Cool Ocean Stuff!
Rick E. Marks
Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh
PSMFC 2013
PSMFC Annual Meeting 2013
• National Ocean
Policy/Climate Change
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• NPDES/Ballast Permit
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Protected Species
•
SHARK! & MMPA & ESA •
Catch Share Update
•
Magnuson-Stevens Act
Seafood Sustainability &
Eco-Labels
Update
Aquatic Invasive Species
Sanctuary!
Tribal Issues
PSMFC Issues “Grab
Bag”
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. “Nat’l Endowment for the Oceans”
• NE & MID regions lead; Pac NW & GOMEX slower; WA
developing CMSP; Alaska not yet convinced…
NOP: Learning through experience…
• NOC/RPB convey NOP will not create new regulations
or supersede existing federal authorities…but RPB
process will inform authorities who must comply with
the EO to protect/manage/restore…and this may lead
to new regulations on federally-permitted activities
• RPBs have flexibility; likely incorporating Governor’s
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
Climate Change Activities
• Final “National Fish, Wildlife, & Plants Climate
Adaptation Strategy” (4/13; See
http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov/)
• The new “President’s 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”
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 > 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)
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/scienceprogram-review/index)
MSA Activities: House
• Natural Resources Full Committee Hearing: “NOAA’s
Fishery Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing
Jobs” (3/13)
• Subcommittee: “Oversight Hearing on Reauthorization
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act “ (5/21; PSMFC’s 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…
MSA Activities: Senate
• Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing:
“Developments and Opportunities in U.S. Fisheries
Management” (3/13; PSMFC’s 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…
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+; SE+2X 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
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 factor…white shark predation
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
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) 3:65-73; Science, policy
and the public discourse of shark “attack”
• Shark conservationists press national media to
decriminalize “shark attacks”
• Activities coincide with “Shark Week 2013”
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
MMPA “activity”
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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
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 Administration’s Closed-Door
Settlements on Endangered Species and People” (8/1)
• “I do think it’s 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 litigationdriven and conflict-ridden as it has been.” DOI Sec. K.
Salazar; 2/15)
ESA #2
• USFWS defends settlements • NOAA rejects petition to
as “a focus on recovery”
ESA list 44 species of AK
corals (78 FR 10601; 2/13)
• Spotted owls v. barred owls
• Petition to list “Lolita” under
• 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)
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)
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)
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 shorebased & 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-
State Jurisdictional issues complicate IFQ mgmt
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;
Nat’l fight continues over FY14 funding
The Fight Over Your Fork!
Eco-Labels & Seafood Sustainability
The Fight over Your Fork!
Eco-Labels & Seafood Sustainability
• U.S. fishing industry frustrated with NGO ecolabels; approaches NOAA
• MAFAC recommendations expected fall 2013
• Multiple RFMCs support NOAA MSA-based
“sustainability” label
• HHS/GSA/NPS announce policy to use only NGOcertified seafood products; triggers national
industry response w/ Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) in
lead role…
EPA NPDES Vessel Discharge
Permit Update
• March 2013 EPA issues FINAL “VGP” requirements for
commercial vessels (incl. commercial fishing/charter
boats) > 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 < 79ft
anticipated fall 2013; effective 12/19/14; litigation???
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
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?
Tribal Issues of Interest
• White House est. 1st
Council on Native
American Affairs (6/13)
• EPA announces $635M
plan to clean Upper
Coeur d’Alene 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)
PSMFC “Grab Bag” #1
• House hearing on DOI’s
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 (20132017); 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: Nat’l Saltwater
Angler Registry (8/1/13)
• S.267/S.269: IUU &
International Fisheries
Stewardship and
Enforcement Acts moved by
Commerce Committee
(7/13)
PSMFC “Grab Bag” #2
• NGOs lose “forage” fish
lawsuit in SF District
Court (appealed; 4/13)
• NOAA Draft 5-yr R&D
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 NOAA’s
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)
PSMFC “Grab Bag” #3
• NOAA report: sport
fishing has highest
number of lightening
strike mortalities (6/13)
• H.R. 753 (Rep. YoungAK) 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.co
m/2013//07/27/opinion
/the-charitiableindustrialcomplex.html)