FishNews February 21, 2006
WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
National - NOAA Seeks Public Input on Strategic Priorities
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking input
on priorities for its next five-year planning cycle. Each year, NOAA collects
views on emerging programmatic trends to support the agency's strategic goals.
Stakeholder views and comments will be summarized and used by NOAA leadership
in the development of priorities for the years 2009-2013. NOAA encourages stakeholders
to review its current strategic
priorities and provide comments and recommendations.
Public comments must be received by 8pm, Eastern
time, on March 9. Comments
may be submitted by e-mail to strategic.planning@noaa.gov.
For more information,
contact Neil Christerson at (301)713-1622, extension 192.
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Southeast – Temporary Gillnet Fishery Closure in Effect to Protect
Right Whales
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NOAA Fisheries Service has implemented temporary
fishing restrictions  after
a right whale died as a result of an entanglement in gillnet gear within the
Southeast U.S. Restricted Area. All fishing with
gillnets is now prohibited in this area through 2400 hours on March 31, 2006. The Southeastern U.S. Restricted
Area is an area roughly near Savannah, GA along the coast south to near Sebastian
Inlet, FL, and extending from the shore eastward out to 80[deg]00' W. longitude.
Commercial fishermen in this area target various finfish and shark species
using gillnet gear of varied sizes and deployment techniques. Fisheries affected
by this closure include, but are not limited to, the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic
shark gillnet fishery and the Southeast Atlantic gillnet fishery.
For more
information, contact Juan.Levesque@noaa.gov.
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Gulf of Mexico – Most Corals Reefs in Flower Garden Banks Recovering
from Bleaching Event
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The coral reefs of NOAA's Flower
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located
off the Texas-Louisiana coast, have begun to recover from what some observers
feared would be a deadly coral bleaching event in 2005. Last fall, surveys
showed that an average of 42-46 percent of all coral was showing signs of bleaching.
A follow-up survey in January showed that 4-10 percent of the coral was showing
signs of bleaching.
Coral bleaching is associated with a variety of stresses, including increased
sea surface temperatures. This causes the coral to expel symbiotic micro-algae
living in their tissues—algae that provides corals with nutrients. Losing
their algae leaves coral tissues devoid of color, and thus the coral appears
to be bleached. Prolonged coral bleaching can lead to coral death and the subsequent
loss of coral reef habitats for a range of marine life.
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary harbors the northernmost
coral reefs in the continental United States, providing habitat for shallow-water
reef fishes and invertebrates. The sanctuary is one of the top diving locations
in the world for coral reef viewing. While this survey showed that most corals
are recovering from the bleaching episode, it also showed that some coral colonies
were displaying symptoms consistent with a class of coral disease known generally
as "white plague." Similar patterns of increased disease following
bleaching events have been observed throughout the Caribbean.
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Atlantic and Gulf – Seasonal Quotas Proposed for Commercial Shark Fishery
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A new proposed
rule would establish the 2006 second and third trimester season
quotas for large coastal sharks and small coastal sharks based on overharvests
or underharvests from the 2005 second and third trimester seasons. In addition,
the rule designates opening and closing dates for the large coastal shark fishery.
The intended effect of these proposed actions is to provide advance notice
of quotas and season dates for the Atlantic commercial shark fishery.
Written comments must be received by March 6. Comments may be sent to: 012006B@noaa.gov.
For more information, contact Chris.Rilling@noaa.gov.
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Atlantic – New Quotas Proposed for Swordfish
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NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed modified quotas
for North and South Atlantic swordfish for the current fishing year (through
May 31, 2006) to account for
updated landings information from previous fishing years. The proposed action
would also extend the current North Atlantic swordfish management measures
until the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
provides a recommendation for a new U.S. allocation of the North Atlantic swordfish
total allowable catch.
ICCAT's Standing Committee for Research and Statistics (SCRS) plans to conduct
a stock assessment for North Atlantic swordfish in 2006. The last assessment
conducted by the SCRS found that the North Atlantic swordfish stock was almost
completely rebuilt, with biomass levels at 94% of the level necessary to support
the maximum sustainable yield.
There will be two public hearings to receive comments on the proposed swordfish
regulations; details are provided in the proposed
rule. Written
comments on the proposed rule must be received by 5pm on March 30. Comments may be sent
to: SF1.100405C@noaa.gov.
For more information, contact: Megan.Caldwell@noaa.gov.
