Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

Caribbean

Caribbean

Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic

Mid-Atlantic

Mid-Atlantic

Alaska

View Essential Fish Habitat Online

Technical Memorandum on Habitat Impacts in Northeast

Flower Garden Banks Sanctuary Seeks Nominations for Advisory Panel; Deadline Nov 7th

New England Council's Habitat/MPA/Ecosystem Committee to Meet; Nov 14th in Mansfield, MA

Committees on Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass to Meet; Nov 18th in Philadelphia, PA

NOAA Seeking New Proposals for Estuarine Research and Technology Program; Deadline Dec 8th

2009 National Wetlands Awards; Nominations Due Dec 15th

Reduced Landing Limit for Yellowtail Flounder

Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Quotas to Remain at Status Quo

SEDAR Workshop Rescheduled for Feb 9th-12th

Stock Assessment Workshops Scheduled for Atlantic Red Drum

Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico - Adjusted Shark Quotas for 2009 Fishing Season; Comment Period Extended for Amendment 3

A new proposed rule would adjust quotas for the 2009 fishing season for sandbar sharks, non-sandbar large coastal sharks, small coastal sharks, and pelagic sharks managed under Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. The purpose of this proposed action is to provide advance notice of quotas for the Atlantic commercial shark fishery and address any over- and/or underharvests that may have occurred in the Atlantic shark fishery during the 2008 fishing season. Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted through www.regulations.gov until November 26, 2008.

In a separate action, to provide additional opportunities for scoping on Amendment 3 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, NOAA Fisheries Service has extended the scoping comment period. Comments on the original Notice of Intent may be sent to SCS_Scoping@noaa.gov until November 14, 2008.

For more information on either of these actions, contact Jackie Wilson at (240) 338-3936.

Gulf of Mexico - Draft Amendment to End Overfishing on Gag Grouper and Revise Management Measures for Red Grouper

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 30B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico for review, approval, and implementation by NOAA Fisheries Service. The amendment proposes actions to end overfishing of gag, revise red grouper management measures as a result of changes in the stock condition, establish annual catch limits and accountability measures for gag and red grouper, manage shallow-water grouper to achieve optimum yield, and improve the effectiveness of Federal management measures. Comments on the draft Amendment may submitted through www.regulations.gov until December 29, 2008.  

In the meantime, the Council has requested that NOAA Fisheries Service implement those portions of Amendment 30B that pertain to ending overfishing of gag, red snapper, greater amberjack and gray triggerfish through an interim rule. For more information, read the Council's news release or contact Peter Hood at (727) 824-5305.

Gulf of Mexico - Information on Referendum for Reef Fish IFQ

NOAA Fisheries Service has issued this final rule to provide information concerning the procedures, schedule, and eligibility requirements the agency will use in conducting a referendum for an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the Gulf of Mexico commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries. The Council is currently developing Amendment 29, which includes a multi-species IFQ program as the preferred approach to address overcapacity issues and to rationalize effort in the Gulf commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries. A public hearing draft of Amendment 29 is available at www.gulfcouncil.org.

If the IFQ program is approved through the referendum process, the Council may choose to submit the IFQ program to the Secretary of Commerce for review, approval, and implementation. For more information, contact Susan Gerhart at (727) 824-5303.

Gulf of Mexico - Red Snapper IFQ Participants May Continue to Use Paper Forms through End of Year

Due to catastrophic conditions that still exist in certain parts of Louisiana and Texas as a result of recent hurricanes, NOAA Fisheries Service has extended authorization for paper-based forms in the individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the commercial red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Some communities along the northeast coast of Texas and western coast of Louisiana lost power and have significant damage to their infrastructure. IFQ participants within this affected area (specifically from Cameron, LA, southwest to Galveston Island, TX) are authorized to use paper-based forms through December 31, 2008.

For more information, contact IFQ Customer Service at (727) 425-7627 or SER-IFQ.Support@noaa.gov.

Caribbean - Extinct Monk Seal Formally Withdrawn from Endangered Species List

NOAA Fisheries Service has formally removed the Caribbean monk seal from the federal list of endangered marine and anadromous species due to its extinction. The agency has reviewed the status of this species and determined that removal of the protections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the Caribbean monk seal is warranted. Populations of the Caribbean monk seal suffered significant mortalities during the late 1880's for their oil and meat, and for scientific study and museum collections. The last confirmed sighting of a Caribbean monk seal occurred in 1952. Although scientists have long hoped that small, isolated populations might remain in existence, surveys of likely habitat have failed to generate any confirmed sightings.

