WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS National - NOAA Releases The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States
NOAA has announced the release of
The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States, a report that provides new insight into the complex and biologically rich habitats found in deeper waters off the U.S. and around the world. Called for in the President’s Ocean Action Plan, this peer-reviewed report contains an up-to-date assessment of deep coral ecosystems in U.S. waters. The report illustrates that deep corals, also known as “deep sea” or “cold-water” corals, are likely much more extensive and important to ocean ecosystems than previously known. The report discusses the vulnerability of deep corals to human activities and identifies the current threats to these habitats.
For additional information on the report, please contact Kathleen Campbell ( 301) 713-2325 x148 or by email
Kathleen.Campbell@noaa.gov.
National - New Findings Show CO 2 Impacts on Corals NOAA Coral Reef Watch and coral scientists from around the globe have reported that corals could begin to disappear in 50 to 75 years due to steadily warming temperatures and increasing ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal
Science and report that increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide are warming and acidifying the oceans. The findings project that coral reef ecosystems will begin to disappear within the next 50 to 75 years.
On the eve of the International Year of the Reef 2008, the scientists from seven countries are warning that most coral reefs will not survive the rapid increases in global temperatures and atmospheric CO 2 that are forecast over this century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change unless drastic action is taken to curb CO 2 emissions. Even emission curbs will not be enough without concerted management of other threats to these ecosystems.
For additional information, please contact Ben Sherman, (301) 713-3066.
National - NOAA Fisheries Proposes Requiring U.S. Coast Guard Approved Pilot Ladders and Requests Public Comments NOAA Fisheries has proposed regulations to require domestic fishing vessel operators to provide a U.S. Coast Guard-approved pilot ladder as a safer and more enforceable means for authorized personnel to board certain domestic fishing vessels in carrying out their duties. Comments must be received by January 10, 2008 and may submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
http://www.regulations.gov, by Fax to 301-713-1175, Attn: William D. Chappell, or by mail to Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Boarding Ladder Rule.''
For additional information, please contact William D. Chappell, 301-713-2337 or by email
william.chappell@noaa.gov.
National – NOAA Seeks Greater Protection for Threatened Staghorn and Elkhorn Coral
NOAA is
proposing to extend most of the measures of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) - normally applied only to endangered species - to the threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals. NOAA biologists estimate more than 90 percent of elkhorn and staghorn corals have been lost because of coral bleaching due to rising sea temperatures, disease, and tropical storm damage. Both species were listed as threatened in May 2006. Species listed as endangered under the ESA are automatically covered by a suite of protective measures and prohibitions in the law. However, for species listed as threatened, such as elkhorn and staghorn corals, these same measures and prohibitions do not automatically apply. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries Service developed a separate proposed rule, detailing the prohibitions necessary to provide for the conservation of elkhorn and staghorn corals. NOAA Fisheries also announced the availability of an environmental assessment (EA) document that analyzes the impacts of these regulations and is calling for public comment. Comments on this proposal must be received by March 13, 2008. Comments by be provided electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
http://www.regulations.gov, by Fax to 727-824-5309, or by mail to Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
For additional information, please contact Jennifer Moore or Sarah Heberling, 727-824-5312; or Marta Nammack, 301-713-1401.
National – NOAA Fisheries Announces Status Review for Shortnose Sturgeon
Fisheries has
announced the initiation of a status review for shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), and requests information on the status of, and factors and threats affecting, the species. The status review is intended to compile and analyze the best available information on the status of and threats to the species and also consider if shortnose sturgeon should be identified and assessed as Distinct Population Segments. Written information regarding the status of, and factors and threats affecting, shortnose sturgeon must be received by January 29, 2008. The public may submit comments, identified by ``RIN 0648-XE02,'' via the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
http://www.regulations.gov , by Fax to (978) 281-9394, Attention: Dana Hartley, or by mail to the Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, NMFS Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
For additional information, please contact Dana Hartley, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office (978) 281-9300 ext. 6514; Stephania Bolden, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office (727) 824-5312; or Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, (301) 713-1410.
Alaska – Hopeful Signs in Beluga Whale Population Levels
NOAA Fisheries biologists estimate a beluga population of 375 whales in the Cook Inlet near Anchorage, Alaska,
according to data collected during their annual survey in June. This population estimate is the largest since 2001. Data was collected by NOAA Fisheries biologists during aerial surveys over upper Cook Inlet waters from June 9 to 15, and recorded video of beluga whale groups. The biologists calculate population estimates by examining the video taken during passes over beluga groups and from counts made by researchers. NOAA Fisheries Service declared the Cook Inlet beluga population depleted in 2000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Since then, subsistence hunting has been conducted under co-management agreements between Alaska Native organizations and NOAA Fisheries Service, with restrictions on how many whales could be taken in a given year. The population, however, has not recovered as hoped. This year, the NOAA Fisheries Service proposed that the Cook Inlet beluga population be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act - a final determination is due in 2008.
