Upcoming

Meetings

May 10: Sustainable Shorelines: Resilient Coasts and Communities of Practice Webinar

May 11: Webinar on the Ocean as a Carbon Sponge - Why blue carbon is important

May 12: NOAA Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team Webinar on Changes to Marine Mammal Bycatch Data Collection with Adoption of Electronic Monitoring in the Northeast

May 15-18: Atlantic Croaker and Spot Data Workshop

May 16: National Nature Assessment Public Listening Session on Marine Perspectives

May 16-18: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Climate Vulnerability Workshop

May 16: National Nature Assessment Public Listening Session on Coastal Perspectives

May 20-21: NJ 20th Annual Ocean Fun Days Event

June 6-8: Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2023 (Ocean x Climate), Washington, DC and virtual event

June 7: Strengthening Blue Carbon Solutions in US Ocean Policy Webinar

June 22: Webinar on Career Pathways to Collaborative Science Success

July 31 & August 1-3: ASMFC 2023 Summer Meeting

August 21-25: River Herring Benchmark Stock Assessment Workshop

August 20-24: AFS Annual Meeting - Adaptive Approaches to Understand and Manage Changes in Fisheries

Jobs

NY Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC

(Due: May 11)

Marine Fisheries Biologist -- NC DEQ Washington, NC)

(Due: May 11)

Fisheries Technician -- NJDEP FW (multiple locations)

(Due: May 15)

Contractor on White Hake Recruitment Assumptions -- NEFMC

(Due: May 15)

Natural Resource Biologist III (Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystem Program)-- MD DNR (Stevensvillle, MD)

(Due: May 16)

Associate Research Scientist -- FL FWC (St. Petersburg, FL)

(Due: May 17)

Communications Specialist -- NOAA (Silver Spring, MD)

(Due: May 17)

Biological Supervisor (Marine Fisheries) -- NC DEQ (Dare County, NC)

(Due: May 18)

Fish Biologist -- US FWS (Warm Springs, GA)

(Due: May 18)

Habitat and Ecosystem Scientist -- SAFMC

(Due: May 22)

Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IV -- FL FWC (Jacksonville, FL)

(Due: May 24)

Environmental Control Technician II (Fisheries) -- DE DNREC (Dover, DE)

(Due: May 26)

Contractor Position for Fish Aging Technician(s) -- MAFMC (Woods Hole, MA)

(Due: June 2)

Policy Fellow -- American Sportfishing Association

(Due: June 2)

REEF Marine Conservation Internship Program -- REEF

(Due: June 4)

NH Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC

(Open Until Filled)

Fish Ageing Lab Part-time Laboratory Technician -- VMRC (Hampton, VA) 

(Open Until Filled)

MRIP Field Technician -- VMRC 

(Open Until Filled)

Fisheries Observer, Protected Species -- VMRC

(Open Until Filled)

MA Seasonal Fisheries Technician (Cape Cod - South Coast) -- MA DMF

(Open Until Filled)

MA Seasonal Fisheries Technician (North Shore - Metro Boston) -- MA DMF

(Open Until Filled)

Fisheries Gear Research Technician, NOAA

(Open Until Filled)

Various Fisheries Observer Positions, AIS

Various NOAA Positions, Lynker Technologies

Various Ocean and Fisheries Positions, Ocean Associates Inc.

Public Comment

May 11: NOAA is seeking public comment on Proposed Rule to Implement Framework 13 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan

(Find more here)

May 15: NOAA is seeking public comment on Proposed Incidental Take Regulations for the Empire Wind Project, Offshore New York. Comments may be made through May 15.

(Find more here)

May 31: NOAA and the USGCRP are seeking public comments on Updating the Climate Literacy Guide. Comments may be made through April 31.

(Find more here)

June 5: NOAA is seeking public comment on Proposed Incidental Take Regulations for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project. Comments may be made through June 5.

(Find more here)

July 3: NOAA is seeking public comment on the Draft Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review. Comments may be made through July 3.

(Find more here)

August 18: NOAA is seeking public comment on Amendment 16 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be made through August 18.

(Find more here)

ASMFC: American Lobster Board Approves Addendum XXVII

The Commission’s American Lobster Management Board approved Addendum XXVII to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. The Addendum establishes a trigger mechanism to implement management measures – specifically gauge and escape vent sizes – to provide additional protection of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank (GOM/GBK) spawning stock biomass (SSB). It also implements changes to management measures for Lobster Conservation Management Areas (LCMAs) 1, 3, and Outer Cape Cod (OCC) to improve the consistency of measures across the GOM/GBK stock.

Find more information here.

ASMFC: Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Best Management Practices for the Biomedical Industry

The Commission’s Horseshoe Crab Management Board approved revisions to a guidance document on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Handling Horseshoe Crabs for Biomedical Purposes. The document recommends broadly applicable industry standards that are expected to minimize mortality and injury of horseshoe crabs associated with the biomedical process. It also provides background on the horseshoe crab biomedical fishery, information on current regulations in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Horseshoe Crab related to biomedical collections, and research recommendations that could further inform the BMPs and potentially further reduce mortality or injury of biomedical horseshoe crabs.

