UPDATE: The preferred alternative Option B will establish Stellwagen Designated Research Area (DHRA) entirely within the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area. 55 sq. mi. about a fifth of the DHRA to become the Northern Reference Area (no-take). 0% private recreational fishermen reported in 2010 & 2012 fishing in the Northern Reference Area 29 is…
Good News: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has created a strong and balanced Final Rule that will reduce the waste of bluefin tuna and support the long-term sustainability of the U.S. Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. The Final Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan was…
“No Fish – The Gulf of Maine’s cod stock is dangerously low, the federal government says. Fishermen dispute it. But one thing is certain – counting is no simple matter.” The title was a bit of a mouthful on the front page of my paper edition of the Boston Globe, November 22, 2014. The four…
Yale E360 recently published an excellent article by Rebecca Kessler on how fish and other marine animals are responding to changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine. Particularly good news are reports of black sea bass moving into waters north of Cape Cod. Marissa McMahan, a doctoral student at Northeastern University in Boston. . .…
Newport, Oregon is one of the highest catch ports in the U.S. as well as a huge recreational, merchant, research and NOAA port. Tell Congress not to relocate the Coast Guard rescue helicopter between 90 and 130 miles away. Tell Congress that adding an hour flight time to Newport’s rescue helicopter is an irresponsible way…
Ocean Enemy #1 (Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla.) is moving to block finalization of the government proposal to increase the number of streams and creeks that receive automatic protection under the federal Clean Water Act. The House measure (H.R. 5078) would prohibit the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from drafting regulations and guidance needed…
Something is rotten with H.R. 4742, the bill drafted by Representative Hastings, Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This legislation, as currently drafted, would roll back key conservation provisions that made American fisheries management an unsurpassed science-based model for the world. The Hastings bill would…
Late Tuesday evening (6/17/14), the U.S. Congress passed the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control bill! The bill has gone to President Obama to be signed into final law – the first free-standing oceans bill to be passed by this Congress. This legislation is a significant step forward in recognizing and addressing the…
