NOAA Taste of the Tides Newsletter

Half Shell Oysters

In September, NOAA Fisheries will launch a new sustainable seafood newsletter.

Taste of the Tides will highlight the work of NOAA Fisheries and its partners to sustainably manage and responsibly produce seafood in the USA.

NOAA is inviting the public to subscribe to receive this quarterly email containing stories related to sustainable seafood and people working in the industry.

Stakeholders can sign up at:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/signup/42631

Status of Stocks 2018 Report (NOAA)

Winter Flounder

In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released the 2018 Status of U.S. Fisheries Annual Report to Congress, that details the status of 479 managed stocks or stock complexes in the U.S. to identify which stocks are subject to overfishing, are overfished, or are rebuilt to sustainable levels.

The report notes that the vast majority of U.S. fish stocks were at sustainable population levels in 2018, and the number of U.S. fish stocks subject to overfishing remains at a near all-time low..

The report also documents a newly-rebuilt stock, smooth skate in the Gulf of Maine. This brings the total number of rebuilt U.S. marine fish stocks to 45 since the year 2000

A stock is on the overfishing list when the harvest rate of that species is too high. Of 321 stocks with known status, 293 (91%) are not subject to overfishing. The remaining 28 stocks (9%) are subject to overfishing..

Seven stocks were removed from the overfishing list, and five were added in 2018. As required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (the U.S. ocean fisheries law), NOAA Fisheries works with regional fishery management councils and other partners to implement measures to immediately end overfishing.

A stock is on the overfished list when the population size of a stock is too low, whether because of fishing or other causes, such as environmental changes..

Of 244 stocks with known status, 201 (or 82%) are not overfished, leaving 43 stocks (18%) listed as overfished. No stocks were removed from the overfished list in 2018, but eight were added.

For more information, visit: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/media-release/number-us-fish-stocks-sustainable-levels-remains-near-record-high

source: NOAA Fisheries

Eating Fish Might Help Reverse Lionfish Invasion

A massive fishing effort to stop invasive lionfish involves chefs marketing these delicious fish to consumers.

A new study looking at how to curb the rapid growth of lionfish, an invasive species not native to the Atlantic Ocean, suggests that approximately 27 percent of mature lionfish will have to be removed monthly for one year to reduce its population growth rate to zero.

But the good news is that the invasive fish happens to be delicious. NOAA is encouraging chefs to find new ways to introduce this tasty species of saltwater fish to U.S. consumers.

Lionfish are native to the western and central Pacific Ocean, but have established themselves from North Carolina to South America.

Scientists and public officials are seriously concerned at the effect lionfish are having on reef ecosystems, since this predator is capable of rapid population growth, often competing with native fish for food and territory.

Authorities are also encouraging a local market for the species, whose delicate white flesh tastes similar to a snapper or grouper. NOAA scientists concur that developing a market for lionfish is one of the only ways to substantially reduce their numbers.

NOAA has developed an "Eat Lionfish" campaign that brings together fishing communities, wholesalers, and chefs in an effort to broaden U.S. consumers’ awareness of this delicious invader.

NOAA to Develop New Aquaculture Policy

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced plans to develop a new national Aquaculture Policy.

As a first step, NOAA is currently seeking broad input on the components of a draft aquaculture policy from interested stakeholders including communities, state and local governments, tribes, businesses, associations, the aquaculture industry, commercial and recreational fishermen, the seafood industry, non-governmental organizations, and the general public.

Stakeholders can participate in three ways - by participating in a listening session, by submitting a comment online, or by participating in a national call-in. The public input period began on April 6 and will end on May 14, 2010.

After the listening sessions are over, NOAA will analyze the public input and develop a draft national policy for review and public comment. Once that process is complete, the agency will issue a new NOAA Aquaculture Policy.

Dates and times of the listening sessions can be found at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/policy1/index.htm.

Public Sessions to Guide Drafting of New Aquaculture Policy

NOAA will hold six listening sessions in April and May to hear recommendations from the public that will help the agency develop a new national policy for sustainable marine aquaculture.


Dates for the listening sessions with NOAA officials are as follows:


April 14 in Narragansett, R.I.

April 19 in New Orleans, La.

April 22 in Seattle

April 27 in Honolulu

April 29 in Menlo Park, Calif.

May 6 a national call-in hosted by NOAA on a toll-free line



Details on the specific locations and times for the regional listening sessions and instructions for submitting comments electronically will be posted on the NOAA Aquaculture Program Web site http://aquaculture.noaa.gov. The agency also will accept public comment through the Web.

After the listening sessions, NOAA will analyze the public input and develop a draft national policy for review and public comment. Once that process is complete, the agency will issue the new NOAA aquaculture policy. NOAA’s goal is to issue a new national policy that will enable sustainable marine aquaculture within the context of the agency’s multiple ocean stewardship missions and broader social and economic goals.

source: NOAA press release