For additional information, please contact Sheela McLean (907) 586-7032.
Alaska – New Measures to Avoid Seabird Bycatch
NOAA Fisheries has issued a
final rule that revises the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and
halibut fisheries. The final rule strengthens gear standards for small vessels and eliminates certain seabird avoidance requirements that are not needed. The rule focuses on the use of a streamer line; a line deployed from a mast, pole or davit on a boat to prohibit seabirds getting caught in fishing gear. The new rule is necessary to revise seabird avoidance measures based on the latest scientific information and to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and associated costs. The new rule becomes effective on January 17, 2008.
For additional information, please contact Melanie Brown, 907-586-7228 or e-mail at
melanie.brown@noaa.gov.
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico – New Reef Fish Gear Requirements
NOAA Fisheries is continuing the implementation of
new management measures for the commercial and recreational reef fish fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. In October 2007, NOAA Fisheries proposed new requirements for fishermen to use non-stainless steel circle hooks when fishing with natural baits, and to have a dehooking device and a venting tool onboard their vessel. A venting tool is necessary to deflate the swim bladders of reef fish that fishermen intend to release. A venting tool is a sharpened, hollow instrument, such as a hypodermic needle or a 16-gauge needle fixed to a hollow wooden dowel. Use of a tool such as a knife or an ice-pick would not be permissible. For best results, the venting tool should be inserted into the fish at a 45-degree angle approximately 1 to 2 inches behind the base of the pectoral fin. The tool should be inserted just deep enough to release the gases, so that the fish may be released with minimum damage.
For additional information, please contact Michael Bailey (727) 551-5743 or
Michael.Bailey@noaa.gov.
West Coast - Final Rule Requiring Vessel Monitoring Systems on West Coast
Fisheries has issued
a final rule to require all vessels fishing in the open access groundfish fishery, and all trawl vessels to use a vessel monitoring system (VMS) transceiver while fishing off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California. NOAA Fisheries NMFS has closed areas intended to: minimize the bycatch of overfished groundfish protected salmon species, and protect Essential Fish Habitat from harm through contact with fishing gear. This action is intended to improve the monitoring of compliance with those closed areas through regular VMS transmissions of vessel locations for those vessels subject to groundfish closed area restrictions. This rule becomes effective February 4, 2008.
For additional information, please contact Becky Renko, (206) 526-6110; fax (206) 526-6736 and e-mail
becky.renko@noaa.gov West Coast – Comments Sought on Changes to Pacific Coast Groundfish Plan
NOAA Fisheries has announced a final
rule that will make in season changes to management measures in the commercial Pacific Groundfish Fishery. This fishery is made up of over 90 species of Pacific Fish including
Sablefish, Rockfish and Flatfish and
Sole. Some of the changes to the plan include setting the Rockfish Conservation Area boundaries, adjusting trip limits, and removing trip limits for lingcod in the tribal fishery. Comments on the plan must be received no later than January 15, 2008.
For additional information, please contact Gretchen Arentzen phone: 206-526-6147, fax: 206-526-6736 and e-mail
gretchen.arentzen@noaa.gov.
East Coast – NOAA Fisheries Proposes Individual Fishing Quotas for Atlantic Sea Scallop and Seeks Public Comment
NOAA Fisheries has proposed regulations to control the fishing capacity of the open access
Atlantic Sea Scallop fleet. New management measures proposed include a limited access program with individual fishing quotas for qualified general category vessels, a specific allocation for general category fisheries, and other measures to improve management of the general category scallop fishery. Public comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. EST, on January 31, 2008. Copies of the proposal and related documents are available online at
http://www.nefmc.org. The public is asked to submit electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
http://www.regulations.gov or by Fax to (978) 281-9135, Attn: Peter Christopher. Comments cal also be mailed to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Scallop Amendment 11 Proposed Rule.''
For additional information, please contact Peter Christopher, Fishery Policy Analyst, phone 978-281-9288, fax 978-281-9135.
South Atlantic - Public Comment Sought on Commercial Wahoo/Dolphin Fishery Access
NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on
a proposal to control future access to the commercial dolphin/wahoo fishery operating in the exclusive economic zone of the South Atlantic. If changes to the management regime are developed and implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), a control date could be used to limit the number of participants in the fishery. This announcement is intended, in part, to promote awareness of the potential eligibility criteria for future access so as to discourage speculative entry into the fishery while the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries consider whether and how access to the dolphin/wahoo commercial fishery should be controlled. Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., local time, January 4, 2008.
The public may submit comments electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
http://www.regulations.gov , by Fax to (727) 824-5308 Attn: Kate Michie, or by mail to Michie, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.