NOTE from Assistant Administrator Chris
Oliver: It has been a devastating past few weeks for the entire southern
United States. Our thoughts are now with our colleagues and fellow citizens
impacted by Hurricane Irma, and continue to be with those already affected by
Hurricane Harvey. As we move toward clean-up, the restoration effort will
likely go on for years. We are committed to helping fishing communities,
ecosystems and our fishing industries recover from these disasters over the
long term.
HIGHLIGHTS
Interview
with Chris Oliver on Rec Fishing Issues In June, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
named Chris Oliver to lead NOAA Fisheries. In a new interview, Mr. Oliver
responds to matters of importance for recreational anglers.
Tomorrow:
Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants National Webinar and Training In an effort to assist potential applicants
nationwide, NOAA Fisheries will conduct a free informational
webinar tomorrow, Thursday, September
14, at 2:30 pm ET. The presentation will be conducted by the Saltonstall-Kennedy
program manager in conjunction with regional managers.
Volunteers remove a derelict vessel. Photo: American Littoral Society
Marine
Debris Prevention Grant Opportunity NOAA’s Marine Debris Program offers funding
that supports locally driven, community-based marine debris prevention and
removal projects. These projects will benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and
fish and wildlife. Submit Letters of Intent by September 28.
Almost $3
Million Awarded for 2017 Prescott Grants Prescott Grants support the conservation and
recovery of protected marine species. This year, NOAA Fisheries awarded 33
grants in 13 states, totaling nearly $3 million. Since 2001, these grants have
strengthened our nation’s marine mammal stranding response capabilities.
West Coast
Photo: John R. McMillan / NOAA / NWFSC
Poor Outlook for Columbia River Salmon Recent NOAA Fisheries research surveys have
found very poor ocean conditions for salmon headed to sea this year. Surveys revealed
a 20-year low in juvenile salmon, an indication that many of the young fish
that migrated to the ocean did not survive. Such conditions have a high
likelihood of depressing salmon returns to the Columbia River in the next few
years.
Photo: Morro Bay National Estuary Program
Eelgrass
Disappearing in California’s Morro Bay Eelgrass has mysteriously disappeared from
the large tidal flats of Morro Bay, California, prompting a new research
collaboration to investigate reasons for the collapse and the impacts it may
have on local fish and wildlife. As scientists seek to understand how to restore
the eelgrass, they hope what they learn will inform other recovery efforts.
Researchers
Monitor Fish Response to Dam Removal Researchers from the Southwest Fisheries
Science Center returned to the Carmel River in central California to survey
juvenile steelhead following the 2015 removal of the San Clemente Dam and the
record-breaking rains this past winter.
Pacific Islands
10 Great
Sightings from Exploring the Deep Pacific Last week, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer embarked on the last leg of NOAA’s 3-year mission
to explore the deep Pacific Ocean. To celebrate, we invite you to take a photo
and video journey through 10 great sightings (so far) made during NOAA’s
CAPSTONE mission.
September Monk
Seal of the Month As a young adult, KE18 began aggressively
harassing and injuring pups. Concerned about losing any members of such an
endangered population, NOAA scientists eventually brought him into permanent
captivity in 2012. He is currently participating in physiology studies at Long
Marine Lab in Santa Cruz, California.
Southeast
Photo: NOAA Southeast Deep Coral Initiative & Pelagic Research Services
Deep Sea
Coral Research in Southeast An expedition aboard NOAA Ship Nancy Foster surveyed deep-sea corals,
sponges, and their habitats off the west coast of Florida in August. The new
maps, photos, and biological samples will provide new information about areas
under consideration for protection.
Greater Atlantic
Photo Credit: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Final Rule to Require Electronic
Reporting for Mid-Atlantic Charter/Party Vessels Beginning in March 2018, all charter and
party vessels that hold a federal permit for species management by the
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will
be required to submit electronic vessel trip
reports for all trips carrying passengers for hire.
Cooperative
Research Targets Summer Flounder In August, scientists and fishermen
collaborating through the Cooperative Research Program tested the efficiency of
different sweeps—gear attached to the bottom of trawl nets—in targeting species
such as summer flounder, red hake, and winter flounder. The Northeast Trawl
Advisory Panel recommended the study to better understand catch efficiency and
improve stock assessments.
Chesapeake Bay
Fisheries Research Grants NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office announced the
recipients of FY 2017 funding through their Fisheries Research Program. Read
more about the two selected projects, which will improve understanding of
forage fish habitat and predator-prey interactions in the bay.
Golden
Tilefish Rule – Open for Public Comment By September
22, please submit your comments on a proposed rule setting 2018–2020 quotas
for the golden tilefish fishery. Following the recommendations of the
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee,
the proposed quotas are lower than the 2017 quotas to ensure that overfishing
does not occur.
Atlantic Sea
Scallop Research Funding Opportunity NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery
Management Council are soliciting Atlantic sea scallop research proposals under
the 2018/2019 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program.
Funded projects will support our understanding of the scallop resource and contribute
to scallop management decisions. Proposals are due November 6.
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