FishNews - Oct 17, 2012 - National Seafood Month—Seafood Inspection, Surprising Sources of Our Seafood, Science behind Sustainable Seafood, and More

National

Inspecting Seafood—A Highly Trained Nose Knows
Do you know how we inspect seafood? How about the most common types of seafood fraud? We sat down with NOAA Fisheries Steve Wilson, Seafood Inspection Chief Quality Officer, to learn how his staff ensures seafood is safe and high-quality. Find out why a highly trained nose knows.

Making Sense of Fish Stock Assessment Models
How do we make sure our nation's fisheries are sustainable and productive? It starts with fish stock assessment modeling—combining data to evaluate fish stock health necessary to inform fisheries management decisions. Find out more in Part 2 of our Stock Assessment 101 series.

The Surprising Sources of Your Favorite Seafoods
Our top ten favorite seafoods in the United States haven't changed much in the past several years, but you might be surprised at where they come from. Find out more.

NOAA Fisheries Initiates 5-Year Review for Four Protected Sea Turtles
The agency is requesting submission of scientific and commercial data on Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles that has become available since their last status review in 2007. Please submit information through December 10, 2012.

Fish Returning to Restored Habitat in Great Lakes Faster than Expected
When NOAA started building rock reefs in Michigan’s St. Clair River, we hoped that the restored habitat would help bring fish to the area. But we didn’t expect such immediate results—we’ve already seen sturgeon swimming by the reef and have found eggs, evidence the sturgeon are spawning on the reef. Read more. 

Southeast

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on Amendment 38 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources in the Gulf of Mexico
This amendment proposes modifying accountability measures for shallow-water grouper and changing the framework procedure for the reef fish fishery management plan. Submit comments through December 11, 2012.

Alaska

NOAA Proposes to Modify the Groundfish Retention Standard Program in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
This proposed action would remove certain regulatory requirements mandating minimum levels of groundfish retention, add requirements for annual reports on groundfish retention performance, and reduce compliance costs. Comment on the proposed action through November 14, 2012.

Northwest/Southwest

NOAA Announces Awards for Coastal and Marine Fish Habitat Protection
NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have awarded $135,000—with $320,000 in matching, non-federal funds—for five projects to protect habitat for threatened and endangered salmon and other commercially and recreationally valuable fish on the Pacific Coast. Learn more.

Pacific Islands

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Seeks Public Comments on Draft Science Plan
This plan is the Center’s effort to update their view of priority tasks for the next five years. Comments should be sent to the Center’s Directors Office by November 15, 2012.

Oct-Dec: NOAA Fisheries Holds Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops

Oct-Dec: NOAA Fisheries holds training workshops on Electronic Reporting System for Federal Atlantic Swordfish, Shark, and Tuna Dealers

Oct 23-25: New Council Member Training in Silver Spring, MD

Oct 23-25: Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meets in Silver Spring, MD

Oct 25-26: Permanent Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Meets in Honolulu, HI

Oct 29-Nov 1: Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meets in Honolulu, HI

Nov 2-7: Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Costa Mesa, CA

Oct 1-31: NOAA Teacher At Sea program calls for applications for 2013 field season

Dec 14: Nominations for National Wetlands Awards due