August 2018 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 13. Commercial Fishing News M C F N species from that state is confi dential.


NOAA Fisheries Releases Revised MRIP Recreational Catch and Eff ort Estimates NOAA Fisheries released revised


Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) catch and eff ort estimates (1981- 2017) as part of its recent transition from the Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS) to the new, mail-based Fishing Ef- fort Survey (FES). The agency also released preliminary estimates based on the FES for 2018 wave 1 (Jan. – Feb.). The release of the revised estimates marks an important milestone in our scientifi c program’s eff orts to improve recreational catch and eff ort data. Implemented in 2018, the FES is a more


accurate method of collecting saltwater recreational fi shing eff ort data from shore and private boat anglers on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. As a result of the improved survey, FES estimates are several times higher than telephone survey estimates and vary by state, type of fi shing, and reporting period. However, analyses indicate that the increase in eff ort estimates is because the FES does a better job of estimating fi shing activity, not a sudden rise in fi shing. The improved accuracy of recreational catch and eff ort estimates generated by the FES will provide better information for under- standing the health of marine ecosystems and making decisions that ensure the future of our fi sheries resources and the lives and livelihoods they support. Implications of the revised estimates


on all managed species will not be fully un- derstood until they are incorporated into the stock assessment process over the next sev- eral years. NOAA Fisheries is working with the councils and commissions to prioritize assessments and the new estimates will start to be incorporated into stock assessments in the second half of 2018. Because not all as- sessments can be conducted simultaneously, additional assessments using the new data will be conducted in 2019 and beyond. In the meantime, the new FES data can be back calculated into “CHTS estimates” to allow for an apples-to-apples comparison of catch estimates with management benchmarks, such as annual catch limits, that were based on the CHTS. Once stock assessments are completed using the new data, the councils and commissions will review the outcomes and adjust management measures as appro- priate.


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All revised catch and eff ort estimates


are now available on the MRIP website at the data downloads page. The estimates are also available via the data query tool, which will allow comparisons of the time series of leg- acy and calibrated estimates. This process is the culmination of our detailed transition plan developed by the Transition Team representing federal, regional, and state partners. NOAA Fisheries will continue to work closely with our partners throughout this multi-year, rigorous, and transparent process to improve fi sheries science and management.


White Abalone: Why You Should Care About This Critter


At fi rst glance, this creature may just


look like a colorful rock. But he’d actually fi t right in at a snail family reunion. This is a white abalone, a type of endangered marine snail with a rich history. In its heyday (1969–1972), white ab-


alone supported a lucrative fi shery in Cal- ifornia. But intense commercial harvesting drove catch from roughly 143,000 pounds per year to just 5,000 pounds per year in less than a decade. And in 1997, California ceased all white abalone fi shing because population levels got too low. NOAA and our partners are working to


keep white abalone around for future gen- erations. Here are a few reasons we don’t want to lose them to extinction: They are kelp forest architects. Abalone graze on kelp plants that inhabit some of the most pro- ductive and biodiverse places on the planet. While this grazing may seem harmful, it actually increases kelp diversity by clearing patches of rocky surface so that multiple kelp species can fl ourish. The increase in kelp diversity translates to an increase in di- versity of fi sh and other animals that depend on kelp forest habitat. Celebrate Habitat Month 2018 by learning more about our work to conserve habitat in order to boost fi sh populations and recover threatened and endangered species. They are a cultural icon from coastal California to Alaska. Archeologists determined abalone shells date back more than 5,000 years, with the shell trade extending across the continent as far east as the Mississippi River. The meat provided protein to people year-round and the iridescent shells became useful tools, beautiful ornaments, and jewelry. This historic cultural importance highlights the


potential for the future economic value of restoring this resource. People like to eat them. At its peak, abalone fi shing reaped millions of dollars for West Coast econo- mies. Successful white abalone recovery could restore the social and economic role these tasty snails once played in our nation. The future of white abalone is ours to


save. NOAA is taking strategic steps to help recover this valuable species. We also signed a historic agreement with the U.S. Navy last year to help support core research and survey needs for the species.


NOAA Announces Projects Recom- mended for S-K Funding


NOAA Fisheries announced recom-


mendations to fund 38 projects for almost $9 million under the 2018 Saltonstall-Ken- nedy Competitive Grants Program. The list of projects fall into four categories: Marine Aquaculture; Adapting to Environmental Changes and Other Long Term Impacts in Marine Ecosystems; Promotion, De- velopment and Marketing; and Territorial Science. For more than 40 years, NOAA has


awarded grant funding for projects under the Saltonstall-Kennedy program to in- dividuals, institutions, organizations, and businesses across the country. S-K funds help address the needs of fi shing commu-


nities, support economic opportunities, and build and maintain resilient and sustainable fi sheries.


Demand for funding through S-K


was high again this year. Initially, NOAA received 517 pre-proposals. Out of that number, 155 full proposals requesting nearly $40 million were reviewed by at least three subject matter experts during the Technical Merit Review phase. The top 87 scoring proposals advanced to the Constituent Pan- el Reviews where each proposal was then reviewed and scored by 15 subject matter experts from the fi shing industry and com- munity. Based on that, the top 38 proposals have been recommended for 2018 funding. At this point in the selection process, the application approval and recommended funding is not fi nal. Divisions of NOAA and the Department of Commerce, NOAA’s parent agency, must still give fi nal approval before successful applicants receive funding by October 2018.


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