NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule today changing the listing of loggerhead sea turtles under the Endangered Species Act from a single threatened species to nine distinct population segments listed as either threatened or endangered. Scientists believe this will help focus their sea turtle conservation efforts to the specific needs of the distinct populations. NOAA and FWS share jurisdiction for loggerhead sea turtles listed under the ESA. “This division of loggerhead sea turtles into nine distinct population segments will help us focus more on the individual threats turtles face in different areas,” said Jim Lecky, NOAA Fisheries director of protected resources. “Wide-ranging species, such as the loggerhead, benefit from assessing and addressing threats on a regional scale.” “Both agencies agreed that loggerhead sea turtle conservation benefits from an approach that recognizes regionally varying threats,” said Cindy Dohner, FWS southeast regional director. “Today’s listing of separate distinct population segments will help us better assess, monitor, and address threats, and evaluate conservation successes, on a regional scale.” On March 16, 2010, the agencies proposed to list seven distinct population segments, also known as DPSs, as endangered and two as threatened. In the final rule issued today, five were listed as endangered and four as threatened. Two of the final statuses, for the Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean and Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPSs, were changed from endangered in the proposal to threatened. Scientists determined that the Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean DPS is threatened because the majority of nesting occurs on protected lands and nesting trends appear to be stable. In addition, some of the fisheries bycatch effects appear to have been resolved through requirement of turtle excluder devices in shrimp trawlers, and longline fishery effort has declined due to fish stock decreases and economic reasons. Scientists found that the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS is threatened based on review of nesting data available after the proposed rule was published, information provided in public comments to the proposed rule, and further analysis within the agencies. Even so, substantial conservation efforts are underway to address the threats to these DPSs. Retaining their proposed status, five DPSs were listed as endangered--Northeast Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Indian Ocean, North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean--and two others were listed as threatened -- South Atlantic Ocean and Southwest Indian Ocean.. Background Loggerhead sea turtles were listed as threatened throughout their range in 1978. In 2008, a biological review team of scientists from NOAA, FWS and the states of Florida and North Carolina identified nine biologically discrete and significant DPSs. Since then, NOAA and FWS have been evaluating threats to and the status of each of the nine DPSs, to determine if they should be listed as threatened or endangered. Under the ESA, an “endangered” species is “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” A ”threatened” species is “likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” On July 16, 2007, NOAA and FWS received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Turtle Island Restoration Network requesting that loggerhead sea turtles in the North Pacific be reclassified as an endangered DPS, and that critical habitat be designated. On November 16, 2007, the agencies received a second petition from CBD and Oceana requesting similar action for Northwest Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles. On November 16, 2007, and March 5, 2008, respectively, NOAA and FWS announced their 90-day findings that the requested actions may be warranted, and that they would proceed with an assessment of the loggerhead’s listing. This effort resulted in a formal status review of the loggerhead turtle in August 2009. The biological review team, appointed by the agencies, assessed whether different populations met the criteria for designation as DPSs, looked at threats to the turtles, and assessed the extinction risks for each identified DPS. Nine scientists with expertise in loggerhead sea turtle biology, genetics and modeling independently reviewed the team’s report. Following this detailed review, and an assessment in accordance with the statutory requirements of the ESA, the two agencies determined that the petitioned actions were warranted, and that seven other populations could also be identified as DPSs and listed separately as threatened or endangered. In March 2010, the two agencies published a Federal Register notice that included the 12-month petition findings and a proposed rule for all nine identified DPSs. Both agencies solicited public comment on the proposed listing determinations, and received more than 109,000 comments. Thriving 'Middle Light' Reefs Found in Puerto RicoConserving these corals may offer hope for shallower, degraded reefs
Download here. (Credit: R. Appeldoorn.) NOAA-funded scientists have found extensive and biologically diverse coral ecosystems occurring at depths between 100-500 feet within a 12 mile span off the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico. With the overall health of shallow coral reefs and the abundance of reef fish in Puerto Rico in decline, this finding brings hope that deeper fish stocks may help to replenish stocks on shallower reefs. These mesophotic ecosystems — ‘meso’ for middle and ‘photic’ for light — are the deepest of the light-dependent coral reefs. Too deep for exploration with traditional scuba gear, these reefs have until recently remained largely unexplored because of the cost and technical difficulty of reaching them. Advances in diving techniques allowed scientists to safely dive and conduct this pioneering survey. “We had no idea how extensive, vibrant, and diverse these mesophotic coral ecosystems are off La Parguera,” said Richard Appeldoorn, lead principal investigator at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez.