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Pacific Islands – Entangled Humpback Whale Rescued in Hawaiian Waters
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Federal and state officials, along with local volunteers, teamed up to free
a humpback whale from a life-threatening entanglement off the north side of
the island of Lana'i on February 13. Staff members from NOAA Fisheries Service,
the Hawaiian Islands Humpback
Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and Hawaii Department
of Land and Natural Resources, along with the community-based Whale Disentanglement
Network unraveled lines dragging 25 feet from the whale's mouth and freed the
humpback whale.
The whale was first spotted on February 9 by the Hawaiian Marine Mammal Consortium,
a whale research organization and a member of the Whale Disentanglement Network.
This is the first successful disentanglement in Hawaii this whale season and
the first disentanglement that involved using a small VHF radio tracking buoy.
The buoy, which was attached to the animal, allowed rescuers to track the whale
until it was safe enough to attempt a rescue effort. More information on this
rescue and on the work of the Hawaiian Island Disentanglement Network is posted
online.
If you believe you have seen an entangled whale or sea turtle, please call
the NOAA Fisheries Hotline at (888) 256-9840 as soon as possible. Do not get
in the water and/or attempt to cut the animal free on your own, as the process
is extremely dangerous.
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Pacific Coast – Groundfish Management Measures Adjusted
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NOAA Fisheries Service has announced adjustments to Pacific groundfish management
measures for recreational and commercial fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. These new
management measures are intended to: achieve but not exceed optimum yields
(OYs); prevent overfishing; rebuild overfished species; and reduce and minimize
the incidental catch and discard of overfished and depleted stocks. This rule
also revises the 2006 darkblotched rockfish OY, based on the latest darkblotched
rockfish stock assessment.
These new measures take effect March 1. They are intended to allow fisheries
to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted
stocks. All of these measures, except the trip limits for spiny dogfish and
Pacific cod and the change in the darkblotched rockfish OY, are routine adjustments
to management measures that occur throughout the year. The rule also contains
responses to earlier comments from the public.
For more information, call (206) 526-6140 or contact Jamie.Goen@noaa.gov.
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Alaska – Public Invited to Comment on Subsistence Harvest of Cook Inlet
Beluga Whales
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The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) allows NOAA Fisheries Service to regulate
the subsistence harvest of marine mammals by Alaska Natives. After designating
the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales as depleted, NOAA Fisheries Service proposed
regulations to limit the subsistence harvest from this stock. The objectives
are to recover the depleted stock of Cook Inlet beluga whales to its optimum
sustainable population level while preserving the traditional subsistence use
of the marine mammals by Alaska Natives. The results of administrative hearings
on this issue are available online, and NOAA is now soliciting public comment.
Public comments must be received by March 8, 2006.
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to: CIB-MMPA-ALJ-recommended-decision@noaa.gov.
Please identify electronic comments with the header: CI Beluga ALJ decision.
For more information, read
the Federal Register notice or contact Barbara.Mahoney@noaa.gov.
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Alaska - Control Date Announced for the Pacific Cod Fishery
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The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended that NOAA Fisheries
Service provide notice of a control date for participation in the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Island (BSAI) Pacific cod fishery. The purpose of this notice is
to inform the public that participation in the BSAI Pacific cod commercial
fishery after December 11, 2005, may not count for consideration of an allocation
or eligibility to fish for Pacific cod.
The announcement of a control date does not prevent any other date for eligibility
in the fishery or another method of controlling fishing effort from being proposed
and implemented. The purpose of this announcement is to discourage speculative
entry into the Pacific cod fishery while potential entry or access control
management regimes are considered by the Council. In October 2005, members
of the public testified to the Council that new entry into the Pacific cod
fishery likely would erode the Pacific cod allocations and associated prohibited
species catch amounts available to long-term participants.
For more information, contact Jeff.Hartman@noaa.gov.
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EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Candidate for Executive Position
NOAA Fisheries Service is currently advertising for the Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries. This position is located in NOAA Fisheries Service's Headquarters
Office in Silver Spring, MD. This is a senior executive position with a salary
range of $109,808 to $165,200. The Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries
provides the principal source of advice and guidance on matters relating to fishery
management for all U.S. marine fisheries in the Nation's exclusive economic
zone. The incumbent is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, and
implementing broad national criteria and operational guidelines and procedures
for conducting fisheries management responsibilities under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other statutory authorities.
Please refer to the vacancy announcement for a more detailed description of the
position. The vacancy is now open and closes March 17, 2006. All
applications
must be postmarked by the closing date of March 17, 2006. The announcement #
is NOAA#06-05.NJH and can be accessed via www.USAJOBS.opm.gov.
Please contact Gloria Thompson in the Office of the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries at (301) 713-2239 if you need further information.
