Daily Archives: December 27, 2012

Rep. Broun: NOAA’s Response to Sandy Service Assessment Inquiry Disappointing (Lubchenco under the weather) !

805562027_qrX5M-M“…I am disappointed that you elected not to answer many of my questions,”

A series relating to NOAA weather problems! It ain’t fishin’ but it’s all Jane!

Lubchenco replied by the requested deadline to Broun’s first letter citing that she understood Broun’s concerns. She left many of his questions unanswered, however.

“…I am disappointed that you elected not to answer many of my questions,” Broun wrote in his most recent letter, adding that her reply also raised ‘additional questions that require explanation.’  Read Lots More!!

Many tanner crab areas closed; quotas reduced

By Cristy Fry –  The bairdi tanner crab season in Kodiak and along the Alaska Peninsula continues its quota yo-yo this year with quotas either down or areas closed entirely when the season begins Jan. 15. On Kodiak Island, only two areas out of eight are open, the east side and southeast sections, for a total of 660,000 pounds, down from 950,000 pounds in 2012 and 1.47 million pounds in 2011. Read More

Florida Seasonal Grouper Closure Starts January 1st

FLORIDA STATE WATERS — Several species of grouper will close  to recreational and commercial harvest  starting January 1st 2013 in Florida state waters of the Atlantic, including  Monroe County. Read More

SitNews – Complaint Filed in U.S. District Court Challenging Fisheries Monitoring Program

(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska – The Juneau-based Boat Company has filed a complaint  in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska challenging the  National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) program for monitoring discard  (bycatch) in large volume trawl fisheries. The complaint, filed on December  21st, requests that the court remand the Final Rule to NMFS for,,,,,,, Read More

A message from Dr. Rothschild regarding what he would do as NOAA administrator. Chris McCaffity

Chris McCaffity
A message from Dr. Rothschild regarding what he would do as NOAA administrator. As you know, a NOAA administrator has many different tasks. Some are well known, but others seem to come from nowhere. The BP spill is a good example. Because of this an Administrator needs to work on a set of principles. Here are some examples.
1. Follow the letter of the law(it seems almost unnecessary to say this, but the past administration would have done a better job if they had studied the laws that govern fisheries management).   2. Focus the scientific effort on critical issues and base management decisions on science.   3. Listen to the folks that are most effected by management decisions.   4. Promote cooperative research.   5. Be transparent and operate in the sunshine.   6. Provide incentives to employees to follow principals   7.Integrate elements of NOAA to be more cost effective(e.g. Sea Grant and NMFS).
Brian J. Rothschild Montgomery Charter Professor of Marine Science and Technology   School for Marine Science and Technology University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 706 South Rodney French Boulevard   New Bedford, MA 02744-1221 USA
Please sign the petition asking President Obama to appoint Dr. Rothschild as the new NOAA administrator. http://wh.gov/RucH

Public Comment Sought on Genetically Modified Salmon

Instructions for electronic submissions are at http://www.regulations.gov. Written comments should be addressed to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments should refer to the docket number, Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0899.
For further information contact Eric Silberhorn, Center for veterinary medicine (HFV-162), Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855; 1-240-276-8247, or email [email protected]

Northeast Groundfish Vessel Landings Up, Revenues Top $330 Million in Fishing Year 2011- Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Landings, gross revenues, and  net revenues per vessel reached three-year highs for Northeast groundfish  vessels during the fishing year that ended in April 2012! Read More

Mad Scientist

Digital Vision, Getty Images