NOAA Archives - Page 5 of 471

Every death imperils their species. 2024 already holds triumph and tragedy.

May 28, 2024 — Whale watchers and marine biologists greet news of each North Atlantic right whale born off the Southeast coast with joy. When only 70 of the estimated 356 whales are breeding females, each birth is a big deal.

This winter brought nineteen such occasions, including four to first-time moms, reason to celebrate for sure.

Pregnant right whales migrate through commercial fishing grounds off New England and Canada and along busy shipping lanes on their journey to the calving grounds off Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. To arrive alive and deliver a calf is a crucial win for their species.

But the calving season that ended this spring was a heartbreaking reminder of the perilous future the calves and their moms face. Just four months into the new year, 2024 is already the deadliest year for right whales since 2019. Five whales have died, scientists say, including one of the new calves, and four other calves are missing and presumed dead.

Whale researchers and advocates say the whales are sliding into oblivion without the urgent protections needed to save them, but the additional proposed safety measures remain mired in controversy and delays.

Read the full article at USA TODAY

Lisa Murkowski concerned with NOAA fisheries’ to list Alaska Chinook Salmon as endangered

May 28, 2024 — In Washington D.C. on Thursday, NOAA Fisheries announced a petition to list Gulf of Alaska Chinook Salmon as “threatened or endangered” under the Endangered Species Act. Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed her concern in the following statement:

“Alaska’s king salmon need help, but an ESA listing based on a flawed petition from a Seattle-based environmental activist group is the wrong way to go. Should NMFS determine that Alaska’s Chinook be listed after conducting their 12-month review, it would be nearly impossible for king salmon from the Gulf of Alaska to be caught for commercial and recreational purposes, and perhaps even subsistence. Even this action on the 90-day finding will have a dangerous chilling effect on investment in our fishing industry at a time when they can least afford it.”

Read the full article at Web Center Fairbanks

Dangerous brew: Ocean heat and La Nina combo likely mean more Atlantic hurricanes this summer

May 26, 2024 — Get ready for what nearly all the experts think will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, thanks to unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina.

There’s an 85% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season that starts in June will be above average in storm activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday in its annual outlook. The weather agency predicted between 17 and 25 named storms will brew up this summer and fall, with 8 to 13 achieving hurricane status (at least 75 mph sustained winds) and four to seven of them becoming major hurricanes, with at least 111 mph winds.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

“This season is looking to be an extraordinary one in a number of ways,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. He said this forecast is the busiest in the 25 years that NOAA has been issuing in May. The agency updates its forecasts each August.

About 20 other groups — universities, other governments, private weather companies — also have made seasonal forecasts. All but two expect a busier, nastier summer and fall for hurricanes. The average of those other forecasts is about 11 hurricanes, or about 50% more than in a normal year.

Read the full article at the Associated Press

Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $240 million for new fish passage projects through investing in America agenda

May 22, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA are recommending nearly $240 million in funding, and an additional $38 million in future funding, to support 46 new fish passage projects through the Administration’s Investing in America agenda. These funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act will help facilitate efforts to restore access to healthy habitats through fish passage restoration projects and will build the capacity of partners. The selected projects span the full range of fish passage types including dam removal, fish ladders, culvert improvements and in-stream fish passage improvements.

Nearly half of the projects will be led by Tribes and Tribal organizations. Funding will support Tribes in their fish passage work for Tribal trust resources for cultural, spiritual, economic, subsistence and recreational purposes. It will benefit fish passage barrier removal projects of high priority for the Tribes and help increase Tribal capacity to participate in developing current and future fish passage projects.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda continues to support fish passage projects that are vital to the cultures, economies, and overall well being of communities all over the country, particularly Tribal communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to working closely with Tribes and strengthening migratory fish populations, this $278 million investment will help protect critical fish species and increase economic prosperity nationwide.”

The projects were selected from a large number of applications submitted to two competitions NOAA Fisheries announced in July 2023, which called for projects that restored fish passage and emphasized Tribal capacity building.

“NOAA has a long history conducting habitat restoration — including fish passage — by executing large-scale competitive funding opportunities and providing expert technical assistance,” said NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with Tribes and other partners to coordinate efforts and make a collective, positive impact for coastal habitats and communities.”

This effort advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative that set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution – which includes all Federally Recognized Tribes.

Funding — including future year funding — is going to partners in the following states: Alabama (total $1.7 million), Alaska (total $22.4 million), California (total $25.6 million), Georgia (total $1.5 million), Maine (total $70.9 million), Maryland (total $1.8 million), Massachusetts (total $13.7 million), New Jersey (total $9.2 million), Oregon (total $33.7 million), Rhode Island (total $12.4 million), Virginia (total $7.9 million), Washington (total $75.2 million) and Wisconsin (total $1.7 million).

The following Tribes are receiving funding: Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, Chickaloon Native Village, Organized Village of Kasaan, Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, Tyonek Tribal Conservation District, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, Penobscot Indian Nation, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Skagit River System Cooperative, Squaxin Island Tribe, Tulalip Tribes and Yakama Nation.

The importance of fish passage conservation
Fish passage projects restore river corridors and improve access for fish to the habitat they need or reconnect fish access to historic habitat. Migratory fish such as salmon require access to high quality rearing and spawning habitats and unimpeded migratory corridors to be successful and resilient. NOAA works to reopen these migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish. Fish passage and access remain a major limiting factor towards rebuilding fish populations. This funding will help reconnect fish with their historic habitat, which is a critical step towards rebuilding fisheries populations.

