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WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

National – NOAA Seeks Applicants for Director, Office of Science and Technology

The Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service is advertising to fill the Director, Office of Science and Technology position in the agency's Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. This is a senior executive position with a salary range of $114,468 to $172,200. The Director is accountable for the management of all financial and human resources of the Office. In this capacity, s/he provides national oversight and coordination for the planning, development and execution of a multi-disciplinary program of research, fisheries landing data, long-term science and technology strategy as well as coordination of international scientific activities including bilateral scientific agreements with appropriate international organizations. Research programs in the Director’s sphere of responsibility are conducted at geographically-dispersed research laboratories and facilities and aboard vessels. The incumbent directs the work of staff scientists and support personnel working in the fields of fishery biology, animal population dynamics, chemistry, economics, sociology, ecology, microbiology, physiology, fishery management, embryology, ethology, zoogeography, taxonomy, parasitology, food science, engineering, oceanography, fishing gear technology, aquaculture, and environmental analyses. The vacancy is now open and closes on October 29, 2008. The announcement # is NOAA#09-03.NJH and can be accessed via USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site.

Please contact Gloria Thompson, Office of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, at (301) 713-2239 if you require additional information.

National – NOAA issues final rule for green-stick gear for harvest of Atlantic tunas

NOAA Fisheries Service has authorized green-stick gear for the harvest of Atlantic tunas, including bluefin tuna (BFT), and requires a sea turtle control device in Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) pelagic longline (PLL) and bottom longline (BLL) fisheries. At this time, NOAA Fisheries Service is not authorizing harpoon gear for the harvest of Atlantic tunas in the HMS Charter/Headboat (CHB) category as originally proposed. The purpose of this final rule is to ensure fishermen harvest Atlantic tunas within quotas, size limits, or other established limitations and to distinguish green-stick fishing gear from current definitions of other authorized gear types. This final rule also addresses use of sea turtle control devices in the PLL and BLL fisheries to achieve and maintain low post-release mortality of sea turtles thus maintaining consistency with the 2004 Biological Opinion for the Atlantic PLL fishery and to increase safety at sea for fishermen when handling sea turtles caught or entangled in longline fishing gear. NOAA Fisheries Service also has revised its list of equipment models that NMFS has approved as meeting the minimum design specifications for the careful release of sea turtles caught in hook and line fisheries. Copies the final Environmental Assessment (EA), or other related documents are available on the HMS website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Blankinship; telephone: (727) 824-5399, or Sarah McLaughlin; telephone: (978) 281-9260.

Pacific – NOAA announces closure for directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in BS and BSAI

NOAA Fisheries Service is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific Ocean perch for vessels participating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access fishery in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI. NOAA Fisheries Service manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery conservation and Management Act. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI. Closure dates will occur from September 24, 2008, through December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan; telephone: (907) 586-7228.

Pacific – NOAA announces fishery closure for Pacific Cod in BS and BSAI

NOAA Fisheries Service is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to pot catcher processors in the BSAI. In accordance with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Alaska Regional Administrator finds that the 2008 Pacific cod directed fishing allowance allocated to pot catcher processors in the BSAI has been reached. Consequently, NOAA Fisheries Service is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher processors in the BSAI. Effective fishery closure dates begin September 19, 2008, through December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan; telephone: (907) 586-7228.

West Coast – NOAA seeks comments on Proposed Middle Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan

NOAA Fisheries Service announces the availability of the Proposed Middle Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan (Plan) for public review and comment. The Plan addresses the Middle Columbia River Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which spawns and rears in tributaries to the Columbia River in central and eastern Washington and Oregon. NOAA Fisheries Service is responsible for developing and implementing Endangered Species Act recovery plans for listed salmon and steelhead. In so doing, NOAA’s goal is to restore endangered and threatened Pacific salmonids to the point that they are again self-sustaining members of their ecosystems and no longer need the protections of the ESA. NOAA Fisheries Service is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Proposed Plan.

Written, faxed, or electronically-submitted comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific daylight time on December 23, 2008.