Opportunities for Public Comment at HMS Meeting; This Week in Silver Spring,
MD
A joint meeting of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) and Billfish Advisory
Panels is taking place this week in Silver Spring, MD. The panels will consider
alternatives for the conservation and management of tunas, sharks, swordfish
and billfish as presented in the draft consolidated fishery management plan and
proposed rule.
The meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza (formerly
the Holiday Inn), on 8777 Georgia Ave, in Silver Spring, MD, on February
21-23. There will be opportunities
for public comment on Wednesday and Thursday.
For more information, check the
agenda or call (301) 713-2347.
NOAA to Analyze Environmental Impacts of Research on Steller Sea Lions and Fur
Seals; Comment Period Extended to Feb 25
On December 28, 2005, NOAA Fisheries Service announced its intent to analyze
the environmental impacts of administering grants and issuing permits to facilitate
research on endangered and threatened Steller sea lions and depleted northern
fur seals. The deadline for public comments has been
extended to February 25,
2006. Comments may be sent to: ssleis.comments@noaa.gov.
For more information, visit the project
website or contact Tammy.Adams@noaa.gov.
North Pacific Council's Halibut Stakeholder Committee to Meet; Feb 27-28
in Anchorage, AK
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Halibut
Stakeholder Committee will meet February 27-28 at the Hilton Hotel, on 500 West
3rd Avenue in Anchorage,
AK. The Halibut Stakeholder Committee will develop two alternatives for the long
term management of the halibut charter fishery to be considered by the North
Pacific Council at its April 5-11, 2006 meeting.
The committee will identify common goals and define two alternatives for future
analysis. One alternative would be an allocation based program. A second alternative
would be a modified Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program.
For more information,
read the meeting
notice or contact Jane.DiCosimo@noaa.gov.
South Atlantic Council and Committees to Meet; Feb 27-Mar 3 in Jekyll Island,
GA
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold meetings of its Snapper
Grouper Committee, Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Protected Resources
Committee, Joint Executive/Finance Committees, Information and Education Committee,
as well as a meeting of the full Council. The Scientific and Statistical Selection
Committee and Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet in closed sessions.
The meetings will be held February 27 through March 3, at the Jekyll Island
Club, 371 Riverview Drive, in Jekyll Island, GA.
For more information, read
the meeting
notice or contact Kim.Iverson@safmc.net.
Western Pacific Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee to Meet;
Feb 28-Mar 2 in Honolulu, HI
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's Scientific
and Statistical Committee
will convene February 28 through March 2.
For more information, read the meeting
notice or contact the Council at (808) 522-8220.
Gulf Council's Socioeconomic Panel to Meet; Mar 2-3 in Tampa, FL
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will
convene its Socioeconomic Panel to discuss total allowable catch (TAC) allocation
issues beginning at 9am
on March 2, and concluding no later than 12 noon on March 3. The meeting will
be held at the Quorum Hotel, 700 North Westshore Boulevard, in Tampa, FL.
The panel's report will be presented to the Council at its meeting on
March 20-23, 2006.
For more information, contact the Council at (813) 348-1630.
Pacific Council and Advisory Groups to Meet; Mar 5-10 in Seattle, WA
The Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory
entities will hold public
meetings on March 5-10, 2006. The Council meeting will begin at 1pm on March
6, reconvening at 8am each day Tuesday through Friday. All meetings are open
to the public, except a closed session which will be held from 1-2pm on March
6 to address litigation and personnel matters.
The meetings will be held at the Marriott Sea-Tac Hotel, at 3201 South 176th
Street, in Seattle, WA.
For more information, read the meeting
announcement or contact the Council at (503) 820-2280.
International Whaling Commission to Meet in June 2006; Mar 6 Deadline for NGO
Nominations to U.S. Delegation
This notice is
a call for nominees for the U.S. Delegation to the June 2006 International Whaling
Commission (IWC) annual meeting. The non-federal representative(s) selected
as a result of this nomination process will be responsible for providing input
and recommendations to the U.S. IWC Commissioner representing the positions of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Nominations should be addressed to Dr.
Bill Hogarth, U.S. Commissioner to the IWC, and sent to: Cheri McCarty, National
Marine Fisheries Service, Office of International Affairs, 1315 East West Highway,
SSMC3 Room 12603, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations
must be received by March
6.
Prospective Congressional advisors to the delegation should contact the Department
of State.
For more information, contact Cheri.McCarty@noaa.gov.