Download here. (Credit: H. Ruíz.) “At mesophotic depths in Puerto Rico, scientists are seeing fish species that were once common inhabitants of shallow reefs such as groupers, snappers, and reef sharks,” said Kimberly Puglise with NOAA’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, which funded the study. “These reefs stand in stark contrast to declining shallow water reefs in the same area.” Because of the potential of mesophotic reefs to restore depleted fish stocks, local managers are looking carefully at adding protections for these coral ecosystems. “We recognize the need to extend protections to mesophotic coral ecosystems in Puerto Rico, and the information being provided by this research is key to making that happen,” said Ernesto Diaz, director of Puerto Rico’s Coastal Zone Management Program.
Download here. (Credit: H. Ruíz.) This study, conducted by a team of scientists and students from the University of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Coral Reef Institute, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is a companion to a similar mesophotic coral ecosystem research program in Hawaii where these mostly uncharted ecosystems exist in the Pacific. More information on mesophotic coral ecosystems, as well as a NOAA-sponsored international workshop on mesophotic coral ecosystems, was published in the June 2010 edition of the journal Coral Reefs. New NOAA Buoy to Help Close Gap in Climate Understanding South of Africa
The Agulhas Return Current (ARC) Ocean Climate Station mooring preparing to be deployed on the South AfricanFisheries Research Ship Algoa at 38.5°S, 30°E, on the edge of the warm ARC southeast of South Africa. Download here. (Credit: NOAA) To better understand the effects of the ocean on global climate and weather, scientists from NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, or PMEL, deployed an Ocean Climate Station mooring — an anchored buoy —on the edge of the warm Agulhas Return Current (ARC) southeast of South Africa. Although there is an array of climate buoys positioned in the tropics, this is one of only two deep ocean climate buoys positioned below the Tropic of Capricorn; the other is located south of Australia. The buoy is part of NOAA's climate observation and monitoring efforts. “With this mooring, we will be able to measure how this powerful current warms the atmosphere and some of the effects this has on the local meteorology and climate,” said Meghan Cronin, Ph.D., principal investigator and oceanographer at PMEL. “More heat is released to the atmosphere in the ARC region than anywhere else in the entire Southern Hemisphere. This heating can affect winds, clouds and rainfall over a broad region.” The ARC is a western boundary current, similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and the Kuroshiro Extension in the North Pacific. With support from NOAA and the National Science Foundation, NOAA’s PMEL designed, built and deployed the heavily instrumented ARC surface mooring to monitor weather and compute the heat absorbed and released by this region of the ocean. Sensors include those that measure wind, air temperature, relative humidity, rain, solar and infrared radiation, barometric pressure, sea surface temperature and salinity, and near-surface currents.
Sea surface temperature (SST) simulation from NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) high resolution coupled atmosphere-ocean model. The Agulhas Return Current (ARC) mooring was deployed at 38.5°S, 30°E. The two drifters were deployed northwest of the ARC mooring in the core of the Agulhas current. Download here. (Credit: NOAA/GFDL) “The buoy will also carry sensors to measure how much atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed into the ocean in this critical region for the global climate system,” said Christopher Sabine, Ph.D., oceanographer at PMEL and participant in the ARC project. “Building a buoy to collect and transmit reliable data requires teamwork between the engineers and the scientists,” said Chris Meinig, director of PMEL engineering, whose group designed and built the buoy. “Because of the location off South Africa, we had to carefully design, model and build something that has a chance of withstanding the violent weather, steep waves and strong currents.” With the use of ship time provided by the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project, the mooring was deployed in 4,300 meters (12,900 feet) of water using the South African Fisheries Research Ship Algoa. Data are relayed to shore in near-real time and made available through PMEL and other climate and weather data centers. The ARC buoy is a member of the family of Ocean Climate Stations, which include Kuroshio Extension Observatory located east of Japan andStation Papa located in the Gulf of Alaska. These moorings act as reference stations for validating satellite observations and improving weather forecasting and climate models.
