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 WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS National - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response | | NOAA Fisheries Service continues to provide data, plan surveys, and protocols to the effort. For daily updates regarding this effort please see the Unified Command's Joint Information Center and the NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration. For fishery-specific oil-related regulatory actions (i.e., closures) please see the NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office website. | | | National - Science Meeting Convened to Study Dispersant Use in the Gulf of Mexico | | On May 27 th over 50 experts and practitioners from government, academia and industry finished a two-day meeting looking at the potential long-term impacts of the prolonged use of large volumes of dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the third time NOAA and EPA have gathered top scientists to discuss dispersant use since the spill began. EPA and NOAA scientists are conducting rigorous ongoing monitoring and analysis of the effectiveness and toxicity of the dispersants used. Should data indicate that the dispersants are causing significant environmental damage that outweighs the benefits of their use, EPA and the Coast Guard reserve the right to discontinue use. Although the crude oil is more toxic than the authorized dispersants, much is unknown about the long term environmental impacts of dispersants when used in these unprecedented volumes on the surface and in the subsea. Because of this and due to the effectiveness of subsea applications, EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard directed BP to significantly ramp down their use of dispersants. BP has complied and has significantly reduced dispersant use. For more information please read the full NOAA News Release. The full report will be made available at: www.crrc.unh.edu. | | | National - NOAA Selects University of Miami to Run Southeastern U.S. Cooperative Institute | | NOAA has selected a consortium led by the University of Miami to continue and expand a federal and academic research partnership studying climate change, hurricanes, the coastal environment and other issues that affect millions of southeast U.S. coastal residents. Following a competitive application process, NOAA chose a consortium led by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science as the lead university to continue its partnership in the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS). NOAA and University of Miami scientists have worked together through CIMAS since 1977 to improve understanding of climate, hurricanes, and marine ecosystems along the southeastern U.S. coast. CIMAS is one of 18 NOAA cooperative institutes nationwide. NOAA funds cooperative institutes at universities with strong research programs relevant to NOAA's mission. These institutes provide resources and opportunities that extend beyond the agency's own research capacity. For more information please see the complete NOAA News Release. | | | National - Teacher Selected to Sail Aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson | | NOAA has selected Richard Chewning, the environmental education program coordinator at University of Georgia's Jekyll Island 4-H Center in Jekyll Island, Ga., to join scientists aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson as part of its Teacher at Sea program to bridge science and education. "NOAA's Teacher at Sea program immerses teachers in hands-on research experiences that give them clearer insight into our ocean planet, a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and increased knowledge of environmental literacy", said Jennifer Hammond, the program's director. "Participating in real-world research allows teachers to gain experience actually doing science, which makes a significant impact when they bring back their knowledge to their classrooms, teaching students how the oceans affect their lives." "I am thrilled to be part of this opportunity to participate in real-world scientific research and to experience life at sea," Chewning said. "Through the NOAA Teacher at Sea program, students from across Georgia and the southeast will be able to learn about exciting research projects at sea during their visit to the Jekyll Island 4-H Center. Making learning relevant through my own hands-on experiences is vital to getting students excited about science." Chewning's logs from the trip will be posted on NOAA's Teacher at Sea Web site. Now in its 20th year, the program has provided nearly 600 teachers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience participating in science at sea. This year NOAA received more than 250 applications. They selected 35 individuals to participate in cruises. According to Hammond, educators can enrich their curricula with a depth of understanding made possible by living and working side-by-side, day and night, with those who contribute to the world's body of scientific knowledge. For more information please see the complete NOAA News Release. | | | National - NOAA and Partners Urge Beach-Goers to Break the Grip of the Rip | | With summer vacation on the horizon, NOAA, the United States Lifesaving Association, and the National Park Service are alerting beach-goers to the threat of rip currents and how to prevent drowning from their strong and potentially fatal grip. Rip currents are the leading near-shore surf hazard, claiming more than 100 lives per year nationally. For that reason, the three organizations are teaming up to sponsor the Rip Current Awareness Campaign from June 6 through 12, with the theme Break the Grip of the Rip®. Rip currents are narrow channels of fast-moving water that can pull swimmers away from the shore. Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents are surprisingly strong and swift. NOAA's National Weather Service forecast offices issue surf zone forecasts, which include rip current information during the summer beach season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It is important to remember though that rip currents can occur anywhere there is surf. Here are some safety tips about rip currents you should keep in mind: - Check for surf zone forecasts at http://www.weather.gov/ripcurrents/forecasts.shtml
- Swim at a beach with lifeguard protection
- Look for signs and flags posted to warn about rip currents
- Don't swim against a rip current
- Escape rip currents by swimming in a direction following the shoreline until you are free of the rip current
- If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water…when out of the current, swim towards the shore
- Never swim alone
Please see the full NOAA News Release for more information. | | | International - Some ICCAT Parties Sign on to Bluefin Conservation Statement | | Japan recently called for an informal meeting of countries that fish for Atlantic bluefin tuna as members of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). While not an official meeting of ICCAT, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Canada, and the United States met in Barcelona, Spain, on May 30, 2010. As an outcome of the meeting, a joint statement was developed reinforcing the commitment of harvesting nations to conserve bluefin tuna. Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United States signed a joint statement. The United States was disappointed that the other major harvesters in attendance declined the opportunity to reiterate their support for bluefin tuna recovery by signing on to the statement. The United States remains deeply concerned about the status of bluefin tuna. ICCAT members must not back away from the binding agreement reached in 2009 to put eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna on the path to recovery; ICCAT's credibility depends on its taking all necessary action at its November 2010 annual meeting. The United States intends to work closely with our international partners over the coming months to support the recovery of this important species. For more information, visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/ and look under "Significant Developments". | | | Northwest - NOAA Soliciting Comments Regarding Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Proposed Initial Allocations | | NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing measures to initiate implementation of Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 20 would establish a trawl rationalization program for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. Amendment 20's trawl rationalization program would consist of: an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the shore-based trawl fleet (including whiting and non-whiting sectors); and cooperative (coop) programs for the at-sea (whiting only) mothership (MS) and catcher/processor (C/P) trawl fleets. The trawl rationalization program is intended to increase net economic benefits, create individual economic stability, provide full utilization of the trawl sector allocation, consider environmental impacts, and achieve individual accountability of catch and bycatch. Amendment 21 would establish fixed allocations for limited entry (LE) trawl participants. These allocations are intended to improve management under the rationalization program by streamlining its administration, providing stability to the fishery, and addressing halibut bycatch. NMFS is reviewing Amendments 20 and 21 in their entirety. However, due to the complexity of the proposed fishery management measures, this rule proposes only certain key components that would be necessary to have permits and endorsements issued in time for use in the 2011 fishery and in order to have the 2011 specifications reflect the new allocation scheme. Specifically, this rule would establish the allocations set forth under Amendment 21 and establish procedures for initial issuance of permits, endorsements, quota shares, and catch history assignments under the IFQ and coop programs. In addition, the proposed rule would restructure the entire Pacific Coast groundfish regulations to more closely track the organization of the proposed management measures and to make the total groundfish regulations more clear. NMFS plans to propose additional program details in a future proposed rule. Such additional details would include: Program components applicable to IFQ gear switching, observer programs, retention requirements, equipment requirements, catch monitors, catch weighing requirements, coop permits/agreements, first receiver site licenses, quota share accounts, vessel quota pound accounts, further tracking and monitoring components, and economic data collection requirements. In order to encourage more informed public comment, this proposed rule includes a general description of these additional program requirements. NMFS is also planning a future "Cost-Recovery" rule based on a recommended methodology yet to be developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (the Council). Comments on this proposed rule must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on July 12, 2010. For more information please see the Pacific Fisheries Management website and the NMFS Northwest Regional Office website which include the full notice as published in the Federal Register . | | | Northwest - Proposed Affirmation of Oregon Coast Coho ESA Listing | | NOAA Fisheries Service announced on May 25 th a proposed affirmation of the threatened Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing status of Oregon coast coho salmon. The agency listed the population in February 2008. That listing was done quickly to meet a court-ordered deadline. In April 2009, NOAA Fisheries Service announced that it was initiating an ESA status review for Oregon coast coho. The new review provided time to be more deliberative, and resulted in this proposed affirmation of the threatened listing. The current ESA listing determination, critical habitat designation, and 4(d) regulations for Oregon coast coho remain in effect. For more information, please visit the Fisheries Northwest Region Oregon coast coho ESA Web section. | | |
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS NOAA Fisheries Service to Hold Outreach Meetings with Northeast Groundfish Industry NOAA Fisheries Service has announced that it plans to hold a series of outreach meetings with the groundfish industry to solicit further feedback on the new groundfish regulations, which were implemented on May 1. In response to industry requests, the agency also plans to conduct corresponding training sessions for sector vessel operators on the use of new electronic reporting systems that sectors are using to collect catch information, and VMS training for sector and common pool vessels. NOAA plans to hold six 3-hour sessions in fishing ports from Maine to New York. For more information please see the Northeast Region website.
Pacific Fishery Management Council Meetings The Pacific Council and its advisory entities will meet June 10-17, 2010. The Pacific Council meeting will begin on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 8 a.m., reconvening each day through Thursday, June 17, 2010. All meetings are open to the public, except a closed session will be held from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 12 to address litigation and personnel matters. The Pacific Council will meet as late as necessary each day to complete its scheduled business. The meetings will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA 94404; telephone: (650) 570-5700. Please see the Pacific Council website, for the current meeting location, proposed agenda, and meeting briefing materials.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meetings The meetings will be held June 14-17, 2010, at the Courtyard Marriott, 1600 E. Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501. For more information on this meeting, including a full agenda please see the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's website.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meetings The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold scoping hearings for an amendment (Amendment 14) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB). The scoping meetings are scheduled to take place at the following dates and locations: - June 14, 2010, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Hilton Garden Inn, Providence Airport/Warwick, One Thuber Street, Warwick, RI 02886, telephone: (401) 734-9600;
- June 15, 2010, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Holiday Inn Express East End, 1707 Old Country Rd., Route 58, Riverhead, NY 11901, telephone: (631) 548-1000;
- June 17, 2010, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Congress Hall, 251 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, telephone: (609) 884-6592; and
- June 23, 2010, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607.
There will also be a separate written comment period for Amendment 14 scoping, which will be described in an upcoming Federal Register announcement for the "Notice of Intent (NOI)" to develop an EIS that accompanies Amendment 14. That NOI will also contain information regarding these scoping hearings, but to provide the public with sufficient advance notice this notice is being published now since the NOI will likely publish shortly before the scoping hearings. For more information on these meetings please visit the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's website.
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops Announced NOAA Fisheries Service is announcing that free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in July, August, and September of 2010. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be held in 2010. The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held July 8, August 5, and September 2, 2010, in Jefferson, LA; Panama City, FL; and Wilmington, NC, respectively. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held July 21, July 28, August 11, August 25, September 15, and September 22, 2010, in Clearwater, FL; Corpus Christi, TX; Wilmington, NC; Boston, MA; Manahawkin, NJ; and Kenner, LA, respectively. The workshop schedules, registration information, and a list of frequently asked questions regarding these workshops are posted on the Internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/workshops/.
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
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