For more information, read the Federal Register notice, or contact Kyle Baker at (727) 824-5312.

Caribbean - Coral Conservation Measures Finalized

NOAA Fisheries Service will increase its protection of threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands by prohibiting activities that result in death or harm to either species. The new regulations take effect on November 21, 2008. These corals were once the major reef builders in Florida and the Caribbean, but now more than 90 percent of their populations have been lost. Both elkhorn and staghorn corals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in May 2006.

The rule will prohibit the import, export, take, and all commercial activities involving elkhorn and staghorn corals, including:

• collection or any activities that result in the corals' mortality or injury,
• anchoring, grounding a vessel, or dragging any other gear on the species;
• damaging the species' habitat;
• discharging any pollutant or contaminant that harms the species.

Additional information about these coral conservation measures is available online.

Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic - New Conservation Measures Proposed for Spiny Lobster

NOAA Fisheries Service has published a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. This proposed rule would establish two minimum size restrictions for importation of spiny lobster into the United States: one applicable to spiny lobster imported into any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States other than Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a more restrictive minimum size limit that applies to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, it would prohibit importation of egg-bearing spiny lobsters and importation of spiny lobster tail meat that is not in whole tail form with the exoskeleton attached. The intended effect of this proposed rule is to enhance the conservation of spiny lobsters and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Comments may be submitted through www.regulations.gov until December 15, 2008. For more information, contact Jason.Rueter@noaa.gov; (727) 824–5305.

Mid-Atlantic - Measures Proposed for 2009 Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed management measures for the 2009 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The intent of this action is to establish harvest levels that assure that the target fishing mortality rates or exploitation rates specified for these species in the Fishery Management Plan are not exceeded and to allow for rebuilding of the stocks. The proposed rule also provides notice of three conditionally approved projects that will be requesting Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) as part of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Research Set-Aside program. This is an opportunity for interested parties to comment on these applications for EFPs.

Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted through www.regulations.gov until November 12, 2008. For more information, contact Michael Ruccio at (978) 281-9104.

Mid-Atlantic - Public Invited to Comment on Alternatives for Oyster Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay

A Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay is available for public comment through December 15, 2008.

The EIS was drafted to assist in identifying the best oyster restoration strategy or combination of strategies for re-establishing a self-sustaining oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay comparable to levels during the years 1920 to 1970. The EIS objectively evaluates the ecological, economic, and cultural impacts of a variety of strategies to restore the ecological role of oysters in the bay and the economic benefits of a sustainable commercial fishery. These strategies include native oyster restoration and/or an ecologically compatible non-native oyster species that would restore lost functions.

Six public hearings are scheduled in November, in locations throughout Maryland and Virginia. More information is available online .

Alaska - Workshops on New Electronic Reporting System

The NOAA Fisheries Service Alaska Region and the U.S. Coast Guard's North Pacific Fisheries Training Center will offer workshops on eLandings, a consolidated electronic means of reporting production of commercial groundfish to multiple management agencies for Federal and State fisheries off the coast of Alaska. The workshops will also cover 2009 recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the Alaska groundfish fisheries and Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries.

The workshops will take place November 20-21, 2008, in Seattle, WA. For more information, read the announcement or contact Jennifer Hogan at (907) 586-7462.

Recreational and Commercial Fisheries Representatives Sought for Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee

The Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (MPA FAC) is seeking 5 members to represent commercial and recreational fishing interests as members.  The Committee has a total of 30 members representing diverse stakeholder groups from all regions of the country, and 15 vacancies will come open next year.  New members will serve a four-year term from 2010-14.  The Committee advises the Departments of Commerce and the Interior on the development and implementation of a national system of marine protected areas.  Nominations are sought by November 30 for non-federal members representing commercial and recreational fishing, state and territorial resource managers, natural and social scientists, ocean industry, and environmental organizations.  The MPA FAC meets twice yearly at coastal locations around the nation, and travel expenses are provided.  To apply, send a cover letter and resume to lauren.wenzel@noaa.gov, additional letters of support are also welcome.  See the Federal Register notice or visit www.mpa.gov for more details.