HIGHLIGHTS
Fisheries
Stock Assessment Tool Goes Global
Researchers from the Pacific
Islands Fisheries Science Center, along with an international collaborator, have developed a stock assessment tool that can be reproduced
and customized for use by anyone in the world. Inspired by the need to conduct
stock assessments with limited information, the new tool simplifies model code,
automates analyses, and visualizes outputs in readily understandable ways.
West Coast
Inbreeding in Southern Resident Killer Whales
A new genetic analysis of
Southern Resident killer whales found that since 1990 just two males have fathered
more than half of the calves that scientists have been able to sample. These results
point to inbreeding in the small population, and it may be a contributing
factor to the low rate of calf survival.
Pacific Islands
Boaters
Encouraged to Go Slow for Turtles
After a Hawaiian green turtle was
found with (non-fatal) propeller injuries, NOAA Fisheries and the
Hawaii Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation are reminding boaters to help
prevent collisions with sea turtles by taking a few easy safety precautions.
Estimating
Catch on Hawaii’s Nearshore Reefs
In Hawaii, there is no fishing
registry, license, or permit program for non-commercial fisheries. Recently,
researchers from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center teamed up with
coral reef fish specialists from the University of Hawaii and Conservation
International to try to compile all the data they could find to estimate nearshore reef
fish catch.
Southeast
Snapper-Grouper
Measures – Open for Comment
By May 11, please submit your comments on two proposed amendments to
the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Amendments 26 and 27 would
implement the Snapper Grouper Vision Blueprint for recreational and commercial
fishing, respectively. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold
three webinars on the measures May 8–10.
Sea Turtle Release
Gear – Open for Comment
By May 18, please submit your comments on proposed changes to
Amendment 42 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to provide three
additional options for approved sea turtle release gear. The new gear would require
less space on vessels.
Gulf Coral Habitat Areas – Open for Comment
By June 5, please submit your comments on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council’s draft amendment to create several new coral Habitat Areas
of Particular Concern in the Gulf. Submit comments online or at a series of
public hearings and webinars scheduled
May 7–June 6.
April 2018 Gulf Council Updates
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council met in Gulfport, Mississippi, last month to discuss red
snapper management, a draft coral amendment, shrimp stock assessments, and
more. Read a summary of the Council’s actions.
This week, the Council named a new Executive Director,
Dr. Carrie Simmons, and announced a call for applicants
for its Scientific and Statistical Committees.
Greater Atlantic
Watch Out
for Whales Off Coast of Massachusetts
Last week, NOAA Fisheries
established a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone to protect a group of
three right whales sighted 19 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. This
zone is in effect through May 9. Additional
right whale sightings yesterday and today prompted the establishment of two
new speed zones east and northeast of Boston, which will be in effect
through
May 16 and 17.
2018 Stock
Assessments Available Online
The Northeast Fisheries Science
Center’s benchmark assessment website is now online. Visit the site for general
information on the review plans, process, and assessment histories for Atlantic
herring, sea scallops, and summer flounder.
Groundfish and Northeast Multispecies Measures
NOAA Fisheries set catch limits
for 20 groundfish stocks for the 2018–2020 fishing years, including three
stocks managed jointly with Canada. Compared to 2017, Framework 57 increases
quotas for 11 stocks and decreases quotas for nine stocks. We expect the quota
increases to provide additional revenue and flexibility to the commercial
groundfish industry.
Recreational
Measures for Haddock and Cod
NOAA Fisheries announced that the
2018 recreational management measures will remain the same as 2017 for Gulf of
Maine cod and haddock. For Georges Bank cod, however, 2018 measures will
increase the minimum size of cod to 23 inches. For-hire boats will now have a
10 fish per person per day limit, matching the existing limit for private
anglers.
Teachers at
Sea aboard NOAA Ship Henry Bigelow
High school teachers Thomas
Jenkins and Susan Dee are taking their classrooms to sea this spring as NOAA
Teachers at Sea, working with scientists and crew on NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow.
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