$1 Million to Partners in 10 States to Rescue Stranded Marine Mammals and Investigate Health Problems

NOAA’s Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) announced today the award of 12 grants to partner organizations totaling more than $1 million to respond to and rehabilitate stranded marine mammals and collect data on their health.

The federal John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program allows funding to be given to academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and state agencies that are members of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network and that apply for assistance.  A detailed list of the 2013 round of annual grants awarded is found below.

“The Prescott grant program helps support our stranding network partners and their life-saving rescue work to help provide humane care to whales, dolphins, seals or sea lions that are sick, injured or in peril,” said Dr. Teri Rowles, NOAA Fisheries’ lead marine mammal veterinarian and coordinator of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.  “Marine mammals are important indicator species of ocean health since they are top-level predators that eat many of the same fish that we do, and several species live in coastal areas utilized by people.  When marine mammals show signs of illness, they may be signaling changes in the marine environment that might have significant implications for the overall health of our ocean ecosystems, so monitoring the health of marine mammals provides vital information on the impacts of, and to, humans.”

The Stranding Network is comprised of trained professionals and volunteers from more than 100 organizations that partner with NOAA Fisheries to investigate marine mammal strandings, rehabilitate animals, and assist with research on marine mammal health issues. NOAA Fisheries relies on its long-standing partnership with Stranding Network members to obtain the vital information about marine mammal health needed to develop effective conservation programs for marine mammal populations in the wild.

Since the Prescott program’s inception, NOAA Fisheries has awarded 471 Prescott grants to 93 recipients in 25 states and 2 U.S. territories, totaling more than $41.8 million. Over the years, Prescott grants have enabled network members to make improvements to their operations such as: expanding response coverage; enhancing response capabilities and data collection; and improving rehabilitation of marine mammals.

Prescott Grants are made under Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which authorizes NOAA Fisheries to fund eligible members of the national stranding network through grants and cooperative agreements.

For more information about the Prescott Grant Program, details on each 2013 grant, eligibility requirements, and funding opportunities, please go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/prescott/

30-year old Atlantic salmon restoration program in the Merrimack River comes to an end

Based on continued low annual sea-run salmon returns and shrinking Federal budgets, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced it will end its investment in the more than 30-year old Atlantic salmon restoration program in the Merrimack River.

The Service has worked cooperatively with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S.Forest Service to raise and stock Atlantic salmon for the Merrimack River at two hatcheries: Nashua National Fish Hatchery in New Hampshire, and North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery in Massachusetts.

“This was a hard decision, but the science tells us that there is little chance that we will successfully restore Atlantic salmon to the Merrimack,” said Wendi Weber, the Service’s Northeast Regional Director. “While the science is driving our decision, our declining budgets hastened it. We need to prioritize. With the lack of success, we need to shift our scarce resources to priority restoration efforts where we can make a difference. ”

At today’s Merrimack River Policy Committee meeting in Concord, N.H., the Service and the committee asked the Merrimack River Technical Committee to develop a plan that outlines program next steps, including stocking the last of the Merrimack salmon that are currently at the two hatcheries, and options for continued Atlantic salmon monitoring in river.

The Service has already begun to shift resources toward higher priority restoration efforts, such as American shad. Both Nashua and North Attleboro National Fish Hatcheries raise shad that are stocked in rivers from New Hampshire to Rhode Island.

Today’s announcement follows a decision in 2012 to end the Service’s investment in Atlantic salmon restoration in the Connecticut River. In both the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, salmon returns have been limited due to poor marine survival, in-river habitat degradation, and dams that impede fish migration.
The Service continues to focus on recovery of endangered Atlantic salmon in Gulf of Maine rivers, which are the last remaining wild Atlantic salmon in the country.

New York's Lake Sturgeon Restoration Efforts Achieving Success

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced another milestone in the state's Lake Sturgeon restoration efforts. Researchers from Cornell University and the U.S. Geological Survey have captured two wild juvenile sturgeon in two different locations.

"This is a truly significant event," said Commissioner Martens. "DEC staff and partners in this effort have been eagerly awaiting this news ever since egg-bearing female sturgeon were first detected in stocked locations one year ago. It is a great example of how, with good science and great partnerships, we can restore a species that nearly disappeared from our state."

