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FEBRUARY 9, 2024

NOAA Updates

The Northeast Bottom Trawl survey reached a major milestone when it turned 60 years old in fall 2023. Learn how this survey is conducted and how it informs science and management in the Atlantic in a new Dive In with NOAA Fisheries podcast episode.

Last week, NOAA Fisheries released a New Plan to Improve Recreational Fisheries Data Collection on the Gulf Coast. The collaborative plan highlights six priorities, including improved timeliness of recreational catch and effort estimates, improved discard data, and streamlining for-hire data collection.

The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization recently adopted U.S. proposals to strengthen monitoring of transshipment activities, enhance observer coverage in the squid fishery, and promote the adoption of labor protections for crew aboard fishing vessels. Learn more in this article.

Events

Apply to attend by February 9: Alaska Sea Grant is inviting kelp farmers, processors and industry members to apply to participate in a free one-day demonstration of primary processing and stabilization technology for raw kelp.

Dates throughout February and March: NOAA Fisheries is seeking your input to plan for various budget scenarios that would impact NOAA Fisheries aquaculture services. For more information on the purpose of the listening sessions, please visit this NOAA Fisheries webpage.

In Case You Missed It: A recording is now available for those interested in applying to, or partnering on, the eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grant program.

Job and Funding Opportunities

• Apply by February 16: Two Regional Aquaculture Coordinator positions are now open with NOAA Fisheries. One is with the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and the other is with the West Coast Region.
• Apply by April 1: California Sea Grant and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego are seeking an aquaculture extension specialist.
• Open until filled: The Hubbs-Seaworld Research Institute in Carlsbad, California has two open positions to support their aquaculture research. Learn more about their Aquaculture Technician position here, and their Maintenance Technician position here.

Tools for All

• Visit the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s Monster Seminar Jam series web page to watch recordings of weekly presentations from scientists and colleagues, including a recent webinar with Dr. Talia Young of Fishadelphia.
• A new (open access) article in the Journal of Marine Policy explores the evidence that marine aquaculture development helps diversify the seafood system in the United States and makes it less vulnerable to outside stressors. Read the article here.
• Did you know? The Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Sea to School Program is working to increase the amount of local seafood served in public school cafeterias across New England.

About NOAA's Community of Practice for Aquaculture Literacy

U.S. aquaculture provides safe, sustainable seafood and creates jobs and business opportunities in coastal communities. Through a collaboration between NOAA Fisheries, the National Sea Grant Office, and NOAA's Office of Education, the Community of Practice for Aquaculture Literacy (CoPAL) works to enhance public understanding of sustainable aquaculture and seafood. CoPAL hosts events, shares resources, and coordinates partnerships across education, aquaculture industry, and research communities.

Learn more about CoPAL