HIGHLIGHTS
Species in
the Spotlight Recovery Heroes
Not all heroes wear capes. NOAA
Fisheries Species in the Spotlight heroes wear
waders, bow ties, hard hats, and lab coats—and one totes around a killer whale
skull. But one thing these heroes have in common is a desire to help prevent
vulnerable species from becoming extinct.
Endangered
Species Biennial Report to Congress
NOAA Fisheries’ latest
comprehensive report on Recovering
Threatened and Endangered Species is now available. This biennial report to
Congress (October 2014 – September 2016) summarizes progress made on our
strategic approach to endangered species recovery. We are beginning to see the
success of our efforts, but more work needs to be done.
Atlantic
Highly Migratory SEDAR Pool Nominations
NOAA Fisheries seeks nominations
for the Advisory Panel for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops, also known as the
SEDAR Pool. SEDAR Pool members would be available to participate in workshop
considering the data and models used in stock assessments and advise NOAA
Fisheries on the conservation and management of Atlantic sharks. Nominations
are due January 2.
Leatherback
Population Warrants Status Review
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service found that a petition to identify the Northwest Atlantic
leatherback sea turtle as a Distinct Population Segment and list it as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act may warrant action. The agencies
will now conduct a status review. Please submit relevant scientific and
commercial information by February 5.
National
Observer Program Releases Report
The National Observer Program has
released the Observer Provider Insurance
Technical Memo, which summarizes the discussions from a November 2016
workshop, comments submitted during a follow-up webinar in May 2017, and
preliminary recommendations from an Observer Safety Program Review. NOAA
Fisheries continues to develop recommendations for next steps to address these
insurance issues.
Celebrate
Corals Week 2017
Celebrate the beauty and
importance of coral reef ecosystems this week. Learn how NOAA studies and
manages corals, how coral reefs contribute to our economy, and why corals do
not make good gifts.
West Coast
Pacific
States Marine Aquaculture Pilot Funding
The Pacific States Marine
Fisheries Commission requests proposals to develop potential marine aquaculture
projects off the U.S. Pacific coast. Through the Commission, NOAA Fisheries is
making $450,000 available to fund several year-long projects. Proposals are due
February 1.
Drones Yield Faster Data on Antarctic Species
Instead of spending hours to
pursue, catch, immobilize, and weigh leopard seals amid hazardous conditions,
researchers can now gain the same information from a single photograph taken by
a small unmanned aerial system, popularly known as a drone. The body conditions
of the seals help scientists understand the health and abundance of their prey,
krill, which support an important commercial fishery.
Improved
Technologies Would Help Save Imperiled California Salmon
In a new report, scientists
working to protect California’s most endangered salmon say that key
improvements in tracking Sacramento River winter-run Chinook through
California’s complex water delivery system would help recover the species while
the water continues to flow. In particular, upgrades in tracking technology
would help unravel how the fish travel through rivers and canals to the ocean
and why many disappear along the way.
Pacific Islands
Tourists
Fined for Harassing Green Sea Turtle
In October, two visitors from the
mainland U.S. sparked outrage when they posed a photo of themselves on a Hawaii
beach holding a Hawaiian green sea turtle they had captured. The tourists have
now paid a fine for harassing the marine animal. All species of sea turtles in
U.S. waters are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Southeast
Gulf States
Marine Aquaculture Pilot Funding
The Gulf States Marine Fisheries
Commission requests proposals to develop potential marine aquaculture projects
in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the Commission, NOAA Fisheries is making
$450,000 available to fund several year-long projects. Proposals due February 1.
Okeanos Explorer Investigates Gulf Marine Ecosystems
Through
December 21, a team of scientists and technicians, both at-sea and shore-based,
will conduct exploratory investigations into the diversity and distribution of
deep-sea habitats and associated marine communities in the Gulf of Mexico
basin. Tune into the live stream to follow
along.
Gulf Council
Launches Redesigned Coral Portal
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council remodeled its Coral Portal website, which is
funded by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. The site includes interactive
maps, tools for making management decisions, and educational resources about
corals and fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.
Greater Atlantic
NOAA and Atlantic
States Commission Announce Funding for River Herring
NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission announced an award of approximately $40,000
to researchers at Eastern Carolina University to further ground-truth a new way
to survey river herring using environmental DNA. The project will help address
data gaps in ongoing conservation efforts.
Atlantic
States Marine Aquaculture Pilot Funding
The Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission requests proposals to develop potential marine aquaculture
projects off the U.S. Atlantic coast. Through the Commission, NOAA Fisheries is
making $450,000 available to fund several year-long projects. Proposals are due
February 1.
Tribal
Leaders, NOAA Hold Summit on Environmental Protection
In November, NOAA’s North
Atlantic Regional Team and eight Native American tribes and bands throughout
New England convened a summit on preserving cultural practice through
environmental protection. This complements a series of roundtables NOAA has
held throughout the year to expand tribal engagement in the Northeast.
|
