The draft Ropeless Roadmap: A Strategy to Develop On-Demand Fishing is an important step in a series of actions NOAA Fisheries is taking to protect and conserve North Atlantic right whales. The report describes the current state of on-demand, or “ropeless,” fishing, and outlines a path for increasing adoption of this technology in commercial fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. We recognize that there are many partners who are key to this process and strategy, particularly state fishery managers. Because this technology is still in development, public input is invaluable. Visit us here to learn more about the roadmap and how to provide feedback on the draft strategy.

The Study Fleet Program is recruiting new vessels to participate in the squid, mackerel, butterfish, scup, black sea bass, summer flounder, whiting, haddock, and tilefish fisheries. These fisheries have been identified as a priority for collecting long-term, tow-by-tow data using our Fisheries Logbook Data Recording Software, automated oceanographic sensors, and real-time data transmission. Vessel owners must apply by 2 p.m. ET on August 12, 2022.  Those accepted into the study fleet should expect to start September 2022. Contact katie.burchard@noaa.gov with questions.

The Northeast Regional Coordinating Council is seeking two qualified applicants with expertise in New England or Mid-Atlantic fish and invertebrate stocks to serve on the newly forming Research Track Steering Committee. This committee will guide and oversee the research track assessment process and ensure that assessments benefit from new research conducted before an assessment. Desired qualifications include expertise related to stock assessments such as:

• Marine fish and/or marine invertebrate ecology
• Stock assessment
• Fisheries management
• Quantitative ecology
• Ecosystem dynamics and modeling

To apply, please submit this form by Friday, August 19, 2022. Contact michele.traver@noaa.gov with questions.

Our science center hosted more than 60 students this year! Most are undergraduates, but there are also opportunities for high school and post-graduate students. Some were recruited through national-level programs and others through regional efforts. These are mostly summer opportunities, but a few are available at other times of the year. All are focused on hands-on science and encouraging talented young people from all types of educational institutions to consider a career in marine science. So let’s meet them and see what they’ve been up to:

• College-Supported interns
• IN FISH Program interns 
• NOAA-Wide Education Program interns
• Woods Hole Partnership Education Program interns

The spring EcoMon survey completed approximately 85% of the planned stations. This survey helps researchers understand and predict changes in the Northeast shelf ecosystem and its fisheries. In addition to the regular core sampling, scientists and crew aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow were able to conduct supplemental plankton sampling within five wind energy lease areas and support other agencies’ and institutions’ data collections that ultimately enhance core EcoMon sampling.

A new study led by NOAA Fisheries puts us one step closer to using ocean and climate information to improve stock assessments and management measures. Recent research published in ICES Journal of Marine Science combined ocean and stock assessment modeling to better understand yellowtail flounder populations along the U.S. East Coast. The study found that warming waters are changing cold-water habitat that these fish rely on to sustain their numbers, limiting the recovery of this flounder.

The R/V Gloria Michelle welcomes Trevor Grams as its new officer in charge. Trevor grew up in a small rural community in southcentral Alaska. He began working on commercial fishing boats during high school and continued for 7 years. After earning a bachelor's degree in science, he volunteered for the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, where he taught classes, represented the center at events in the backcountry, and assisted with rescues. He learned about NOAA Corps at a job fair in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was attracted to its balance of science and operations. After entering NOAA Corps, Trevor served on NOAA Ships Bell M. Shimada, Oscar Dyson, and Henry B. Bigelow. 

It is good to be back at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and many thanks to Nicole Cabana for serving as director while I was serving as NOAA Fisheries Director of Scientific Programs. Coming back to the center, I am focused on the two grand challenges that we face in the Northeast region: climate change and offshore wind energy development. The NOAA Budget request for fiscal year 2023 includes increases to address both of these challenges from a NOAA Fisheries perspective. In particular is a request to support the Climate, Ecosystem, Fisheries Initiative and to support survey mitigation efforts related to offshore wind energy development. Regardless of funding levels, these are challenges that we need to address and we look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders on these issues.