On June 12, a researcher at the U.S. Geological Survey's Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences captured a young sturgeon in the Oswegatchie River near the outlet of Black Lake. The 2 ½-pound, 25-inch fish was determined to be five years old. This fish is the only small wild sturgeon caught here for over 30 years and it may have originated from remnant wild fish in the system or from adult fish stocked into the Oswegatchie system over 20 years ago.

Jim Johnson, director of the Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences, said, "U.S. Geological Survey staff fulfills its scientific mission by partnering with states in restoration work like this. We are thrilled to be reporting this milestone."

On July 30, a second young sturgeon was captured in Oneida Lake by researchers at Cornell University's Shackleton Point Biological Field Station. That sturgeon, determined to be two years old was just over 19 inches long and weighed one pound. The capture of this fish indicates successful reproduction by fish stocked as six to ten-inch fingerlings. More than 8,000 Lake Sturgeon were stocked into Oneida Lake between 1995 and 2004. Biologists at the field station predicted that Lake Sturgeon would begin to appear in their walleye sampling nets once the sturgeon were about two years old.

Lars Rudstam, Director of Cornell University's Shackleton Point Biological Field Station, said "Our staff has worked closely with DEC to monitor the health and growth of the sturgeon population in Oneida Lake. We are proud to be able to move into this new phase of study with DEC."

Lake Sturgeon are the largest fish native to the Great Lakes and can grow up to seven feet in length and may weigh more than 300 pounds. Once abundant throughout the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain, overfishing and the impacts of dams and dredging nearly drove them to local extinction by the turn of the 20th century. Sturgeon harvesting, primarily for caviar, peaked in 1885 when tens of thousands of sturgeon were taken from Lake Erie. The commercial fishery for Lake Sturgeon was closed in 1976 and it was listed as a New York State threatened species in 1983.

Scientists estimate that Lake Sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes area are at about one percent of their pre-1850 numbers. DEC has been actively working with federal, tribal and university partners to protect and restore Lake Sturgeon throughout New York. DEC has raised and released more than 65,000 juvenile Lake Sturgeon since 1995. In 2012 and 2013, DEC received assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Genoa National Fish Hatchery in raising sturgeon for release in tributaries to the St. Lawrence River.

In addition to stocked fish, some natural recovery has been observed across the Great Lakes, the Niagara River and the St. Lawrence River. In 2009, Lake Sturgeon began using spawning beds created by the New York Power Authority near Iroquois Dam in St. Lawrence County.

"While we are pleased with the increasing numbers of Lake Sturgeon reported by scientist and anglers across New York, I want to remind everyone that these fish are listed as a threatened species in New York and fishing for them is prohibited," said Commissioner Martens. "Lake Sturgeon take a very long time to mature and reproduce. We ask our anglers to continue their role as environmental stewards and avoid targeting these fish."

There are simple steps anglers can take to prevent harm to Lake Sturgeon. First, avoid catching a Lake Sturgeon by staying away from locations where they gather for late spring spawning. Avoid bottom fishing with worms in areas where sturgeon are found. If one does hook a Lake Sturgeon, it must be released unharmed immediately. Avoid bringing it into a boat or out of water if possible and minimize its time out of water. If it must be removed from the water, support its body horizontally; never hold it vertically or by head, gills or tail. The hook may be removed with pliers.

If a sturgeon is tagged, it is important to note the tag number and call the contact number on the tag or call DEC at 518-402-8924 . For more information on Lake Sturgeon, visit DEC's website.

Is Your Upper Delaware River Fishing Guide Legit?

When you hire a guide on the Upper Delaware or anywhere else, don't make assumptions, check to see if your guide is licensed.

On the Upper Delaware guides are required to be licensed by up to three entities. 

On water that is 100% in NY, a NY guide license. 

On the border water of the West Branch and the Main Stem, a NY guide license is needed, and a PA license is needed to launch or take out on the PA side. 

On the main river a National Park Service license is also required.
  
