National

National

Northeast

Atlantic

Atlantic

NOAA Investigating Fishing Net Snagged on USS Monitor

Southeast

Southeast

Pacific

Northwest

Alaska

North Pacific

North Pacific

National – Nature Magazine Publishes Research on Red Snapper Mislabeling; NOAA Fisheries Responds

On July 15, Nature Magazine published an article about research on potential mislabeling of red snapper in U.S. retail markets. The issue was covered by news outlets around the country, including USA Today and National Public Radio. Although the research was based on an extremely small sample size and did not address where or how mislabeling might be occurring, the researcher speculated whether mislabeling at the fishing and fish house levels could impact NOAA Fisheries’ red snapper science and management programs. The agency responds with the following information:

This kind of mislabeling is not happening at the fishing and fish house level, where we collect scientific information used for stock assessments (upon which management programs are based). We know this for many reasons. First, we have compared red snapper landings records with our dockside sampling over the past 10 years and found little mislabeling (0.2%). We also require red snapper to be landed with heads and fins intact, so it would be very difficult to pass one species off as another. The fish dealer would not purchase a less valuable fish at a red snapper price, and fishers have incentive to identify red snapper so they will get the higher price. Finally, NOAA Fisheries conducts fishery-independent catch surveys to calculate population trends over time, which gives us a tremendous amount of information about the status of red snapper populations, independent of what fishermen are catching and reporting. In short, NOAA Fisheries does not use the volume of retail sales in its stock assessments.

National – Zero Mortality Rate Goal for Marine Mammal Protection

To implement the Zero Mortality Rate Goal (ZMRG) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA Fisheries has defined an ”insignificance threshold” as the upper limit of mortality and serious injury to a stock of marine mammals incidental to commercial fisheries considered to be insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate. The insignificance threshold for a population stock of marine mammals is estimated as 10 percent of the stock's Potential Biological Removal level. The final rule will publish on July 20, 2004. Details of the rule and additional information on the ZMRG are available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr. NOAA Fisheries is also completing a report to Congress on fisheries' progress in reducing incidental mortality and is expecting to submit the report to Congress in October 2004.

The ZMRG has been an integral part of the Marine Mammal Protection Act since it was enacted in 1972, initially directed at addressing the mortality of dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific tuna purse seine fishery. The concept was expanded to all domestic commercial fisheries in the 1994 amendments to the Act. For more information, contact Tom Eagle at Tom.Eagle@noaa.gov or (301) 713-2332.

Northeast – New Management Measures for Atlantic Sea Scallops

Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) and was partially approved by NOAA Fisheries. New measures implemented by Amendment 10 include a rotational area management scheme, essential fish habitat (EFH) closures, open area days-at-sea (DAS) allocations; dredge gear restrictions, set-asides for observer coverage and research in the scallop fishery, and a proactive protected species program.

The new DAS allocations became effective on June 23, 2004. With the exception of the 4-inch minimum ring size in all areas, all other measures are effective July 23, 2004, including the 4-inch minimum ring size requirement in the Hudson Canyon Access Area. The 4-inch minimum ring size is required in all areas effective December 23, 2004. For complete information and details visit us at: www.nero.noaa.gov/amend10.

Atlantic – Public Hearings Scheduled for Plan to Reduce Ship Strikes of North Atlantic Right Whales; Comment Period Extended Until September 15

On June 1, NOAA Fisheries published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to alert the public about a proposed strategy to reduce mortalities of North Atlantic right whales that result from vessel collisions. Copies of the ANPR and background documents can be obtained at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ under the link for “Recent News and Hot Topics” and the heading “Ship Strike Strategy”.