Find more information here.

ASMFC: Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Released

The 2023 Black Drum Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report indicates the Atlantic coastal stock of black drum are not overfished and not experiencing overfishing. The Commission’s Sciaenids Management Board approved the benchmark stock assessment and peer review report for management use. No management action was taken because there were no major concerns with the stock.

Find more information here.

MA DMF: Annual Spring Trawl Survey to Begin May 8, 2023

The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will be conducting its annual spring trawl survey throughout state coastal waters beginning May 8, 2023. Surveys have been conducted each May and September since 1978 to provide a consistent sampling of benthic fishes and mobile invertebrates. Survey data is used to monitor the condition of various marine stocks. The data is also used to inform the environmental review process, which advises on ways to minimize construction impacts on fisheries resources. Maintaining access to the planned sampling sites is critical to the integrity of the survey.

For more information, please review either the live map on our website or the tables and maps of station locations in the survey announcement. The live map displays all remaining tow locations. The full screen map (click see the map in full screen) has a feature which allows you to display your current location. On the upper lefthand side of the map page click the “scope icon” button just below the home button. With the location feature toggled on, your device will display your live location on the map in relation to tow circles and historical tows. This feature can be used to assure gear is not in conflict with planned tows.

Find more information here.

NH FG: Striped Bass Fishing Survey Targets Coastal Anglers

Striped bass are popular sport fish in New Hampshire’s ocean waters, and during the late spring their arrival is evidenced by the number of anglers along the Granite State’s beautiful coast. To better manage this highly sought-after species, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Fisheries Division has conducted Striped Bass Volunteer Angler Surveys since 1993, in addition to administering yearly creel surveys.

Volunteer anglers fill out logbooks to provide the Marine Division with information about their fishing trips. These volunteers are able to supply length data on catch-and-release fish, which is information that is not collected through annual creel surveys. The important data obtained from these anglers are used by state and federal fisheries biologists to assess the status of the striped bass population each year.

If you are interested in taking part in the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Striped Bass Volunteer Angler Survey, visit www.fishnh.com/surveys/striped-bass.html or contact Jared Lamy at (603) 868-1095 or [email protected].

Find more information here.

MD DNR: Accepting Applications for the Sport Fisheries and Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commissions

Applications to the Maryland Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission (recreational fisheries) and Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission (commercial fisheries) are currently being accepted. If you are interested in serving or if you know of someone that may be interested, application instructions including a link to the application may be found online.

The commissioners are appointed by the governor and they advise the department's Director of Fishing and Boating Services on all matters brought to the commissions.

Membership is composed of individuals from across the state that represent the interests of various fisheries-related constituencies and stakeholders. Meetings are currently held on a quarterly basis.

Please apply by May 22, 2023 for consideration. 

Find more information here.

DE DNREC: Two New Programs to Help Build Back Delaware’s Portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control recently introduced two new conservation incentive programs to improve water quality and create wildlife habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Both programs – the Delaware Community Conservation Assistance Program (DeCAP) and the Forest Buffer Incentive Program – will pay homeowners and landowners for conservation management practices to support those goals.

Through DeCAP, homeowners who implement best management practices (BMPs) can qualify for partial reimbursement of their installation expenses for following: constructed wetlands; conservation landscaping; urban nutrient management; bioretention areas; rain gardens; and tree planting. BMPs are designed to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff from residential properties. They also offer the added benefit of solving common backyard issues like erosion, poor drainage, and lack of vegetation because of compacted soil and other hindrances to having fertile ground.

The new Forest Buffer Incentive Program provides tree plantings for qualified landowners free of charge with an additional one-time incentive payment. Forest buffers are linear strips of wooded areas that filter sediment, and nutrient pollutants such as phosphorous from water runoff, which improves the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Find more information here.

ME DMR: Maine Eel Aquaculture Opportunity

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), under Addendum IV to the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for American Eel, allows states to submit an aquaculture plan to request up to 200 pounds of glass eels annually from within their waters for domestic aquaculture facilities if certain criteria are met. The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) would like to support a Maine based aquaculture business or businesses that may be interested in utilizing this quota. DMR is seeking qualified applicants to work with the State to both acquire and utilize this quota should it be approved by ASMFC. The following describes the process for which a qualified business or businesses may be selected for this opportunity and the expectations for selected applicant(s) and the Department in advancing a plan.

An applicant or applicants will be selected to participate in this process based on an expert review panel of DMR employees. Criteria to be considered by reviewers include demonstrated aquaculture qualifications, business maturity and facility readiness, permits and regulatory compliance expectations, and ability to assist DMR in finalizing a proposal to ASMFC. Since there is no direct financial arrangement or contract between DMR and the applicant, costs will not be considered.

Find more information here.