National Park Service/Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River: http://www.nps.gov/upde/planyourvisit/fishingguides.htm

PA Licensed Guides List: http://fishandboat.com/chboat.htm

NY State Guide Licenses can be checked here:  http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/DECLicensedGuide/index.cfm

Newcomers to Fishing Hits All-Time High

Women and Youth Leading Growth for one of America's Favorite Pastimes

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (August 15, 2013) - Showing a resurgence in one of America’s favorite pastimes, the number of Americans who go fishing is up, with more than 47 million people participating in 2012. Adding to the 42.5 million who are current or occasional anglers, more than 4.5 million first-timers tried fishing last year, a significant increase from 2011 and the highest number of new participants ever recorded. The 2013 Special Report on Fishing and Boating just released by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and The Outdoor Foundation also shows significant increases in fishing participation among women and children.

”We’re extremely pleased to see the number of first-time anglers and overall anglers, continue to rise,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “Working closely with our industry and state agency partners, our collective effort is yielding well deserved results. Increased participation, in both fishing and boating, leads to increased license sales, and boat registrations, key sources for funding state fish and wildlife conservation programs.”

“Fishing and boating are among the most important ‘gateway’ activities that often lead people, especially youth, to pursue other recreation experiences,” said Christine Fanning, Executive Director of the Outdoor Foundation. “We’re thrilled to partner, once again, with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation on this important research project.”

The fifth annual report details fishing participation by gender, age, ethnicity, income, education and geography. 

KEY FINDINGS

Fishing Participation

• In 2012, 47 million Americans went fishing (an increase from 46.2 million in 2011).
• While 9.4 million people stopped fishing, 10.2 million new or returning anglers participated in the sport, netting a gain of more than 870,000.
• Americans made one billion fishing outings in 2012, averaging 21.3 fishing days per person.
• Forty-one percent of first-time fishing participants were female, bringing the total of female anglers to 34.4 percent.
• Adults 18 and older with children in their households participate in fishing at higher levels than adults without children.
• Fly fishing had the highest rate of first-time participants with 20.5 percent.

Hispanic American Fishing Participation

• In 2012, 2.8 million Hispanic Americans went fishing – a slight decrease from 3.1 million in 2011.
• Freshwater fishing is the most popular type of fishing among Hispanic Americans.
• Hispanic Americans fish the most often of all ethnicities, averaging 21.6 fishing days per year.

Youth Fishing Participation

• Fishing participation for children peaked between the ages of six and 12, then decreased during the adolescent years of 13 to 17.
• In 2012, 81.8 percent of youth anglers ages six to 12 were introduced to outdoor activities by their parents.
• Participation declined among females ages 13 to 17 more sharply than among males of the same age.
• More than 45 percent of youth fishing participants ages six to 17 also participated in boating.

The full study is available online at TakeMeFishing.org/Corporate. 

 

About The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
Celebrating 15 years in 2013, RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ campaign to create awareness around boating, fishing and conservation, and educate people about the benefits of participation. Take Me Fishing helps boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign website, TakeMeFishing.org, features tips and how-to’s that can be used all over the country, tools to compare different styles of boats, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

Teen Business Finds the Perfect Partner for Cause

db Paracord Launches Camo for a Cause™ Survival Bracelet

CROSSLAKE, MINNESOTA – db Paracord launches new product; Camo For A Cause^TM survival bracelet.  Starting in September, the db Paracord Camo For Cause^TM survival bracelet will be sold in 13 Cabela’s stores Nationwide.  The connection between Cabela’s and db Paracord was made by Damon’s father Bruce through social media and they continue to rely on social media every day.

“We are very excited to be working with a great outfitter like Cabela’s and expect that our companies will continue to work together and this will help db Paracord grow and support our cause,” said Damon.

Camo For A Cause^TM survival bracelets will be distributed at these Cabela’s locations:  Boise, Idaho; Hammond, Indiana; Scarborough, Maine; Dundee, Michigan; Owatonna, Minnesota; Rogers, Minnesota; Sidney, Nebraska; Hamburg, Pennsylvania; Buda, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas;  Lacey, Washington; Wheeling ,West Virginia; and Richmond, Wisconsin. 

