Search Results for agency_names:"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"

The Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory groups will hold a series of public meetings from April 9-15, 2025, in San Jose, CA, and online. These meetings, which will be live-streamed, will cover topics like management measures for 2025, habitat issues, and various fishery management plans. The meetings are open to the public, except for a closed session on litigation and personnel matters. For more information, visit the Pacific Council's website or contact relevant officials for assistance.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a hybrid meeting by the Center of Independent Experts (CIE) to review a method for aging fish using machine learning and infrared spectroscopy. This meeting is scheduled to take place from February 11 to February 13, 2025, at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle and online. Public comments will be allowed, and the meeting will accommodate individuals with disabilities. For more details, attendees should refer to the online link provided by NOAA.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to regulations for West Coast salmon fisheries. They plan to remove rebuilding plans for the Queets River and Strait of Juan de Fuca coho salmon from the rules because these fish stocks have been successfully rebuilt. This action aims to prevent confusion by eliminating outdated plans that are no longer necessary under the Pacific Fishery Management Council's guidelines. Additionally, this proposed rule is considered a deregulatory action, meaning it simplifies existing regulations without significant economic impacts on small fishing businesses.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Scallop Plan Team is scheduled to hold a web conference on February 17, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alaska Time. During this meeting, the team will update the status of the Alaska weathervane scallop stocks and discuss the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report, including recommendations for the 2021 fishing year. Participants can join the meeting online, and information on how to connect will be made available on the Council's website. Public comments can be submitted electronically through the same site.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comments on the extension of a current information collection related to floating marine debris. This involves a Shipboard Observation Form used by organizations and vessels to report visible debris on the ocean. The goal is to improve the understanding and management of marine debris's impact on the U.S. economy and environment. Public comments on the proposed data collection, aimed at refining methods and reducing burden on respondents, will be accepted until March 30, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, part of NOAA and the Commerce Department, is announcing a public webinar meeting organized by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The meeting will be held online on March 26, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT. The objective of this meeting is for the Groundfish Management Team to discuss agenda items for the council's April 2021 meeting. No management actions will be taken during this webinar, and the discussion will focus on preparing for future topics related to groundfish management and may include ecosystem matters.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily closing the commercial fishing season for Atlantic bluefin tuna from March 1 to March 31, 2025, as the quota for this period has been exceeded. This closure affects vessels with Atlantic Tunas General category permits and HMS Charter/Headboat permits with a commercial sale endorsement. Fishermen can still tag and release bluefin tuna during the closure. The fishery will reopen on June 1, 2025, with specific limits on how many bluefin tuna can be caught.

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a public meeting for its Skate Advisory Panel via webinar. The meeting, scheduled for March 17, 2021, will review scoping comments, update on the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan, and discuss the Skate 2022-23 Specifications. The panel will explore various issues related to New England fisheries and provide recommendations to the council. The meeting will be accessible to individuals with disabilities and is open for public participation.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) will hold a public webinar meeting with its Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel and Bluefish Advisory Panel on March 13, 2025. This meeting, held in conjunction with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, will discuss changes to the rules for recreational fishing limits for certain fish species. Participants will review different options for setting these limits and give their input on the final decision. The meeting is accessible to people with disabilities, and any requests for special accommodations should be made at least five days before the meeting.

NOAA has announced its plan to create a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to support the implementation of projects under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Research and Development Program. This program aims to promote, market, research, and develop U.S. Fisheries to help fishing communities, ensuring sustainable and economically beneficial fisheries. As part of the process, NOAA is seeking public input by inviting comments on the potential environmental impacts and alternatives of the proposed projects, and it will hold several public scoping meetings to gather feedback. The deadline for written comments is March 25, 2021.