HIGHLIGHTS

NOAA Solicits Input on National Bycatch Report
Since 2011, NOAA Fisheries has published the National Bycatch Report to compile bycatch information at the fishery and species level. The report helps us monitor bycatch trends and set fishery monitoring priorities, although it is generally not appropriate for management use. This year we are conducting a review to evaluate whether and how to improve this report. Please submit your comments by October 31.

Changes Observed in Northeast Shelf Ecosystem
Temperatures are rising at the bottom of the water column throughout the Northeast Shelf marine ecosystem, especially in the fall.  At the same time, many species are expanding their habitats northeastward along the East Coast or into deeper water, according to the latest current conditions report from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 

NOAA Habitat Science Supports Oyster Restoration
NOAA and partners in Maryland and Virginia have undertaken large-scale oyster reef restoration work in several tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. To identify candidate sites for restoration, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office maps underwater habitat using sonar surveys. NOAA conducts additional survey work in restored areas to monitor progress.

Alaska

NOAA Invites the Public to Count Beluga Whales
The second annual Belugas Count! event is an all-day citizen science celebration that invites the public to focus on the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, fostering local pride, awareness, and stewardship. On Saturday, September 15, we invite members of the public to help count whales at 14 viewing stations located around Cook Inlet, Alaska.

Pacific Islands

Biologists Return from Remote Hawaiian Islands
NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Settle embarked for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to pick up researchers who have been living and working at remote field camps since April. As part of this expedition, the research team will spend 2 days at French Frigate Shoals deploying cameras and satellite tags on Hawaiian monk seals to learn more about their behavior.

Snorkelers Fined for Pursuing Spinner Dolphins
Three recreational swimmers have paid fines for harassing Hawaii spinner dolphins off Mākua Beach on Oahu. Patrolling NOAA law enforcement officers had observed the swimmers pursuing and disturbing the dolphins.

Southeast

Bottlenose Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event
NOAA Fisheries declared an Unusual Mortality Event involving increased strandings of bottlenose dolphins related to the red tide bloom in Southwest Florida. The UME declaration will bring more focus and resources to help the investigation, including the significant expertise of the Working Group on Marine Mammal UMEs and an investigative team. If you see a stranded or floating dolphin, keep a safe distance and call your local stranding network organization.

Greater Atlantic

Proposed Squid Measures – Open for Comment
By October 1, please submit your comments on proposed measures to implement Amendment 20 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The proposed action would create changes to the longfin squid permit system and possession limits that are intended to preserve fishing opportunities for permits active in the longfin squid fishery, prevent excessive catch, and reduce impacts to spawning squid.

Atlantic Coastal Sharks Plan – Open for Comment
By October 1, please submit your comments on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Draft Addendum V to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The Draft Addendum proposes options to allow the Coastal Sharks Management Board to streamline state implementation of shark regulations.

Harbor and Gray Seal Unusual Mortality Event
NOAA Fisheries declared an Unusual Mortality Event involving increased strandings of harbor and gray seals in the Northeast, a trend that started in July 2018. The UME declaration will bring more focus and resources to help the investigation, including the significant expertise of the Working Group on Marine Mammal UMEs and an investigative team. If you see a sick or dead seal, keep a safe distance and call your local stranding network organization.

Second Right Whale Mortality of 2018 Confirmed
Last week, NOAA Fisheries confirmed the second North Atlantic right whale mortality of 2018. The young whale, about 30 feet long, was found floating off Tom’s Neck Point, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Responders were unable to tow it to shore for a full necropsy, but they collected samples and will monitor its location.

Meet Mike Jech, Underwater Acoustic Researcher
Read an interview with NOAA Fisheries biologist Mike Jech, a specialist in underwater acoustics research. This story is part of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s series highlighting the people who work at the Center’s five laboratories.

Events

September 6
Last day of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland.

September 6–12
Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Seattle.

September 10–November 9
Top NOAA leaders will conduct public conferences around the nation about the Department of Commerce 2018–2022 Strategic Plan.

September 10–12
NOAA’s General Modeling Meeting and Fair in College Park, Maryland.

September 10–27
Ten public hearings for the Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment, hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

September 15
Second annual Belugas Count! citizen science event at 14 locations around Cook Inlet, Alaska.

September 17–21
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.

September 19
Free Protected Species Safe Handling, Identification, and Release workshop in Warwick, Rhode Island.

September 20
Free Atlantic Shark Identification workshop in Panama City Beach, Florida.

September 24–27
New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

September 25
Public hearing webinar on Draft Addendum V to the Atlantic Coastal Sharks Interstate Fishery Management Plan, hosted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

October 1 and 4
Two free Protected Species Safe Handling, Identification, and Release workshops in New Jersey and Florida.

October 1–9
North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Anchorage.

October 2–4
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Cape May, New Jersey.

October 18
Free Atlantic Shark Identification workshop in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

October 22–25
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Mobile, Alabama.

October 23–24
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

October 26–27
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Tumon, Guam.

November 13–16
United States–Japan Natural Resources Panel on Aquaculture Scientific Symposium in Mystic, Connecticut.

Announcements

September 10
Letters of intent due for funding to study impacts of changing oceans on northeast U.S. fishing communities.

September 17
Abstracts due for the United States–Japan Natural Resources Panel on Aquaculture Scientific Symposium.

September 20
Proposals due for the 2019–2021 Atlantic Herring Research Set-Aside Program.

October 1
Proposals due for the 2019–2020 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program.

October 1
Nominations due for advisors to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

October 30
Applications due for 2019 Species Recovery Grants to Tribes.

Federal Register Actions

Visit regulations.gov for a list of only those actions open for public comment. Scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For a list of all daily actions, check the Federal Register online.