Db Paracord’s mission is for you to show your passion for the outdoors and supporting your cause with the db Paracord’s Camo For A Cause^TM survival bracelet.  The camouflage paracord allows people to see that you love the outdoors and with the pink running through the core of the bracelet represents core belief; the fight against breast cancer.  db Paracord is  donating $.50 from every bracelet sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

db Paracord was founded by 16 year old Damon Billington in 2012.  Damon originally made camo and orange bracelets and gave them to friends.  After enough people began asking for bracelets Damon decided to launch db Paracord with the help of his four closest friends.  db Paracord builds custom bracelets, bow slings, fishing lanyards, and turkey totes.  The money raised from the team’s hard work will go towards their cancer charity and their college funds. 

When the Sun Goes Down the Mice Will Play

Who needs a cat when there are brown trout to keep the mice in check! 

Cool nights not for the faint of heart throwing fake rodents to hungry browns with our head Mouseketeer, Brandon Alexander. 

Booking half nights & all night trips. Give us a call, you can sleep at work: 914-475-6779 or visit us at www.flyfishthedelaware.com

New York's Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers Program

The DEC Bureau of Marine Resources is looking for help from anglers who target striped bass in New York. 

DEC needs to collect information about the striped bass caught by anglers to share with researchers and resources management agencies.  The Bureau of Marine Resources will provide volunteers with logbooks and small envelopes.  Participating anglers record fish lengths and other information about their catch and collect scale samples from each fish. (Scale samples are used to determine the age of the fish).  The participating anglers forward the logbooks and scales samples to the Bureau of Marine Resources. This catch and fish age information will be used to help determine striped bass populations and to develop management strategies for striped bass along the Atlantic coast.

You can find more information about this on the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program webpage.
If you would like to participate in the Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers Program, please email the DEC Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program at the Bureau of Marine Resources at fwmarine@gw.dec.state.ny.us .

New York State recreational saltwater anglers can also report their catch in a voluntary online angler logbook, called eLogbook. eLogbook has tools to help anglers document their fishing activities, compile their fishing data and plan more effective fishing trips. New York's recreational anglers can also contribute needed fishing data to researchers and resource managers by sharing what they catch, the sizes of their catch, and where and when they fish. Recreational angling information can be used by DEC and other coastal resource agencies to assess catch levels, estimate discards, measure fishing effort and determine fishery management strategies. eLogbook was developed cooperatively by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program and DEC Bureau of Marine Resources.

If you would like more information about electronic data collection or eLogbook, please visit the DEC Electronic Reporting web page.

If you wish to use this online logbook, please register and logon online at the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) web site.

Busted with More Than 1,000 Horseshoe Crabs in a Single Night

Arrests Lead To Felony Charges Against Horseshoe Crabbers

Three Patchogue men are facing criminal charges after a nighttime surveillance effort by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) found these individuals had illegally harvested nearly 1,500 horseshoe crabs in the course of one night.

"Across the entire eastern seaboard, there is growing concern about the impact declining horseshoe crab populations can have on migratory birds such as the red knot," Regional Director Peter A. Scully said. "Those who violate the law should be aware that DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers are skilled law enforcement professionals who will take swift action to protect the environment and vulnerable wildlife populations."

On June 2, 2013, several DEC ECOs were on a designated horseshoe crab detail on the Great South Bay in the Town of Brookhaven. At approximately 9 p.m., officers observed a white 18-foot 1998 Carolina Skiff with no navigation lights enter Swan River traveling northbound. ECOs initiated a stop of the vessel and identified the operator as Luigi A. Moscardino, 39, of Patchogue, Suffolk County.Numerous horseshoe crabs were noted on the boat and Moscardino was unable to produce a commercial horseshoe crabbing license. A total of 333 horseshoe crabs were removed from the vessel. Moscardino was allowed to keep 5 crabs as per the recreational limit, resulting in a total of 328 illegal horseshoe crabs harvested on the boat.

