nefmc.org/nemulti/index.html. External reviewers’ comments are also posted: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/groundfish/index.htm. NOAA Fisheries has also estimated the economic impacts of recreational fishing expenditures in a recent peer reviewed publication.

For further information on this economic research, contact Brad.Gentner@noaa.gov.

National – National Research Council to Study NOAA’s Recreational Data Collection Program

The National Research Council will conduct a thorough review of the agency’s recreational fishing data collection program. Undertaken as part of the agency’s newly developed strategic plan for recreational fisheries, this project responds to fisheries managers’ increasing need for timely information on recreational fishing effort, catches, and landings.

Accurate recreational fishing information is increasingly important in ensuring the long-term health of fisheries. Data collection programs also support socio-economic analyses of the recreational fishery by allowing fishery managers to assess the impact of regulations on communities and businesses.

The National Research Council, a private, nonprofit congressionally chartered organization, provides independent science, technology, and policy advice to government agencies. The NRC will evaluate NOAA’s current program and make recommendations as to how the agency might better match its data collection efforts with the needs of managers.

For more information, go to: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter.

Atlantic – Reminder about Electronic Dealer Reporting Requirements

NOAA Fisheries’ Northeast Region is strongly advising all dealers to meet the electronic dealer reporting requirements implemented on May 1, 2004. The Region is reviewing compliance with the reporting regulations for every dealer permitted by the Northeast Region. The agency will initially focus on submission of reports for each week and completeness of the reports. Priority Law Enforcement actions will target dealers who appear to be the most egregious offenders, i.e., those that have the largest impact on the Agency's ability to assess and enforce regulations included in Amendment 13 to the Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan and to monitor landings of species (e.g., summer flounder and black sea bass) that are limited by in-season quotas. Those dealers that do not comply with the law will be under investigation and may receive civil penalties including fines of up to $120,000.00 and permit sanctions.

Mid-Atlantic – NOAA Fisheries Announces Grants to Study Foreign Oysters for Chesapeake

NOAA will provide $2 million for research into whether the introduction of an Asian oyster could be a safe answer to the woes of the Chesapeake Bay native oyster. The research initiative is made of 13 separate projects that will provide the necessary science to develop an environmental impact statement on Maryland and Virginia’s proposal to introduce the Asian oyster to state waters.

The research carried out under this funding will be rapidly integrated into the decision-making process through quarterly meetings of the scientists and risk assessors involved in the environmental impact statement. This is a new model for integrating scientific information more rapidly as results are developed and undergo peer review. All of the projects funded by NOAA Fisheries will address questions identified as essential or high priority in a National Research Council report and a Chesapeake Bay Program Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee report, both released in 2004.

For more information, go to: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter

Gulf – Flexibility Provided for Shrimp Vessels in the Wake of Hurricane Ivan

NOAA Fisheries has announced a temporary authorization for shrimp trawlers that are required to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs). This authorization will allow shrimp trawlers in certain state waters of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to use restricted tow times instead of TEDs, due to the special environmental conditions caused by excessive amounts of debris left by Hurricane Ivan. NOAA Fisheries received requests from state marine resource managers for this authorization because increased amounts of debris on the shrimping grounds were causing TEDs to become clogged and ineffective.

This authorization is now in effect in the state waters of Alabama and Mississippi, and the state waters of Louisiana from the Mississippi/Louisiana border to a line at 90o 03' 00" West longitude (approximately the west end of Grand Isle). In these areas, shrimp trawlers can trawl without TEDs but to minimize sea turtle mortality they must limit their tow times to 55 minutes from October 12, 2004, through October 31, 2004, and 75 minutes from November 1, 2004, through 11:59 p.m. on November 11, 2004.

NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor this situation, and if warranted, the authorization may be shortened or extended. Fishermen should listen to the NOAA weather radio for announcements.

For additional information, contact Bob Hoffman at robert.hoffman@noaa.gov or by phone at 727-570-5312.

Gulf - NOAA Fisheries Assists National Geographic Magazine with Louisiana Wetlands Article

The October 2004 issue of National Geographic Magazine highlights an article on the historic losses of wetlands in Louisiana, the consequences of wetlands loss, and the need for restoration efforts. Wetlands loss results in negative impacts on commercial and recreational fisheries, and also has profound effects on the Nation’s oil and gas production and protection of coastal cities and infrastructure. Dr. John Foret (NOAA Fisheries Research Biologist at NOAA’s Estuarine Habitats and Coastal Fisheries Center in Lafayette, LA) took a National Geographic photographer in the field last December to learn about NOAA restoration projects funded under the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA). Dr. Foret manages NOAA’s coastal wetlands restoration projects in the western Louisiana parishes.

A summary of the article may be found at: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature5/

Pacific – Public Comment Period Extended on Draft Hatchery Listing Policy and Proposed Listing Determinations for Pacific Salmon

On May 28, 2004, NOAA announced the release of a new hatchery policy, status reviews and proposed listing determinations for 27 groups of populations (called "evolutionarily significant units" (ESUs)) of Pacific salmon and steelhead. The comment period on the proposed listings determinations has now been extended through November 12, 2004. Also, note that the Portland, OR meeting originally scheduled for October 13 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 9.

For copies of the proposals and more information on how to submit comments, see: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1srd/Prop_Determins/index.html. This site also provides answers to frequently asked questions about salmon recovery.

Western Pacific – New NOAA Research Vessel Completes Maiden Voyage with Five-Week Survey of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Homeported in Hawaii to support coral reef ecosystem mapping and habitat activities in the greater Pacific under NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Hi‘ialakai was commissioned into the NOAA fleet on Sept. 3, 2004. The research cruise, which began Sept. 13, was Hi`ialakai’s maiden voyage. Hi‘ialakai’s itinerary included French Frigate Shoals, Gardner Pinnacles, Maro Reef, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Midway Atoll, Kure Atoll, Nihoa Island and Mokumanamana (Necker Island).

This was a collaborative, multi-agency venture involving NOAA’s National Ocean Service, National Marine Sanctuary Program, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, NOAA Fisheries, the Bishop Museum, the State of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii. During the 35-day cruise, 18 researchers conducted assessments, monitoring and mapping operations. These researchers collected data on the abundance and diversity of fishes, algae, corals and other invertebrates on these reefs, while remote tethered camera arrays recorded habitat types in deeper waters. This knowledge will contribute to the future management and conservation of these unique and precious resources.

October 12, 2004

October 14, 2004

I.D. 100104F. Notice; Take of Anadromous Fish; Permit 1499

I.D. 100104G. Notice; Take of Anadromous Fish; Issuance of 21 Permits

I.D. 032204C. Notice; Gulf of Mexico FMC; Meetings (SEDAR Cancellation)

I.D. 100704B. Notice; New England FMC; Meetings

I.D. 090904F. Notice; Gulf of Mexico FMC; Meetings (Mackerel and Reef Fish)

October 15, 2004

Rule. I.D. 061404A. Fisheries off West Coast States; Correction to Amendment 16-3.