February 2018 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 13. Commercial Fishing News


food, and nursery grounds, including for commercially important grouper, snapper, sea bass, rockfi sh, shrimp, and crab. NOAA’s new report, State of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems of the United States (pdf, 467 pages), explains advances in deep-sea coral research over the past decade and how this new information is shaping deep-sea conservation. Each of the report’s 13 peer-reviewed chapters was written by leading U.S. researchers. Six regional chapters summarize new research—much of it led by NOAA—and explain how results have led to improvements in deep-sea man- agement. It also shares an understanding of coral and sponge taxonomy, species distri- butions, fi sheries habitats, and the eff ects of human activities. These chapters serve as a ten-year up-


date to the fi rst State of Deep Coral Ecosys- tems of the United States report, published in 2007, and provide the fi rst look at U.S. deep-sea sponge ecosystems. Discoveries since the fi rst report have also led to the description and increased understanding of 62 new species of deep-water corals in U.S. waters, and include online, peer-reviewed species lists as a supplement the report. Six additional articles focus on


cross-cutting topics including species dis- covery, interactions between fi shing gear and corals/sponges, management of black coral harvests, improvements in habitat modeling, advances in coral ageing and growth rate research, and current knowledge of coral genetics and reproduction. Research presented in this report consolidates our understanding of how deep-sea corals and sponges contribute to resilient ecosystems and sustainable fi sheries. Highlights of the report include the fol-


lowing: Sixty-two new species of deep-sea corals described since 2007. New diverse and dense deep-sea coral “gardens” discov- ered in every U.S. region, especially Alaska, where new evidence points to their role as habitat for fi sheries of national and interna- tional importance. Expansion of National Marine Sanctuaries along the West Coast that protect deep-sea corals and sponges. Re- sults of a major three-year exploration and research campaign to previously unexplored U.S. Pacifi c Island slopes, oceanic ridges, and seamounts. Deep-sea coral damage and management responses after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Use of habitat models to


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aid protection of 38,000 square miles of the Northeast deep sea, which has helped make the U.S. a leader in deep-sea conservation. Enhanced protection in the Southeast across areas containing one of the most substantial concentrations of deep-sea coral reefs in the world. Updated conservation status and threat analysis for U.S. deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems reveals progress in conservation and potential implications of emerging industries such as deep-sea min- ing.


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tremely vulnerable to human activities that damage the seafl oor or alter the surrounding environment, and once damaged, may take centuries to recover—if they recover at all. The report serves as a baseline for continued research to further understand and conserve these ecosystems. NOAA research on deep-sea coral and


sponge ecosystems is led by the Deep Sea Coral Research & Technology Program, within the Offi ce of Habitat Conservation, which is dedicated to mapping and charac- terizing deep-sea ecosystems and sharing information needed to conserve these valu- able and vulnerable habitats. The Program works in partnership with several NOAA offi ces, other federal agencies, and a broad range of academic scientists. Managers are using the NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s discoveries and scientifi c fi ndings to make informed deci- sions.


Final Rule to Modify Individual Bluefi n Tuna Quota Program Regulations NOAA Fisheries announces a fi nal rule to modify individual bluefi n tuna quota program regulations for accounting for bluefi n tuna.


NOAA Fisheries announces a fi nal rule


to modify the Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) regulations to require vessels in the pelagic longline fi shery to account for bycatch of bluefi n tuna using Individual Bluefi n Quota (IBQ) on a quarterly basis instead of on a trip level. Previously, vessel owners had to account for quota debt, or IBQ balances less than the minimum required, before commencing any fi shing trip with pelagic longline gear. Specifi cally, eff ective as of January 27,


2018, this fi nal rule modifi es the regulations to allow vessels to fi sh with a low IBQ bal-


ance or with quota debt during a calendar quarter (beginning January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1). Vessels must still coordinate with dealers to report bluefi n tuna catch at the end of each trip (and account for it with IBQ), but this regulatory change provides the fl exibility to fi sh even if the vessel has less than the minimum amount of IBQ, in- cluding quota debt, until the fi rst fi shing trip in each calendar quarter. For example, as of January 27, 2018,


subsequent to a vessel’s fi rst fi shing trip in the fi rst calendar year quarter, a vessel operator may fi sh with pelagic longline gear with less than the minimum IBQ allocation (or with quota debt), but only within the fi rst calendar year quarter. In order to depart on a pelagic longline fi shing trip in the fol- lowing quarter, starting April 1, 2018, that vessel would need to lease additional IBQ to resolve the quota debt and acquire the minimum amount of IBQ required to fi sh. This regulatory change will main-


tain vessel accountability for all bluefi n tuna catch and the associated incentives for vessel operators to minimize catch of bluefi n tuna. By changing the timing of the accountability, this fi nal rule provides some additional fl exibility in vessel operations to determine when and at what price vessel owners lease additional quota and resolve quota debt. The timing of the accounting


for bluefi n tuna by pelagic longline vessels within a particular fi shing/calendar year aff ects the fi nancial and timing dynamics of a vessel’s fi shing operation, but does not modify the annual U.S. bluefi n tuna quota, nor the fi shing mortality associated with that quota. The annual U.S. bluefi n tuna quota and subquota allocations to the Longline category would not be aff ected by this fi nal rule.


This notice is a courtesy to fi shery par-


ticipants to help keep you informed about the fi shery. Offi cial notice of federal fi shery actions is made through fi ling such notice with the Offi ce of the Federal Register. For further information, contact Thomas Warren at (978) 281-9260 or Carrie Soltanoff at (301) 427-8503.


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