January Jones, best known for her role on the hit series Mad Men, had teamed up with Oceana to promote a campaign to protect sharks. The actress is working with the org as a spokesperson to help pass The Shark Conservation Act in Congress — which would implement stronger protection for sharks by requiring that sharks be landed whole with the fins still attached to the bodies. The Federal legislation would also allow the U.S. to take action against countries whose shark finning requirements are not consistent with those in the United States. Read the complete story at Ecorazzi.
National System for Marine Protected Areas Launched by U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior
In an effort to conserve critical natural and cultural marine resources, the U.S. Departments of Interior and Commerce are partnering with federal, state and territorial agencies to form a National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPA).
“This new national system provides a mechanism for all levels of government to work together to leverage resources, coordinate regional planning, and manage marine protected areas as a system,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D ., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We will continue to work with federal, state, tribal and local governments and stakeholders to share best practices for effectively achieving common marine conservation goals.”
Two hundred and twenty-five (225) existing MPAs managed by various agencies will initially enter the system, which aims to enhance protection of marine resources, build partnerships to address issues affecting MPAs, and improve public access to scientific information and decision-making about marine resources. The national system does not bring state, territorial or local sites under federal authority, nor does it restrict or change the management of any MPA.
Obama admin hands offshore aquaculture oversight to NOAA
The Obama administration will develop federal aquaculture regulations, including a system that could permit offshore fish farming in the ocean waters for the first time, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said today.
Locke addressed a Senate hearing as another Cabinet agency, the Interior Department, turned away from a controversial Bush administration proposal that would have expedited a permitting system for offshore aquaculture under the Minerals Management Service. He said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will oversee the preparation of the Obama administration’s fish-farming guidelines.
In its final rule for offshore renewable energy projects, released yesterday, Interior said it would not authorize aquaculture projects. The move is a reversal from the Bush administration’s proposal, which would have opened the door for the government to fast-track offshore fish farms.
NOAA boat strikes whale off Scituate
A federal research vessel, heading back to port Sunday afternoon, hit a right whale near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Along with the North Pacific right whale, North Atlantic right whales are the most critically endangered of the great whales and one of the world’s most endangered mammals. Scientists estimate their population has stagnated for more than 25 years at barely over 300 individuals, despite highly restrictive regulations to help the whales recover.
The Auk, a 50-foot National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel working for the Stellwagen sanctuary, was traveling at about 22 mph when it hit the whale at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, NOAA spokesman David Miller said.
Pew-sponsored Groups petition Congress to leave fishing rule alone
A galaxy of non-government organizations with the deep-pocketed Pew Charitable Trusts at its core is urging Congress to stay away from the coastal coalition assembling behind a bill to bring some flexibility to fishery recovery programs.
Nearly four dozen environmental groups from states as far flung as Hawaii warned that the bill filed by Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N. J., and co-sponsored by seven others, including Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney, both D-Mass., from along the Atlantic coast, is "misguided" and would allow the "overexploitation" of the most valuable fish populations.
A majority of the petitioners are recipients of grants that emanate from the Pew Charitable Trusts, a multibillion dollar philanthropy organized by the family of the founders of Sun Oil Co.
Fisherman taking flounder fight to top
Bill Lee is mad as hell, and on behalf of his commercial fishing colleagues, who like himself face stiff fines for allegedly selling technically illegal flounder at the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction a number of years ago, he isn’t going to take it anymore.
One of the port’s best known commercial fishermen and a professional underwater photographer, Lee received his notice of alleged violations of the Magnuson-Stevens Act last Friday — weeks after high-ranking hands helped him make an appointment for next Tuesday with the top law enforcement official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA is the parent agency of the National Marine Fisheries Service, which regulates fishing from Maine through the Carolinas from regional offices here.
Georgia Aquarium Opens Dolphin Conservation Field Station at Marineland
Georgia Aquarium’s Dolphin Conservation Field Station (GAI-DCFS) opened today in Marineland, FL just outside St. Augustine, FL, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by Georgia Aquarium benefactor, Bernie Marcus and Marineland of Florida owner, Jim Jacoby.
The conservation field station includes research and veterinary facilities, quarantine pools for rehabilitating rescued animals, both land and water animal rescue vehicles and housing for researchers and staff. The team will conduct research, and it will also fill a need for rescue and rehabilitation of stranded animals in Georgia and northeast Florida. After a successful rescue and rehabilitation, animals deemed releasable by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be reintroduced into their respective habitats. Animals deemed by NMFS to be unfit for release will be provided a home selected by NMFS.
“We welcome Georgia Aquarium’s Dolphin Conservation Field Station to the Southeast U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network,” said Blair Mase-Guthrie, NOAA Fisheries’ southeast stranding network coordinator. “We look forward to collaborating with their experts on marine mammal strandings and appreciate their willingness to participate in the program.
Compromise Agreement to Save Endangered Sea Turtles
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted in favor of a compromise agreement this morning put together in recent days by Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, and the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Bottom Longline Fishing fleet aimed at reducing the often times fatal interactions between threatened loggerhead sea turtles and commercial fishing gear. With this agreement, the fishermen will be able to continue fishing, but areas of the Gulf where the majority of the interactions have taken place will now be off-limits to the fleet.
"Fishermen do not want to kill threatened sea turtles. And no one wants to see fishermen be put out of business. This agreement signifies a willingness for different interest groups to come together to find solutions that consider the best interests of both the turtles and the fishing fleet," explained Vicki Cornish, Ocean Conservancy’s vice president of marine wildlife conservation. "The agreement approved today not only helps to forge a way forward on what has been a very contentious issue, but also lays a solid foundation for our groups to work together in the future for better fisheries, safer and better gear to protect turtles, and a healthier Gulf of Mexico."
"A more extensive closure would have resulted in permanent damage to the commercial fleet. Our industry is already looking at an emergency closure this summer, and we would not have been able to sustain another blow like that. We need partners that will help find lasting solutions," said Bobby Spaeth, Executive Director of the Southern Offshore Fishing Association. "Both Ocean Conservancy and Oceana were willing to work with us to help solve this problem. When the opportunity to partner with groups that do not often see eye-to-eye comes along and it works this well, it makes a powerful point in itself."
Could wolffish become another impossible stock rebuilding task for NMFS as mandated by national fishery policy’s unrealistic language — as well as another sure bet campaign for a green group?
The National Marine Fisheries Service’s announcement at the New England Fisheries Management Council meeting in Portsmouth, N.H., that a petition brought by the Conservation Law Foundation and fellow environmentalists Les Watling and Erica Fuller to add ocean catfish — or wolffish — to its threatened or endangered species list "may be warranted," drew chuckles from many fishermen in the audience.
Could this wolffish fuss become another impossible stock rebuilding task for NMFS as mandated by national fishery policy’s unrealistic language — as well as another sure bet campaign for a green group?
Sen. Schumer wants New York added to New England Management Council
New York fishermen will lose millions of dollars this year without winter flounder.
And U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said they need to shout about it — and that the federal government needs to listen.
"It is absurd and unfair that a government body that sets the rules that the Long Island fishing industry must abide by does not have any representation for New York," he said in a statement. "When it comes to fishing regulations, I am saying loud and clear that there must be no regulation without representation.
The senator introduced legislation on Friday that would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add New York to the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC).
Read the story at The Suffolk Times.