The Agulhas Return Current (ARC) Ocean Climate Station mooring deployed at 38.5°S, 30°E, on the edge of the warm ARC southeast of South Africa. Download here. (Credit: NOAA) The FRS Algoa also deployed two free-floating buoys, or drifters, provided by the NOAA Adopt-a-Drifter program, which will be part of the Global Drifter Array. These drifters measure surface temperature, current velocity and atmospheric barometric pressure. Students from Washington state and South Africa will track the drifters online and try to predict where they might go and why. Classroom participation within Africa is being coordinated through a partnership between NOAA, ASCLME, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment-Africa, the South African Weather Service and the South African Environmental Observation Network. NOAA Improves Marine and Weather Forecast Models for the Great LakesBridging Environmental Modeling with Technology Opens New Opportunities in Forecasting
Download here. (Credit: NOAA) NOAA is now using enhanced weather and marine forecast models for the Great Lakes that will extend forecasts from 36 hours to 60 hours into the future to better serve commercial and recreational mariners, the shipping industry, emergency responders, water resource managers and the private weather industry. The Great Lakes Operational Forecast Systemof NOAA’s National Ocean Service, which predict currents, water level and water temperature, is now running on NOAA’s National Weather Service’s powerful and reliable super computers. The super computers run around the clock, offering a more reliable computing framework to generate Great Lakes forecast models and ultimately producing more timely forecasts. GLOFS nowcasts and forecasts are online at http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/glofs.html. The National Weather Service provides customers with wind and wave forecasts in addition to weather forecasts for the five Great Lakes. Bringing the National Ocean Service’s forecasts under the same computing system provides the opportunity for customers to have access to Great Lakes predictions from a single source. “We are expanding environmental modeling capabilities within NOAA by leveraging existing resources and partnerships,” said Dr. Louis Uccellini, director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, a division of the National Weather Service. “This initiative will give NOAA customers better, more reliable and timely information.” This initiative is a first step to link NOAA’s environmental modeling efforts with state-of-the art technology and paves the way for a more seamless way to deliver environmental forecasts to NOAA’s diverse customer base in the future. In addition, this effort will aid NOAA’s ability to manage the nation’s marine ecosystems and it supports the Integrated Ocean Observing System – a federal, regional, and private-sector partnership working to increase understanding of the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes so decision makers can take action to improve safety, enhance the economy and protect the environment. “This initiative will lead to great advances in environmental modeling within NOAA,” said David Kennedy, acting assistant administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service. “Imagine a system one day that can help us provide more accurate and timely predictions for safer and more efficient marine commerce and also lead to improvements in ecological forecasting, such as the harmful algal bloom prediction.” | The globe had its eighth warmest August since record keeping began in 1880, while June through August was the seventh warmest such period on record. The Arctic sea ice extent was the second smallest for August on record at 28 percent below average. This monthly analysis from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions. Global Temperature Highlights: August Global Temperature Highlights: June – August Global Temperature Highlights: Year to Date Polar Sea Ice and Precipitation Highlights Scientists, researchers and leaders in government and industry use NOAA’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world's climate. This climate service has a wide range of practical uses, from helping farmers know what and when to plant, to guiding resource managers with critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets.
New Report Outlines Restoration Activities to Speed Seagrass Recovery in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Seagrass. The scrape injury feature was caused by the grounding of the N-Control vessel. Download here. (Credit: NOAA) Results of a five-year monitoring effort to repair seagrass damaged in a boat grounding incident suggest that restoration techniques such as replanting seagrass can speed recovery time. The finding is included in a new report released today by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series report, “N-Control Seagrass Restoration Monitoring Report Monitoring Events 2003-2008,” presents results of efforts to repair a nearly 1,000-square-foot (92.8-square-meter) swath of seagrass that was damaged on May 29, 2001, when a 45-foot power boat, the N-Control,grounded in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Seagrass beds are an important habitat in the sanctuary. They provide nurseries and homes for numerous species of fish and invertebrates and serve as storm surge buffers for the low-lying Florida Keys. However, shallow seagrass beds in the Florida Keys are being damaged by vessel groundings. In 2007, an estimated 217 reported boat groundings occurred in the sanctuary, with approximately 80 percent occurring on seagrass beds. Vessel groundings damage seagrass, leaving barren areas where marine life once flourished.
Birds stakes are a cost-effective means of providing fertilizer to newly planted seagrass shoots and injured areas devoid of seagrasses. Download here. (Credit: NOAA) Restoration techniques at the N-Controlgrounding site included replanting seagrass and installing stakes for birds to roost on. The use of stakes to attract birds provides a natural way to fertilize seagrass beds as bird feces are high in nutrients needed by the growing seagrass. Among the key findings in the report:
“This report highlights the critical science needed to understand and restore our sensitive marine habitats,” said Sean Morton, superintendent, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. “It’s also an important reminder that boaters need to know where they are going before heading out on the water to prevent groundings in the first place. Make sure you have up-to-date NOAA nautical charts, and always pay attention to the signs, channel markers and informational buoys.”