West Coast – NOAA seeks comments on EA for deep-set longline pelagic tuna fishery

NOAA Fisheries Service announced its intent to issue an environmental assessment (EA) which analyzes the management options for the west-coast-based deep-set longline (DSLL) pelagic tuna fishery operating on the high seas. The preferred alternative is to allow for the continued operation and possible minor expansion of the west-coast-based DSLL pelagic tuna fishery operating on the high seas. Impacts to the human environment (e.g., effects of the proposed action on protected species, finfish, seabirds, and socioeconomics) were found to be insignificant for both alternatives being considered. In 2005 a single commercial vessel began participating in the DSLL fishery on the high seas; therefore, this EA will provide the needed analysis to manage the fishery based on the best available science to ensure that the fishery is consistent with all Federal statutes and management objectives. Written, faxed or emailed comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. pacific standard time on October 29, 2008. The Draft Environmental Assessment for the West Coast Deep-set Longline Fishery Operating Outside of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone is available for review from the NOAA Fisheries Service Southwest Region website. Copies of the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species and the accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Helvey, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Southwest Region, NOAA Fisheries Service, (562) 980-4040.

West Coast – NOAA announces fishery closure for Pacific sardine

NOAA Fisheries Service is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific sardine. This action is necessary because the directed harvest allocation total for the third allocation period (September 15 - December 31) is projected to be reached. From the date of closure until the new fishing season begins on January 1, 2009, Pacific sardine may only be harvested incidental to other fisheries. Any incidental Pacific sardine landings will be counted against that period's incidental set aside. Fishing vessels must be in the process of offloading at the time of closure. Under 50 CFR 660.509 if the total harvest guideline or these apportionment levels for Pacific sardine are reached at any time, NOAA Fisheries Service is required to close the Pacific sardine fishery via appropriate rulemaking and it is to remain closed until it re-opens either per the allocation scheme or the beginning of the next fishing season.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Lindsay, Southwest Region, NOAA Fisheries Service; telephone: (562) 980-4034.

Alaska – NOAA issues a final rule to amend the subsistence fishery rules for Pacific Halibut

NOAA Fisheries Service issued a final rule, effective October 24, 2008, to amend the subsistence fishery rules for Pacific halibut in waters in and off Alaska. These regulations are necessary to address subsistence halibut management concerns, particularly in densely populated areas. This action is intended to support the conservation and management provisions of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. The Halibut Act authorizes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to develop halibut fishery regulations, including limited access regulations, in its geographic area of concern that would apply to nationals or vessels of the United States.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Carls, 907-586-7228.

Alaska – NOAA seeks comment on proposed rule for BSAI and Gulf of Alaska FMP amendments

NOAA Fisheries Service issued a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 73 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 77 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (collectively, Amendments 73/77). If approved, Amendments 73/77 would remove dark rockfish (Sebastes ciliatus) from both fishery management plans (FMPs). The State of Alaska (State) would then assume management of dark rockfish catch by State-permitted vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and the Gulf of Alaska. This action is necessary to allow the State of Alaska to implement more responsive, regionally based management of dark rockfish than is currently possible under the FMPs. This action would improve conservation and management of dark rockfish and is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable laws.

Written, faxed or electronically-submitted comments must be received no later than November 17, 2008.

Alaska - NOAA announces fishery closure for Pacific cod in GOA

In accordance with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the NOAA Fisheries Service Alaska Regional Administrator has determined that the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore NOAA Fisheries Service is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are subject to sideboard limits catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. Effective closure dates are September 26, 2008, through December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton; telephone: (907) 586-7228.

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

September
Sept 29-Oct 6 – North Pacific Council Meeting, Anchorage, AK

October
Oct 2-7 - 4th Regular Session of the WCPFC Technical & Compliance Committee, Pohnpei, Micronesia
Oct 5 – 2008 Annual Coast Day, Lewes, Delaware
Oct 5-14 – 4th IUCN World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, Spain
Oct 6-10 – 4th Session of the COFI Subcommittee on Aquaculture, Puerta Varas, Chile
Oct 7-9 – New England Council Meeting, Mystic, CT
Oct 11-15 – Restore America’s Estuaries National Conference, Providence, RI
Oct 13-16 - Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting, Key Largo, FL
Oct 14-16 – Mid-Atlantic Council Meeting, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Oct 14-17 – Western Pacific Council Meeting, Honolulu, HI
Oct 18 – Milford Laboratory Open House, Milford, CT
Oct 19-23 – Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee Annual Meeting, Rehoboth, DE
Oct 21-23 - Pacific Salmon Commission Executive Session, Victoria, BC, Canada
Oct 21-24 – New Council Member Training, Washington, DC
Oct 21-24 – 7th Session of the ICES Advisory Committee on Fisheries Research, Rome
Oct 23-Nov 2 – PICES 17th Annual Meeting, Dalian, China
Oct 27-30 – Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting, Mobile, AL
Oct 27-Nov 1 -37th U.S.-Japan Natural Resources Panel on Aquaculture, Yokohama, Japan
Oct 29-31 – American Sportfishing Association Sportfishing Summit, Denver. CO

