Cool Ocean Stuff!

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Cool Ocean Stuff!

• Rick E. Marks
• Robertson, Monagle Eastaugh
• PSMFC 2013

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PSMFC Annual Meeting 2013

• National Ocean Policy/Climate Change
• Magnuson-Stevens Act
• Protected Species
• SHARK! MMPA ESA
• Catch Share Update
• Seafood Sustainability Eco-Labels
• NPDES/Ballast Permit Update
• Aquatic Invasive Species
• Sanctuary!
• Tribal Issues
• PSMFC Issues Grab Bag

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National Ocean Policy Update

• FINAL NOP Implementation Plan (4/13) Marine
  Planning Handbook (7/13)
• Focus areas CMSP, ECOSYSTEM-BASED MGMT, CLIMATE
  CHANGE ADAPTATION, HABITAT PROTECTION, ECOSYSTEM
  RESILIENCY OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
• Despite process/statutory uncertainty Senate
  letter of concern 6 House-passed amendments to
  defund the NOP -- the RPB process continues
• Senate WRDA incl. Natl Endowment for the
  Oceans
• NE MID regions lead Pac NW GOMEX slower WA
  developing CMSP Alaska not yet convinced

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NOP Learning through experience

• NOC/RPB convey NOP will not create new
  regulations or supersede existing federal
  authoritiesbut RPB process will inform
  authorities who must comply with the EO to
  protect/manage/restoreand this may lead to new
  regulations on federally-permitted activities
• RPBs have flexibility likely incorporating
  Governors Agreements into regional plans
• RPBs to develop work plans, charters, data
  parameters, operating procedures, stakeholder
  input mechanisms
• States can elect to opt out but a plan can
  still be developed for surrounding waters

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Climate Change Activities

• Final National Fish, Wildlife, Plants Climate
  Adaptation Strategy (4/13 See
  http//www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov/)
• The new Presidents Climate Action Plan (6/13)
  is a broad-based plan to cut the carbon
  pollution that causes climate change and affects
  public health. (White House, 6/25/13)
• Key Pillars cut domestic carbon pollution
  prepare for impacts of climate change lead
  international efforts to combat climate change
• Creation of a WH Task Force on Climate
  Preparedness

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Climate Change in the News

• Everest glaciers melting reduced 13 in past 50
  years (S. Thakuri, Univ. of Milan, 6/13)
• CO2 concentration in the atmosphere gt 400 ppm for
  the first time in 3 million years (NOAA Mauna Loa
  Observatory 5/13)
• Sea surface temps in North Atlantic highest
  recorded in 150 yrs (NOAA 4/13)
• UN Report 8/13 Rising temps 95 human-driven
  UN Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group supports
  need to protect marine biodiversity in high seas
  (8/27/13)
• State Dept to convene Oceans Under Threat
  Charting a Sustainable Future international
  conference (10/24/13)

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Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA)

• MONF3 5/13 platform for reform
• NOAA revises NSG2 NSG1 PR expected fall 2014
  after series of constituent meetings
• Data Confidentiality changes pending (77 FR
  30486)
• NAS NRC study Effectiveness of Stock Rebuilding
  Plans (http//www.nationalacadamies.com 9/5/13)
• GAO Study NMFS Stock Assessments (est. 3/13)
• NOAA initiates 1st year of rolling Science Center
  peer reviews Topic 1 -- Fishery Stock
  Assessment Processes (http//www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/
  science-program-review/index)

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MSA Activities House

• Natural Resources Full Committee Hearing NOAAs
  Fishery Science Is the Lack of Basic Science
  Costing Jobs (3/13)
• Subcommittee Oversight Hearing on
  Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
  (5/21 PSMFCs R. Fisher testifies)
• Full Committee Oversight on the Management of
  Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico Under the
  Magnuson-Steven Act (7/13)
• Full Committee MSA Oversight Hearing (9/13)
• OUTLOOK Informed by MONF3 hearings continue
  draft reform legislation fall 2013 activity to
  increase after mid-term elections

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MSA Activities Senate

• Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing
  Developments and Opportunities in U.S. Fisheries
  Management (3/13 PSMFCs R. Fisher testifies)
• Subcommittee Magnuson-Stevens Act
  Reauthorization (NE MA Regional focus 7/13)
• Chairman Begich (AK-D) to hold a series of
  regionally-focused hearings (possibly field
  hearings)
• OUTLOOK Hearings continue in 2014-15 a
  deliberative comprehensive approach likely
  wait on House action results of mid-term
  elections

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Protected Species 1

• CA Sea Lion (HR 1308 Rep. Hastings WA-R-4th)
  Endangered Salmon Fisheries Predation
  Prevention Act) introduced 3/13 hearing 6/13
  NOAA permits effective to 5/2016
• AK Sea Otters SW stable (orca problems), Final
  Recovery Plan (78 FR 54905) SC SE2X in 10yrs
  fishery conflicts increasing
• Final Report Effects of Salmon Fisheries on So.
  Res. Killer Whales (11/12) NOAA/DFO actions
  pending review
• NOAA rejects petition to delist So. Res. Killer
  Whale (8/13)
• CA Drift Gillnet Fishery to close w/1 sperm whale
  injury through 1/31/2014