This fish passage funding builds on the more than $166 million awarded for 36 projects announced in December of 2022 to provide significant benefits to endangered migratory fish and sustainable fisheries. Fish passage funding is part of the broader Community-Based Habitat Restoration program and complements other habitat restoration projects funded under the Bipartisan infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Biden-Harris Administration Awards $20 Million for Regional Fishery Management Council Projects as Part of Investing In America Agenda

May 21, 2024 — Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA are awarding $20 million to support multiple regional fishery management council projects to tackle the impacts of climate change. These funds, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, are made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. Each council will receive approximately $1–$3 million in funding based on their final project proposals to spearhead priority climate work.

“Regional fishery management councils are some of NOAA’s most critical partners that help develop conservation and management measures for our nation’s marine fisheries,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This $20 million investment, made possible thanks to President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act, will support councils in their important work to incorporate the fishery management measures and processes necessary to improve climate resiliency and responsiveness as we tackle the impacts of climate change.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA states endangered North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction after another dies off the coast of Massachusetts

May 21, 2024 — In a recent update, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries have issued a warning.

The organization states that the endangered North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction. An Unusual Mortality Event was declared for North Atlantic right whales in 2017, and currently includes 139 individuals (40 dead, 34 seriously injured, and 65 sub lethally injured or ill). The primary causes of the UME, according to the NOAA are entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes in both U.S. and Canadian waters, which are long-standing threats to the recovery of the species.

In the same warning, the NOAA issued an update believing that a right whale off the coast of Massachusetts is dead.

Read the full article at Fall River Reporter

Vineyard Wind 1 Fisheries Compensation Program Application Deadline Approaching

May 21, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

This notice is a reminder to commercial fishermen that the eligibility period to apply for the Vineyard Wind 1 Fisheries Compensatory Mitigation Program ends on June 3, 2024. Commercial fishing vessel owners/operators must submit an online application prior to the June 3, 2024, deadline, to be considered for eligibility.

Vineyard Wind opened the 90-day eligibility period for the Program in March 2024. The Program was created to provide compensation to commercial fishing vessels/operators for economic losses attributable to construction, operation, and decommissioning activities of Vineyard Wind 1. The program is open to commercial fishing vessel owners/lessees in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island who can demonstrate historical fishing activities in the lease area, OCS-A 0501, which is south of Martha’s Vineyard.

Additional information about the program, including eligibility criteria, is available on the program website along with some FAQs about the application process available here. Specific questions regarding eligibility or the application process for the Vineyard Wind 1 Program should be sent via the Vineyard Wind 1 Fishery Compensation Fund website here.

NOAA announces nearly $240 million for new fish passage projects

May 21, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On Wednesday, May 22, NOAA Fisheries will share the 46 new fish passage projects recommended for funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The nearly $240 million in funding will help facilitate efforts to restore access to healthy habitats through on-the-ground fish passage restoration projects and building the capacity of partners. Nearly half of the projects will be led by tribes and tribal organizations. The selected projects span the full range of fish passage types including dam removal, fish ladders, culvert improvements and in-stream fish passage improvements.

Funds will be available to recipients in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

WHAT

Media teleconference for credentialed reporters

WHEN

Wednesday, May 22; 2:00 p.m. ET

WHO

Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries
Carrie Selberg Robinson, Director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation
Tisa Shostik, Restoration Center Deputy Division Chief, NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation

HOW

Credentialed reporters may dial in using the numbers below:
888-390-3408 U.S./Canada (toll-free)
1-517-308-9124 International (toll)
Verbal passcode: FISHERIES

Facing accuracy challenges, NOAA looks to improve its fisheries data collection strategy

May 20, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries is holding an online workshop to “re-envision” the nation’s state, regional and federal recreational fisheries data collection program and partnership, known as the Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP. The program has suffered significant data accuracy challenges over the years and NOAA Fisheries aims to improve it.

Commercial fishers record and report the fish they catch so commercial fishing data is accurate according to what is caught and where. Recreational fisheries do not record catch and effort, however, so NOAA Fisheries, through stock assessments and the MRIP program, estimate recreational catch and effort. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses the estimates to manage stocks and establish recreational harvest limits. Because the data are estimates, they are often inaccurate.

Read the full article at The Providence Journal

Supporting the Long-Term Survival of Copper River Salmon and Alaska Native Traditions

May 20, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation is investing in the long-term survival of one of the world’s most prized fish: Alaska’s Copper River salmon. With gourmet chefs paying upwards of $90 per pound for the flavorful fish, Copper River salmon play a crucial role in the region’s economy. The salmon support a $20 million commercial fishing industry and provide millions more to local communities through related jobs. The fish are also the lifeblood of Alaska Natives, who rely on subsistence fishing to feed their families and maintain their ancestral traditions.

However, Copper River salmon numbers are declining. NOAA and its partners are addressing a significant threat to the fish by removing barriers that block access to spawning grounds and cold-water rearing habitat for juveniles.

In 2023, the Copper River Watershed Project completed a NOAA-funded project that opened up more than 70 stream miles to migratory salmon.

This summer, the Project will work with The Eyak Corporation to break ground on new fish passage projects. The $4.3 million in funding for these efforts comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

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