November
Nov 2-7 - Pacific Council Meeting, San Diego, CA
Nov 3-7 - AIDCP/IATTC Meetings, La Jolla, CA
Nov 9-21 – 9th COP to the Convention on Migratory Species, Rome
Nov 12-14 – Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting, New Orleans, LA
Nov 17-21 – 16th Annual Meeting of the North Pacific Anadromous Fisheries Commission, Seattle, WA
Nov 17-24 – ICCAT Annual Meeting, Marrakech, Morocco
Nov 18-20 – New England Council Meeting, Danvers, MA

December
Dec 1-5 – South Atlantic Council Meeting, Wilmington, NC
Dec 1-5 – 4th International Symposium on Deep Sea Corals, Wellington, NZ
Dec 2-4 – NOAA Fisheries Leadership Council Meeting, Silver Spring, MD
Dec 3-7 – 5th Regular Session of the WCPFC, Busan, Korea
Dec 8-15 – North Pacific Council Meeting, Anchorage, AK
Dec 9-11 – Mid-Atlantic Council Meeting, Montauk, NY

Northeast Coast – New England Fishery Management Council Meeting October 7th-9th, 2008

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a three-day Council meeting, on October 7-9, 2008, beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 20 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT 06355; telephone: (860) 572-0731.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, telephone: (978) 465-0492.

East Coast – Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meetings October 14th-16th, 2008

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), its Bycatch/Limited Access Committee; its Ecosystems Committee; its Research Set-Aside Committee; its Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Committee; its Law Enforcement Committee; and, its Executive Committee will hold public meetings on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 through Thursday, October 16, 2008. The meetings will be held at the Ramada Plaza & Resort, 1701 South Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948; telephone: (252) 441-2151.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 674-2331 ext. 19.

Pacific - Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting October 14th-17th, 2008

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 143rd meeting to consider and take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. The Council meeting and public hearings will be held on October 14-17, 2008, in Honolulu, HI at the Pagoda Hotel, 1525 Rycroft Street, Honolulu, HI 96814; telephone: (808) 941-6611. In addition to the listed agenda items, the Council will hear recommendations from other Council advisory groups. Public comment periods will be provided throughout the agenda. The order in which agenda items are addressed may change. The Council will meet as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; telephone: (808) 522-8220.

Pacific – Pacific Fishery Management Council Holds Public Meeting October 15th, 2008

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Salmon Technical Team (STT), Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Salmon Subcommittee, and Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will review proposed salmon methodology changes in a joint work session, which is open to the public Wednesday, October 15, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marriott Courtyard Portland Airport, Columbia Ballroom, 11550 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97220; telephone: (503) 252-3200. The purpose of the work session is to brief the STT and SSC Salmon Subcommittee on proposed changes to methods and standards used to manage ocean salmon fisheries. The work session will include review of proposed changes to the Sacramento River fall Chinook abundance forecast and harvest model, and a preliminary sensitivity analysis of the Chinook and Coho Fishery Regulation Assessment Models (FRAM).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chuck Tracy, Salmon Management Staff Officer, Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (503) 820-2280.

National – IATTC General Advisory Committee Meeting October 16th, 2008

NOAA Fisheries Service announces a meeting, via teleconference, of the General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) on October 16, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until business is concluded), Pacific time. The General Advisory Committee will meet to receive and discuss information on:
(1)2008 IATTC activities,
(2)Upcoming meetings of the IATTC, including issues such as: conservation and management measures for yellowfin and bigeye tuna for 2009 and future years, measures to be taken in the absence of conservation and management measures, management of fishing capacity, and other issues,
(4) IATTC cooperation with other regional fishery management organizations,
(5) implementing legislation for the Antigua Convention, including the provisions for a General Advisory Committee, and
(6) administrative matters pertaining to the General Advisory Committee. Please notify Allison Routt prior to October 9, 2008, to receive dial in information and of your intent to participate in this teleconference.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Routt at (562) 980-4019 or (562) 980-4030.

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: Federal Register: Main Page.

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