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Protected Species 2

• Final Rule Delist SSL Eastern DPS EXPECTED
  SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013
• SSL Western DPS 9th Circuit upholds federal
  fishing restrictions (7/13)
• NOAA rejects petition to ESA list Ribbon seals
  (7/13)
• Recovery Plan North Pacific Right Whale (78 FR
  34347)
• BSAI Rockfish Trawl Fishery reclassified as Cat.
  II fishery (from III) due to KW interactions (78
  FR 23708)
• CA Sea Otters stable (3yr avg.2,800) USFWS
  terminates translocation (77 FR 75266) to allow
  for natural range expansion to reach 16,000
  animal goal one limiting factorwhite shark
  predation

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SHARK 1

• Sharks managed by NOAA for legal harvest
  practice of finning illegal since 2000 Shark
  Conservation Act 2010 adds protections CITES
  2013 adds 5 commercially-valuable sharks shark
  meat value
• NGO global anti-fin campaign morphs to ban legal
  shark fishing and use of shark products
• MD/NY/CA/WA/IL/OR/HI state laws inconsistencies
  with federal law over legally landed sharks
  w/fins attached to the carcass

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SHARK 2

• US DOJ files amicus brief in Chinatown Assn.
  case v. CA/Humane Society (7/13)
• Several drafts of House resolutions legislation
  opposing all use of sharks circulating in
  Congress (7/13)
• J. Environ Stud Sci (2013) 365-73 Science,
  policy and the public discourse of shark attack
  
• Shark conservationists press national media to
  decriminalize shark attacks
• Activities coincide with Shark Week 2013

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SHARK 3

• NOAA rejects 2 petitions by NGOs to ESA list
  North Pacific white sharks (7/13)
• State of CA considering whether to independently
  list white sharks
• Grey seal population triples off Cape Cod, MA
  attracting large numbers of white sharks,
  threatening tourism/fishing
• Online NE industry survey concerning mammal
  impacts MA State grant researchers tracking
  white shark behavior

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MMPA activity

• Time for the next critical conversation?
• 40-yr law, no amendments in 18 yrs
• NGO litigation over PBR ZMRG next?
• Starving CA sea lions absent OSP determination
• Mammals negatively impacting ESA salmon mature
  sturgeon
• Robust populations interacting with fisheries
  attracting apex predators to near shore waters
• State-Tribal jurisdictional issues
• NOP/Ecosystem-Based Management

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ESA 1

• House ESA Working Group formed (5/13) to examine
  possible improvements (last reauthorized 1988)
• Hearings Financial Impacts of ESA Lawsuits
  Settlements (3/13) Defining Species
  Conservation Success Tribal State and Local
  Stewardship v. Federal Courtroom Battles
  Sue-and-Settle Practices (6/13) Transparency
  and Sound Science Gone Extinct? The Impacts of
  the Obama Administrations Closed-Door
  Settlements on Endangered Species and People
  (8/1)
• I do think its important that we move forward
  with ESA reform and that we find ways of dealing
  with these conflicts in a manner that is not as
  litigation-driven and conflict-ridden as it has
  been. DOI Sec. K. Salazar 2/15)

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ESA 2

• USFWS defends settlements as a focus on
  recovery
• Spotted owls v. barred owls
• NOAA rejects petition to delist So. OR/No. CA
  Coho (7/13)
• ESA Plan Lower Columbia Chinook (78 FR 41911)
• Petition to ESA list whale shark rejected (8/13)
• USFWS PR to delist Gray Wolf (78 FR 54614
  comments 10/28)

• NOAA rejects petition to ESA list 44 species of
  AK corals (78 FR 10601 2/13)
• Petition to list Lolita under review (4/13)
• NOAA proposes CH for yelloweye, canary bocaccio
  in Puget Sound comments due 11/11/13
• Petition NP Humpbacks a DPS Delist? (78 FR
  53391 comments due 10/28/13)

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ESA 3

• Wild Earth Guardians petition NOAA to ESA list 81
  marine species using NOP EO as justification
  (7/13)
• Proposed Policy changes pending on what
  constitutes a significant portion of the range
• USFWS/NOAA PR to amend Sec. 7 regulations
  regarding incidental take statements and use of
  surrogates to express the amount or extent of
  anticipated incidental takes (78 FR 54437
  comments due 11/4/13)

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Catch Share 1

• New England IFQ upheld by 1st Circuit Court of
  Appeals (12/12 New Bedford/Gloucester 2011 case)
• West Coast Groundfish IFQ NMFS maintains
  existing allocations for Pacific whiting
  shore-based mother ship/catcher vessels (4/13)
• NOAA re-proposes AK charter halibut catch sharing
  plan (78 FR 39122 6/13)
• GOMEX Sector Separation-Allocation-Litigation-Stat
  e Jurisdictional issues complicate IFQ mgmt