As Moscardino docked his boat and was being processed, another vessel just off-shore with no navigation lights was spotted by ECOs using night-vision binoculars. Two subjects, later identified as David J. Hartmann Jr., 33, of East Patchogue and Paul E. Sharkey II, 32, of Patchogue, were observed on the dark green 24-foot 1976 Angler as it cautiously made its way around the entrance of the river. ECOs proceeded to stop this vessel, and once again noted numerous horseshoe crabs on the vessel. Hartmann possessed a valid DEC commercial fishing permit for harvesting horseshoe crabs, and a valid Foodfish & Crustacean Dealer/Shipper permit. Hartmann did not have any 2013 DEC commercial fishing permits.

COs then proceeded to count and remove the horseshoe crabs from the second vessel. After nearly two hours of counting and four truckloads of crabs, a total of 1,107 horseshoe crabs were removed from the vessel. Hartmann was allowed to keep 5 crabs as per the recreational limit, and Sharkey kept 30 crabs as per the allowable commercial limit, resulting in 1,072 illegal horseshoe crabs seized.

The horseshoe crabs were trucked to several nearby sites and released back into the waters of the Great South Bay.

As of July 9, 2013, each bayman arrested was brought up on the following charges:

Paul E. Sharkey II -

• Possession of over limit horseshoe crabs - E Felony - up to 4 years in prison, and/or up to $5,000 fine and up to $107,200 fine ($100 per Horseshoe Crab)
• Failure to display navigation lights - Violation - up to $100 fine
• Operating an improperly numbered vessel - Violation - up to $150 fine and/or 15 days imprisonment

David J. Hartmann Jr. -

• Possession of over limit horseshoe crabs - E Felony - up to 4 years in prison, and/or up to $5,000 fine and up to $107,200 fine ($100 per HSC)
• Possess commercial limit of horseshoe crabs w/o permit - Violation - up to $250 fine and/or 15 days imprisonment

Luigi A. Moscardino -

• Possession of over limit horseshoe crabs - Misdemeanor - up to 1 year in prison, and/or up to $5,000 fine and up to $32,800 fine ($100 per HSC)
• Possession commercial limit of horseshoe crabs w/o permit - Violation - up to $250 fine and/or 15 days imprisonment
• Failure to display navigation lights - Violation - up to $100 fine

A recreational limit of five horseshoe crabs per day may be taken, but the crabs may not be offered for sale and must be for the harvester's own personal use. The commercial limit is 30 horseshoe crabs per day.

Before harvesting horseshoe crabs, individuals should be sure to contact the DEC Bureau of Marine Resources for current information on open seasons, permits and harvest regulations.

Additional information on horseshoe crabs is also available on the DEC's website.

Individuals spotting illegal activities are encouraged to call DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers at (631) 444-0250  during business hours, and 1-877-457-5680  or 1-800-TIPP-DEC at all other times to report suspected illegal activities

 

Volunteers Sought for Stream and River Monitoring

Wadeable Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) Project is Launching its 2013 Season

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is actively recruiting citizen scientists to collect biological samples from streams and rivers in the Genesee, Delaware, Hudson, and Mohawk River watersheds as part of the Wadeable Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) project to assess water quality.

WAVE data are used to augment the work of the DEC Stream Biomonitoring Unit, which samples streams and rivers across the state to create an inventory of stream water quality. Citizen Monitors will provide valuable information to assist in identifying healthy stream sites and flagging sites that potentially have water quality concerns. These data are included in federal and state water quality reports and help to target professional assessments and local restoration efforts where they are most needed.

Trained citizen monitors will visit streams between July and September to collect and identify insects and other small organisms (macroinvertebrates) from the rocks and rubble on the stream bottom, and preserve one example of each organism for identification by the WAVE Coordinator. If six or more of the "Most Wanted" organisms are found, the stream segment is assessed as having no known impacts and fully supporting aquatic life. If mostly "Least Wanted" organisms are found, then the stream segment will be flagged for possible investigation by professionals.

Training sessions are scheduled for July and August at locations in Livingston Manor, Sullivan County (July 15, August 7, August 21), Bainbridge, Chenango County (July 16, August 20), Port Jervis, Orange County (July 17, August 6), Angelica, Allegany County(July 29, August 13), Castile, Wyoming County (July 30, September 5), and Scottsville, Monroe County (August 12, September 4). For more information or to register for a training session, visit the DEC website.