Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS February 2015


ASMFC & NOAA Fisheries Award Funding to Two Research Projects to Advance Understanding of River Herring Populations The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and NOAA Fisheries an- nounced they are awarding approximately a quarter of a million dollars to two research projects. Information generated from these projects supports the continued develop- ment of a coastwide river herring (i.e., alewife and blueback herring) conservation plan.


Commercial Fishing News MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS


spawning areas. Researchers also will as- sess the number of juveniles in the upper reaches of various rivers from Maine to Connecticut and investigate environmental factors infl uencing spawning success. To- gether, at-sea and early life stage mortality will help inform researchers and managers about the multiple factors affecting the size of spawning populations.


“River herring are an important prey species for a variety of animals including commercial and recreational fi sh like cod and haddock. When they migrate from ma- rine to freshwater, river herring also release important nutrients, which helps promote healthy aquatic ecosystems,” said John Bullard, regional administrator, NOAA Fisheries. “These awards complement the proactive conservation effort that we are undertaking with the Commission and other partners to learn more about and restore river herring populations along the East Coast.” Selected research projects include: 1. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the University of California-Santa Cruz in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, The Nature Conservancy, the University of Massachu- setts-Amherst, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will receive $166,659 to collect biological samples and conduct genetic analysis on river herring caught in Atlantic herring and mackerel fi sheries. Researchers hope to learn more about fishery impacts and identify fish


2. Barnegat Bay Partnership and Rut- gers University will receive $78,000 to conduct surveys and collect data to help improve our understanding of historic and current distribution of alewife and blueback herring spawning habitat in Barnegat Bay and Raritan River in New Jersey. This proj- ect will also provide alewife and blueback herring samples to support ongoing genetic studies. “We received a number of terrific proposals,” said Robert Beal, executive director, ASMFC. “The selected projects will provide insights into what is happening to river herring when they are at sea and in their riverine nursery and spawning areas. They also will help us fi ll critical gaps in our understanding of the condition of river herring populations.” On August 12, 2013, NOAA Fisheries announced that listing river herring under the Endangered Species Act as either threat- ened or endangered was not warranted. However, NOAA Fisheries is collaborating with the Commission and other partners to implement a coordinated coastwide effort to proactively conserve river herring and address data gaps. These research projects advance the work of this collaborative effort. Priority areas for research funding in- cluded the need for more information on life history and spawning habitats to improve the


effectiveness of fi sh passage and restoration efforts; impacts of fi sheries on river herring and developing ways to reduce those im- pacts; and identifying the spawning region from which fi sh caught in ocean fi sheries originate.


Research priorities were based on


NOAA Fisheries’ river herring management and science needs. They were also informed by the River Herring Technical Expert Working Group, convened to help develop information for the conservation plan; the Commission’s 2012 benchmark assessment; council research priorities and needs; and public comments.


“If the conservation plan is successful, another Endangered Species Act status re- view for river herring will be unnecessary because we’ll have restored their popula- tions,” said Kimberly Damon-Randall, Pro- tected Resources Division Chief, Greater Atlantic Region, NOAA Fisheries.


NOAA Fisheries seeks comments on proposed revisions to National Standard guidelines for federal fi sheries manage- ment


NOAA Fisheries is seeking public com- ment on a proposal to revise the guidelines for National Standard 1, 3 and 7 of the Mag- nuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The National Standard guidelines assist the eight regional fi shery management councils and NOAA Fisheries in developing effective fi shery management plans.


“The proposed revisions clarify and streamline the National Standard guidelines, address concerns raised by partners and stakeholders during the implementation of annual catch limits and accountability measures, and provide fl exibility to address fi shery management issues,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “The proposed revisions, if implemented, will result in better-man- aged and more sustainable fi sheries.” The National Standard 1 guidelines provide guidance on preventing overfi shing while achieving the optimum yield (the amount of fi sh which will provide the greatest overall benefi t to the Nation, particularly with respect to food production and rec- reational opportunities) from each U.S. fi shery. The National Standard 3 guidelines provide guidance on managing a stock as a unit throughout its range, and the National Standard 7 guidelines address minimizing costs and avoid duplication in fi sheries management.


The proposed revisions do not estab- lish new requirements or require councils to revise their current fi shery management plans. Rather, they offer additional clarity and potential fl exibility in meeting current Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act mandates. The proposed revisions include: In-


creasing fl exibility in setting timelines for rebuilding programs; Providing fl exibility


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for better managing data-limited stocks; Clarifying guidance on which stocks require conservation and management; Enhancing current efforts by the councils to apply ecosystem approaches to management; Providing for more stable fi sheries through guidance on multiyear overfi shing deter- minations, phasing in results of new stock assessments and the carryover of the unused portion of annual catch limits to subsequent years; Adding a defi nition for “depleted stocks” to recognize non-fi shing-related impacts to fi sh stocks, and; Recommending the councils re-evaluate the objectives of fi shery management plans, to ensure they refl ect the changing needs of the fi shery, including allocation of fi shery resources. Public comments on the proposed rule are due June 30, 2015.


U.S. Department of Commerce appoints Pappalardo to New England Fishery Management Council


The Commerce Department announced the appointment of John Pappalardo of Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance to the New England Fishery Management Council. Under this appointment, Pappalar- do will serve on the council until August 10, 2017.


Pappalardo is being appointed due to the resignation of a council member. If a council member resigns prior to the end of his or her term, NOAA Fisheries solicits nominations specifi cally for the vacated seat, following the same process that occurs as part of the annual appointment process. Council members represent diverse constituents including commercial and rec- reational fi sheries, environmental interests and academia.


The New England Fishery Manage- ment Council is one of eight regional coun- cils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act that prepare fi shery management plans for marine fi sh stocks in their respective geographical areas of responsibility. NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils during plan development and reviews, and approves and implements the management plans developed by the councils. Each year, the Secretary of Commerce selects approximately one-third of the total of 72 appointed members to the eight re- gional councils. NOAA Fisheries annually solicits nominations from the governors of fi shing states and oversees the annual appointment process. The Secretary selects council members from the list of nominees provided by the governors to fi ll obligatory and at-large seats that have become available due to an expiring term, a resignation or other reasons.


Obligatory seats are state-specific,


while at-large seats can be fi lled by a person from any of the states in the region. Council members serve three-year terms, and may be reappointed to serve up to three consecutive terms.


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