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Catch Share 2

• H.R.2646/S.1275 Revitalizing the Economy of
  Fisheries in the Pacific Act to allow
  refinancing of 2003 West Coast Groundfish buyback
  loans (7/13)
• FY13 CR Senate rejects House catch share
  prohibition requires NOAA report on catch share
  processes in SA/MID/NE/GOMEX (3/13)
• 26-Member House letter supporting 0 FY14 funding
  for new IFQs in NE/MID/SA/GOMEX Natl fight
  continues over FY14 funding

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The Fight Over Your Fork! Eco-Labels Seafood
Sustainability
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The Fight over Your Fork! Eco-Labels Seafood
Sustainability

• U.S. fishing industry frustrated with NGO
  eco-labels approaches NOAA
• MAFAC recommendations expected fall 2013
• Multiple RFMCs support NOAA MSA-based
  sustainability label
• HHS/GSA/NPS announce policy to use only
  NGO-certified seafood products triggers national
  industry response w/ Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) in
  lead role

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EPA NPDES Vessel Discharge Permit Update

• March 2013 EPA issues FINAL VGP requirements
  for commercial vessels (incl. commercial
  fishing/charter boats) gt 79 ft for
  incidental/ballast discharges http//www.epa.gov/
  npdes/vessels
• Effective dates Ballast discharges 12/19/13
  Incidental discharges 12/19/14
• NGOs (NRDC, NWF, NW Environmental Advocates) sue
  EPA over Final VGP rule (7/13)
• Final sVGP permit regulations for all vessels
  lt 79ft anticipated fall 2013 effective 12/19/14
  litigation???

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Aquatic Invasive Species

• Western State (PSMFC) AIS Coordinators in DC
  (3/13)
• H.R.1823 to add quaggas to Lacey Act (4/13)
• 21-member AIS House letter FY14 (6/13)
• Rep. Thompson (CA-D-5th) co-founds Invasive
  Species Caucus (8/13) 1st mtg 10/13

• Senate WRDA has 30M AIS Columbia River Basin
  provision House WRDA activity pending
• AIS efforts continue Lacey Act legislation
  Lake Meade vessel monitoring decontamination
  AIS funding Caucus activities

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Sanctuaries and such

• CA Members (Boxer/Woolsey) lead campaign to add
  2,771 miles to Farallones Cordell Banks via
  Presidential Monument Authority (12/12)
• NOAA PR to amend NMSA regulations site
  nomination process (78 FR 5998 2/13 78 FR
  38848 6/28)
• CA Pt. Reyes Marine Wilderness Area Drakes Bay
  Oyster Co. vs. NPS in court over 40-yr lease
  termination (7/13)
• Who manages fishery resources in NMS to be
  clarified in MSA reform?

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Tribal Issues of Interest

• White House est. 1st Council on Native American
  Affairs (6/13)
• EPA announces 635M plan to clean Upper Coeur
  dAlene River Basin (9/12)
• Sen. Cantwell 1st female chair of Indian Affairs
• Graffiti of Alcatraz Occupation preserved by NPS
  (1/13)

• Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons in
  Trademark Act of 2013 to abolish Washington, DC
  NFL team trademark litigation ongoing
• DOC Final Tribal Consultation Policy (6/13 78 FR
  33331)
• DOC issues Draft Tribal Consultation Handbook
  (6/13)

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PSMFC Grab Bag 1

• House hearing on DOIs Secretarial Order
  implementing National Blueways initiative to
  designate/protect watersheds (7/13)
• Rep. DeFazio (OR-D-4th) Ranking Member, House
  Natural Resources Committee
• ANS TF completes 5-yr Strategic Plan (2013-2017)
  See http//anstaskforce.gov

• USCG termination of 2182kHz watchkeeping
  effective 8/1/13 (78 FR 42102
• NW Fishery Science Ctr 3-5 yr Strategic Science
  Plan (7/13)
• 25 fee Natl Saltwater Angler Registry (8/1/13)
• S.267/S.269 IUU International Fisheries
  Stewardship and Enforcement Acts moved by
  Commerce Committee (7/13)

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PSMFC Grab Bag 2

• NGOs lose forage fish lawsuit in SF District
  Court (appealed 4/13)
• NOAA Draft 5-yr RD plan (6/13)
• GAO Final Report on merging NMFS-FWS (2/13)
• New CA Marine Protected Areas (12/12)
• Navy to add 8 to Ocean Research AP (8/13)

• NOAA completes Allocation Report (1/13)
• Consolidation of NOAAs West Coast Regional
  Offices (not science ctrs) underway
• Bills to address GE fish issues H.R.584 (Rep.
  Young) S.246 (Sen. Begich) 2/13
• Law of the Sea Treaty sinks in the Senate (7/13)

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PSMFC Grab Bag 3

• NOAA report sport fishing has highest number of
  lightening strike mortalities (6/13)
• H.R. 753 (Rep. Young-AK) to prohibit EEZ finfish
  aquaculture operations absent permitting
  legislation

• USDA National webinar Offshore Aquaculture and
  the MSA (6/28)
• Peter Buffet on charitable colonialism
  conscience laundering (http//www.nytimes.com/201
  3//07/27/opinion/the-charitiable-industrial-comple
  x.html)

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