A quadrant from the restoration area three and a half years after the grounding event. Download here. (Credit: NOAA) Currently, more than 30 seagrass restoration projects are underway at the sanctuary. The full report can be found online:http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/conservation/ncontrol.html
Forecast System to Warn of Toxic Algal Outbreaks Along Texas’ ShorelineDecember 9, 2010
Karenia brevis red tide off the coast of Texas. Download here. (Credit: Chase Fountain, Texas Parks & Wildlife) Texas officials and coastal managers will now receive early notice of outbreaks of toxic algae that threaten public health and affect beach and fishing activities along the coast. Weekly bulletins generated by the NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System are based on observations from state partners, coupled with models, imagery and data from NOAA’s powerful tide and current and weather systems. “Early notification of blooms is essential, and knowing that a bloom is occurring offshore provides our resource managers with sufficient time to coordinate with other responding agencies and formulate a plan before blooms hit the beaches,” said Meredith Byrd, harmful algal bloom response coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The most common harmful algal bloom that occurs in the Gulf of Mexico is known as “red tide” and is caused by the algal species Karenia brevis. Occurrences of red tide have historically resulted in fish and marine mammal deaths, shellfish contamination and even human health risk in the form of respiratory distress. Economic impacts of harmful algal blooms in the United States average $75 million annually including impacts on public health costs, commercial fishing closures, recreation and tourism losses and management and monitoring costs. Recognizing the need to provide harmful algal bloom information on a more consistent basis, NOAA worked to transform this former demonstration project into a fully operational system. Earlier this year, test bulletins of this system successfully tracked and informed Texas officials about the location of a harmful Dinophysisalgal bloom that closed Texas’ shellfisheries. NOAA has had an operational forecast in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for harmful algal blooms off the Florida coast since 2004 and with the expansion of the operational system, analysts will be available to review conditions daily with coastal managers from all of the Gulf of Mexico states. The NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System is operated by NOAA’s CO-OPS, the nation’s authoritative source for accurate, reliable and timely water-level and ocean current measurements, in close partnership with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. Operational forecasts are also available for most of Florida and are in various stages of testing in other parts of the nation. To access the system, visit: http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/hab.
NOAA and Partners Assist Entangled Right Whale off East Coast of Florida
A team of state and federal biologists assisted a severely entangled North Atlantic right whale off the coast of Daytona, Fla., yesterday. The team successfully removed more than 150 feet of ropes wrapped around the whale’s head and fins, and cut portions of entangling ropes that remain on the animal. “We were very concerned about this whale as the entangling ropes appeared to be life threatening,” said Jamison Smith, Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Coordinator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “However, given the efforts of the disentanglement team we are optimistic the whale may shed the remaining ropes on its own, so we will continue to monitor its condition via aerial surveys and intervene again if necessary.”
North Atlantic right whale that a team of state and federal biologists assisted in disentangling on Dec. 30, 2010, off the coast of Daytona, Fla. High resolution (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.) A team from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission first sighted the entangled whale on Christmas Day, during routine aerial surveys designed to spot right whales in their only known calving, or birthing, grounds off Georgia and northeast Florida. These aerial survey teams alert mariners to the presence of right whales, enabling ships to alter their course to avoid potential collisions with the animals. This particular animal is a young whale estimated to be approximately 30 feet long and was born during the 2008-2009 calving season. Prior to this recent entanglement, it was last observed gear free by aerial survey teams off Florida’s northeast coast in February 2010. Immediately after spotting the whale on Christmas Day, an FWC team of scientists responded to the whale to further assess the severity of the entanglement and the physical condition of the whale. While on scene, the team was able to attach a satellite tracking buoy to the trailing lines.
Aerial view of North Atlantic right whale that a team of state and federal biologists assisted in disentangling on Dec. 30, 2010, off the coast of Daytona, Fla. High resolution (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.) The disentanglement team for this event, lead by Georgia Department of Natural Resources, consisted of land, sea, and air support from NOAA’s Fisheries Service, FWC, Wildlife Trust, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, and New England Aquarium. Disentangling a right whale takes a great deal of planning, expertise, and coordination among agencies. Because of the speeds at which the animals move and distances they travel, it sometimes takes days or even weeks under ideal weather and oceanographic conditions to safely and successfully free an entangled whale. Right whales spend their summers feeding off the New England and Canadian coasts, then travel to the southeast waters to give birth to their calves from mid-November through mid-April. Scientists typically document one or two entangled right whale cases in the southeast each year.
North Atlantic right whale that a team of state and federal biologists assisted in disentangling on Dec. 30, 2010, off the coast of Daytona, Fla. High resolution (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.) Fishing gear removed from whales in previous southeast cases originated from locations as far away as New England and Canada. Fishing gear removed from the whale yesterday included ropes and wire mesh material, similar to what is found in the trap or pot fisheries for fish, crab and lobster along the mid-Atlantic, northeast U.S., and Canadian coasts. However, the specific fishery and its geographic origin are pending examination by experts at NOAA’s Fisheries Service. With only 300-400 in existence, North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered whales in the world. They are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Vessel strikes and entanglement in fixed fishing gear are the two greatest threats to their recovery.
A team of state and federal biologists assisted in disentangling a North Atlantic right whale on Dec. 30, 2010, off the coast of Daytona, Fla. High resolution (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.) NOAA Fisheries Service encourages people to report sightings of dead, injured, or entangled whales to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-2-SAVE-ME (272-8366). All live right whale sightings should be reported to the USCG via Channel 16. |
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