North Atlantic right whales are highly endangered, and minimizing mortalities that result from ship strikes is essential to their recovery. The plan proposes measures such as potential routing changes for vessels, speed reductions, and the use of dynamic management areas. NOAA Fisheries decided to extend the comment period so that all Federal, State and local government agencies, as well as non-government organizations and interested members of the public will have additional time to submit comments. The ANPR contains instructions for submitting comments; all comments are due by September 15, 2004. Five regional public hearings will be held beginning July 20 and ending August 3. For the complete schedule, go to: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/news/whale.htm.

Atlantic – NOAA Investigating Fishing Net Snagged on USS Monitor

NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is working with the National Marine Sanctuary Program to investigate the origin of a trawl fishing net found snagged on the remains of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor. The net was discovered by Navy divers and NOAA archaeologists during an expedition to Monitor National Marine Sanctuary between June 17-30. The NOAA-Navy team also discovered that the Monitor's lower hull had suffered considerable damage since it was last visited and documented in August 2003.

Sanctuary regulations prohibit trawling inside the sanctuary. Sanctuary regulations also prohibit moving, removing or injuring, or any attempt to move, remove, or injure any submerged cultural or historical resources, including artifacts and pieces from shipwrecks, without a permit. While the investigation is underway, NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement is requesting anyone with information about the source of the fishing net and/or recent damage to the Monitor to contact the law enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964. Regulations for the Monitor can be found at:
http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/oms/pdfs/MonitorRegs.pdf

Southeast – Public Hearings Scheduled for Shrimp Fishery Bycatch Reduction and Other Measures

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of public hearings to collect input from area fishermen and others regarding proposed measures in Amendment 6 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. The Amendment includes options addressing:

• Testing protocol and certification criteria for Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs);
• Methods to monitor and assess bycatch in the fishery;
• Possible federal permit requirement for the penaeid (white, pink and brown) shrimp fishery in the South Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); and
• Stock status determination criteria for both the penaeid and rock shrimp fishery.

"Changes in testing and certification of bycatch reduction devices would help expedite the process for approving new and improved gear designs," stated Council
Chairman David Cupka. The Council is also considering additional measures to monitor and assess bycatch in the shrimp fishery, including onboard observer coverage, logbooks and the use of federal permits for the penaeid fishery to identify and quantify vessels in the fishery.

Copies of the public hearing document can be obtained from the Council office at 843/571-4366 or toll free, 1-866/SAFMC-10. Written comments regarding Amendment 6 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan will be accepted until August 13, 2004. Comments should be mailed to Robert Mahood, Executive Director, SAFMC, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699, FAX 843/469-4520 or sent via email to: shrimpcomments@safmc.net. For a listing of hearing dates and locations go to: www.safmc.net.

Southeast – Researchers Plan August Hunt for Invasive Lionfish Off Carolina Coast

NOAA scientists will lead a diving expedition off the North Carolina coast August 2-20 to learn more about a venomous predatory fish whose population appears to be growing in waters along Florida, North Carolina and Bermuda. Over the last four years the Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans, has established itself as the first pacific marine fish known to populate Atlantic waters, particularly around reefs off the southeast United States. An aquarium fish popular for its brilliant colors, the venomous lionfish most likely was introduced to Atlantic waters by intentional or unintentional releases from aquariums.

Scientist Paula Whitfield of NOAA’s Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, in Beaufort, N.C., will lead the diving expedition sponsored by the NOAA Undersea Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to hunt and collect lionfish off the coast to better understand its ecology and its potential impact on native fish communities.

Lionfish are believed to pose particular risks to the local environment. The invasive lionfish have few if any natural predators in their new Atlantic environment. They are voracious predators that feed on small shrimp and large fishes, including the young of important commercial fish species such as snapper and grouper. These commercial fish use the region’s “live bottom” reefs as nursery grounds. For more information, contact Jana Goldman, (301) 713-2483.