Meeting on Whaling Issues; Mar 31 in Silver Spring, MD
A public meeting will be held on March 31, 2006, at
10am to discuss International
Whaling Commission issues, including the outcome of the Revised Management Scheme
Working Group meeting held in February. This meeting will take place at 1301
East West Highway, in Silver Spring, MD. Please bring identification for admission
into the building.
Any U.S. citizen with an identifiable interest in U.S. whale conservation
policy may participate, but NOAA reserves the authority to inquire about the
interests of any person and to determine the appropriateness of that person's
participation. Persons who represent foreign interests may not attend. These
stringent measures are necessary to protect the confidentiality of U.S. negotiating
positions.
For more information, read the meeting
notice or contact Cheri.McCarty@noaa.gov.
2006 Aboriginal Subsistence Quotas Set for Bowhead Whales
NOAA Fisheries Service has announced the aboriginal subsistence whaling quota
for bowhead whales, and other limitations established by the International Whaling
Commission. For 2006, the quota is 75 bowhead whales. This quota and other limitations
will govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling
Commission.
For more information, read the announcement or contact Cheri.McCarty@noaa.gov.
Nautical Charting Data Available Online As Part of the National Map
As part of ongoing efforts to promote safe marine transportation, NOAA's Office
of Coast Survey now provides nautical chart data to the National Map, a U.S.
Geological Survey Project with an application similar to Google Earth. Layered
with data that can be integrated on multiple levels, the National Map ensures
that key coast-to-coast geographic information is immediately available to industry
and governments at all levels. It's an important tool for use in economic and
community development, land and natural resource management, and emergency management.
NOAA's Office of Coast Survey worked closely with the U.S. Geological
Survey to ensure that data from NOAA's Electronic Navigational Charts,
including depth areas, navigation routes, buoys, and harbor facilities, are
now incorporated into the National Map.
For more information, visit: http://nationalmap.gov.
Information from Chesapeake Bay Remote Sensing Symposium Posted Online
The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office sponsored a Chesapeake Bay Remote Sensing Symposium
on January 31, 2006 at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center to facilitate
the integration of ocean remote sensing products into existing and developing
Chesapeake Bay decision support tools. This Symposium convened over fifty representatives
from regional organizations currently involved with remote sensing and water
quality monitoring activities in the Chesapeake Bay. Symposium discussions prompted
development of an initial implementation plan that involves collaborative efforts
across Federal and State agencies and academic institutions.
Presentations, a list of participants, and additional information can be found
online.
For more information, contact Shawna Karlson at (410) 267-5656.
Stock Abundance Analysis Available for 2006 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
The Preseason Report I Stock Abundance Analysis for 2006 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website.
For more information
regarding the Preseason Report I, please contact Chuck.Tracy@noaa.gov.
Final Estimates for Fur Seal Subsistence Needs
NOAA Fisheries Service has published the annual fur seal subsistence harvests
on St. George and St. Paul Islands for 2002 to 2004, and the annual estimates
for the fur seal subsistence needs from 2005 through 2007. Estimated annual subsistence
needs are 1,645-2000 seals on St. Paul and 300-500 seals on St. George. This
notice also
describes earlier public comments on the proposed rule. A final Environmental
Impact Statement is available online.
For
more information, contact Michael.Williams@noaa.gov.
Northeast Directed Fishery for Loligo Squid Closed
The directed fishery for Loligo squid in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is
closed. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not retain
or land more than 2,500 lb of Loligo squid per trip for the remainder of the
quarter (through March 31, 2006).
For more information, call (978) 281-9221.
FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS
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 list
of all daily actions, check the Federal register online at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
NOAA FISHERIES ACTIONS
February 13, 2006
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Notice - South Atlantic FMC Committee Meetings
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February 14, 2006
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Notice - North Pacific FMC's Halibut Stakeholder Committee Meeting
Notice - Western Pacific FMC Meeting
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February 15, 2006
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Notice - Extension of Comment Period re: Impacts to Steller Sea Lions and Northern
Fur Seals
Notice - Gulf of Mexico FMC's Socio-Economic Panel Meeting
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February 16, 2006
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Proposed Rule - Control Date for BSAI Pacific Cod Fishery
Proposed Rule - Taking of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales by Alaska Natives
Notice - Marine Mammals; File No. 978-1791
Rule - Marine Mammals; Taking of Northern Fur Seals; Harvest Estimates
Notice - International Whaling Commission; Public Meeting
Rule - Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
Notice - Pacific FMC and Advisory Entities Meeting
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February 17, 2006
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Rule - Pacific Coast Groundfish Management Measures
Proposed Rule - Commercial Management Measures for Atlantic Sharks
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