News Updates for The Week of June 12, 2020
Invasive Species Awareness Week in New York, Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report, and Artificial Reef Deployments in New Jersey
Upcoming
Meetings

Meeting Updates and Changes Due to COVID-19:
 
June 16-18:  MAFMC 
Webinar  
  
June 18 : ERP Workgroup and Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee Conference Call

June 22-26 : 2020 Management Track Assessment Peer Review

June 23-25:  NEFMC Webinar

July 1: Tautog Technical Committee and Stock Assessment Subcommittee Webinar

July 7-9: NOAA Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee Peer Review Meeting Webinar
Public Comment

FL FWCC : FWCC will be holding two virtual stone crab workshops to gather public input about management of the stone crab fishery. All commercial and recreational stakeholders interested in stone crab management are encouraged to attend. These workshops will occur on June 16 and June 18 (Find more here ) . 
ME DMF: Update from Maine DMR Aquaculture Program

We have received inquiries concerning how COVID-19 is impacting the work of DMR's Aquaculture Program and wanted to communicate to all interested parties that the majority of the Programs work is being conducted as usual, albeit remotely. Applications are still being reviewed for completeness, pre-application meetings are being held remotely, site reports are being written, public notices are being processed, and lease and license decisions, where we are able, are being written.

However, scoping sessions and public hearings were postponed, and field work was suspended. Beginning April 30th, field work that allows for staff to remain socially-distant resumed. Scoping sessions and public hearings remain on hold. Staff are currently exploring alternative strategies to hold such events. These approaches are intended to help limit the spread of COVID-19, while providing meaningful opportunities for interested persons to participate.

Find more information here .
DNREC: Delaware surf-fishing permits are sold out after reaching annual cap

DNREC announced it has reached its cap of 17,000 Delaware surf-fishing permits issued for the calendar year. With the cap figure attained, no more surf tag permits will be issued until December.

In 2019, the Delaware’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Council established a 17,000 cap on annual surf-fishing permit sales. The Division of Parks and Recreation implemented a first-come, first-served cap on the number of permits issued as the most equitable way to serve all beach users, and to manage a limited resource, while also protecting against overcrowding of parks beaches. This plan aligns with DNREC’s priority to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors to Delaware’s state parks system.

Find more information here.
MD DNR: May 2020 Hypoxia Report

MD DNR monitoring data show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were better than expected in May 2020. The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.027 cubic miles, which is well below the May 1985-2019 average of 0.25 cubic miles, and an improvement from the 1.12 cubic miles of hypoxia observed in May 2019. No anoxic zones— waters with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen — were observed.

Find more information here.

MD DNR: Volunteer Angler Surveys Inform Maryland Fish Management

Maryland anglers are encouraged to submit their catch information to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources volunteer angler surveys. These mobile-friendly volunteer surveys can easily help turn a fishing trip into a scientific expedition by submitting basic data directly from a smartphone.

Find more information here.
NJ DEP: Two Artificial Reef Deployments Planned for This Week

Staff of New Jersey Marine Fisheries Administration is planning two deployments off the coast as part of the Artificial Reef Program. The first deployment, a 150-foot long caisson gate, is scheduled for the morning of Monday, June 8, on the Deepwater Reef site. A caisson gate is a barrier used to dam off the open end of a dry dock, and is constructed of heavy gauge steel with several tons of ballast in the keel.

The second deployment is scheduled for 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at the Sandy Hook Reef site. The sinking of the 65-foot tugboat VINIK HUNTRESS is in memory of Hudson River Fishermen's Association past member Darren Cardinal.

Find more information here .
NY DEC: New York Invasive Species Awareness Week

June 7 - 12 is New York Invasive Species Awareness Week, a statewide campaign to educate and inform residents of New York about the threat of invasive species and opportunities for action. Several aquatic invasive species (AIS) affect or threaten the Hudson River, including phragmites (common reed), water chestnut, hydrilla, zebra mussel, and Chinese mitten crab.

AIS are non-native aquatic plants and animals that can reproduce and spread at a rapid rate. AIS contribute to the decline of native plants, fish and wildlife, and can negatively impact recreational opportunities and income. One of the main pathways for transfer of AIS between waterbodies is recreational water vehicles and equipment, including boats, canoes, kayaks, and jet skis. Check, clean, and disinfect your watercraft and fishing gear to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Do not dispose of unwanted aquarium plants in waterbodies, ditches, or canals.

Learn more and find out what you can do to protect the Hudson River estuary.
SAFMC: Council Addresses Broad Range of Federal Fisheries Issues During Meeting Week

Members of the SAFMC held their quarterly June meeting this week via webinar. A few topics discussed were: the impact of COVID-19 on fisheries and fishing communities, stock assessment updates, and special management zone. Read additional information about this week's Council meeting week using the Council's interactive June 2020 Meeting Story Map. The story map provides an overview of committee meetings with images, links to documents, reports, and more!

Find more information here.
NOAA Fisheries: Saltonstall-Kennedy 2021 Grant Application Now Open

NOAA Fisheries is pleased to announce the 2021 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant competition is currently open.

The goal of the Saltonstall-Kennedy program is to fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. The FY21 solicitation seeks applications that fall into one of two priorities:

  • Promotion, Development, and Marketing.
  • Science or Technology that Promotes Sustainable U.S. Seafood Production and Harvesting.

Find more information here.
What We're Reading
Dr. Kathy Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space, and recently she has become the first woman to reach the deepest known spot in the ocean-- The Challenger Deep (The New York Times).

Governments and WHO face pressure to ban commercial trade in wild animals, but experts say this would criminalize the way of life for millions of people. The Guardian asks the question: What does more environmental damage: eating meat from the wild or a factory farm?
Dr. Robert Bullard is considered the father of environmental justice, this week Environmental Health News revisited his essay on pollution titled: Much of America has the wrong "complexion for protection."

The New York Times has created a list of articles, essays, and books to read up on the links between racism and the environment.
Giant larvaceans are transparent marine invertebrates that are closely related to plankton. They live In "Snot Palaces" that trap tiny particles of carbon-rich plant debris, microplastics, and other detritus (Gizmodo).

There is a disparagingly low number of Black individuals in natural spaces and research communities, largely due to systemic racial poverty, but the whole STEM field has so much to gain from embracing Black scientists (Integrative and Comparative Biology).
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