Pacific – NOAA Investigates Sea Lion Shooting in California; Large Reward Offered

A famous and likeable sea lion nicknamed “Shopper” by residents of Napa, California, was shot in the mouth and killed last week. The crime is punishable by a civil fine of up to $12,000 or a criminal fine of up to $20,000 plus jail time. As NOAA investigates, the local Humane Society has raised nearly $15,000 reward from donations, including $1,000 from NOAA, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Anyone who would like to donate money to the reward fund can call (707) 255-8118. If anyone has any information regarding Shopper's death they should call the local police at (707) 575-6072 or the NOAA Marine Mammal Center hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

Northwest – Rebuilding Plans Proposed for Boccacio and other Pacific Groundfish Species

NOAA Fisheries has issued a proposed rule to implement Amendment 16-3 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 16-3 establishes the terms of rebuilding plans for several overfished species that are managed by this FMP: bocaccio, cowcod, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. For a copy of the proposed rule, go to: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1sustfsh/groundfish/gfregs.htm

All comments from the public must be submitted by August 17, 2004. They may be sent via email to: Amendment16-3PR.nwr@noaa.gov. Be sure to include the I.D. number in the subject line of the message. For further information, contact Jamie Goen (Northwest Region) at jamie.goen@noaa.gov.

Alaska – New Fish Reporting System Planned

NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Region, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the International Pacific Halibut Commission are cooperating on a shared system designed to simplify commercial fishery landing data collection from Alaskan fishermen and processors, using the power of the Internet.

The Web-based Interagency Electronic Fishery Information Collection and Management Project will create a joint electronic data repository that provides increased timeliness of data availability, improved quality of data submitted, and ultimately benefit all three agencies and the commercial industry by eliminating the current duplicate reporting of
the same data for multiple purposes.

With a contractor now hired, planners hope to have the system in place for the Bering Sea crab fishing industry in 2005, as the industry undergoes consolidation and management changes--'rationalization'. The new reporting system would then spread to other Alaskan fisheries.

For full details, visit us at: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/reporting071304.htm or contact Dave Ackely with our Office of Sustainable Fisheries in Alaska, (907) 586-7010.

North Pacific - NOAA Scientists Study Deep Water Corals in First of its Kind Operation

In 2002, Auke Bay Laboratory biologists used an occupied submersible to explore areas around the Andreanof Islands and on Petrel Bank in the Bering Sea, where they found habitats of coral, sponges and other invertebrates previously undocumented in the North Pacific Ocean or Bering Sea. The focus of this year's cruise is to explore even deeper waters to learn more about the deeper Aleutian coral habitats, including their location and depth. NOAA scientists will be the first to use a deep-diving remotely operated vehicle to study coral in the Aleutians. Contact: Phil Rigby, Auke Bay Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (907) 789-6653

North Pacific – NOAA Awards $2.3 Million to Support Steller Sea Lion Research

Funding from the grant supports studies conducted by the Foundation that provide comprehensive data to NOAA Fisheries and members of the academic community. The studies include: research of the nutritional physiology of Steller sea lions in captivity; development of the Steller sea lion Open Water Research project; dietary analysis of Steller sea lions; assessment of the effects of human disturbance on Steller sea lions; comparative analysis of trends in other pinneped populations of the Eastern North Pacific; assessment of changes in populations of Northern Fur seals; and seven additional technical studies of Steller sea lion populations.

July 13, 2004

Notice. - U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product Prospectus.
Rule - Access to Tissue Specimen Samples From Marine Mammals Tissue Bank
Rule - 2004 Recreational Measures for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass for Northeastern U.S. Fisheries.

July 14, 2004

Notice - Omnibus Notice; Addendum Additional Programs.
Proposed Rule - NOA of Amendment 48/48 for Groundfish Fisheries of the BSAI.
Rule - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

July 15, 2004

Notice - Marine Mammals; File Nos. 881-1710, 87-1593
Notice - Endangered Species; Permit No. 1260
Notice - New England FMC; Public Meetings
Notice - Pacific FMC; Public Meetings
Rule - Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Rule - POP Closure in the Central Reg. Area of the Gulf of Alaska.