NJ Introduces Half Price Fishing Buddy License

Resident or non-resident, save some money when you buy your fishing license and introduce or reintroduce someone who hasn't had an annual NJ fishing license since 2010. This could be a way to get your out of state fishing buddy a NJ non-resident license at half price while saving half on your license too. Or if you're a non-resident who buys a NJ fishing license, bring a buddy and you each pay less than a regular resident license costs.

Of course were talking about fishing here so there are a few hooks to deal with:

• Discount price is applied to both the current and “Buddy” license buyers.
• The Buddy fishing license is available ONLY at license agents; cannot be purchased online.
• BOTH anglers must be present at the time of purchase.
• Applies to both resident and non-resident anglers.
• Certified disabled veterans, National Guard personnel, senior license buyers (65 years of age and older) and residents over 70 (license not required) are not eligible for the “Fishing Buddy” program as they already receive special pricing through existing discount programs. 

For more info and clarity visit the NJ Fish & Wildlife webpage: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishbuddy.htm

Count Birds for Science during Audubon’s Annual Christmas Bird Count

Now in its 116^th year, the National Audubon Society’s  annual Christmas Bird Count will take place from December 14 through January 5. During the count, more than 72,000 volunteers from 2,400-plus locations across the Western Hemisphere record sightings of bird species with the data collected and submitted to Audubon for research on bird populations and environmental conditions.

For more than 100 years, Audubon's Christmas Bird Count, the longest-running wildlife census, has fueled science and conservation action. Each winter, citizen scientists gather in 15-mile-wide circles, organized by a count compiler, and count every bird they see or hear. Their hard work provides valuable insights into population trends for many species that would otherwise go unnoticed and undocumented.

“New tools, including apps, smartphones and map-based technologies, are making it easier than ever for anyone to be a citizen scientist,” said Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold (@david_yarnold). People who watch birds are seeing changes. By recording all those observations, they're contributing the information that's needed to make a difference. I couldn’t be prouder of the volunteers who contribute each year.”

To date over 200 peer-reviewed articles have resulted from analysis done with Christmas Bird Count data. Bird-related citizen science efforts are also critical to understanding how birds are responding to a changing climate. This documentation is what enabled Audubon scientists to discover that 314 species of North American birds are threatened by global warming as reported in Audubon’s groundbreaking Birds and Climate Change Study.

Last year’s count shattered records.  A total of 2,462 counts and 72,653 observers tallied over 68 million birds of 2,106 different species. Counts took place in all 50 states, all Canadian provinces and over 100 count circles in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands.  Four counts took place in Cuba and new counts in Mexico, Nicaragua and Colombia partook for the first time.

Snowy Owl numbers were once again above average, though mostly appearing north and west of the year prior with record highs for Ontario. It was the largest influx ever documented on the CBC in Canada, and very unusual for it to happen for four consecutive years.  Researchers are anxious to see what happens next as “Snowies” begin to make early winter visits in Minnesota and the Midwest this year. The tradition of counting birds combined with modern technology and mapping is enabling researchers to make discoveries that were not possible in earlier decades.
 
Northern Canada also noted record numbers of redpolls while Alaska recorded a Eurasian Siskin, a species normally found in the Eastern Hemisphere, for the very first time on Unalaska Island. On a less positive note, numbers of Northern Bobwhite, American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes continue to decline in most regions. These are all species of hedgerows and shrub lands that require food negatively affected by pesticides—and are also affected by habitat loss across North America. Shrub land and grassland species are among the most rapidly declining worldwide, and CBC results can help track how these species fare over the coming decades in the Americas.

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 when Dr. Frank Chapman, founder of Bird-Lore – which evolved into Audubon magazine – suggested an alternative to the holiday “side hunt,” in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds. 116 years of counting birds is a long time, but the program somehow brings out the best in people, and they stay involved for the long run. Remarkably the entire existence of the program can still be measured with the involvement of two ornithologists—Chapman, who retired in 1934, and Chan Robbins, who started compiling in 1934 and still compiles and participates to this day. The old guard may someday move on, but up-and-coming young birders will fill the ranks. And so the tradition continues.

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a citizen science project organized by the National Audubon Society. There is no fee to participate and the quarterly report, American Birds, is available online. Counts are open to birders of all skill levels and Audubon’s free Bird Guide app makes it even easier to chip in. For more information and to find a count near you visit www.christmasbirdcount.org.

The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more at www.audubon.org

Pennsylvania's 2016-17 Trout Management Plan

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has opened a public comment period for individuals to submit comments on the agency’s draft 2016-17 Trout Management Plan.

 

The plan can be viewed online at http://fishandboat.com/troutplan.htm. Comments may be submitted online at http://fishandboat.com/promo/form/trout-plan2016.htm. Written comments may be submitted to Mackenzie Ridgway, PFBC, 450 Robinson Lane, Bellefonte, PA 16823.

 

Comments will be accepted through Dec. 31.

 

“The goal of the strategic plan is to ensure that adequate protection is afforded to wild trout resources and that fisheries provided through the management of wild trout and the stocking of adult and fingerling trout will continue to provide excellent angling opportunities in Pennsylvania,” said Jason Detar, Chief of the Division of Fisheries Management. 

 

“The plan includes input provided by a work group that consisted of commission staff, anglers affiliated with a variety of sportsmen’s organizations, and independent anglers not affiliated with a sportsmen’s organization,” he added.

 

As part of the plan, 22 priority issues have been identified encompassing four primary resource categories, which include:

• management of wild trout streams,
• management of stocked trout streams,
• management of stocked trout lakes, and
• trout management in Lake Erie.

Shortnose Sturgeon Return to Historic Habitat After 100 Year Absence

Endangered shortnose sturgeon have rediscovered habitat in the Penobscot River that had been inaccessible to the species for more than 100 years prior to the removal of the Veazie Dam in 2013. University of Maine researchers confirmed evidence that three female shortnose sturgeon were in the area between Veazie (upriver of the dam remnants) and Orono (Basin Mills Rips), Maine in mid-October. Researchers had previously implanted these sturgeon with small sound-emitting devices known as acoustic tags to see if they would use the newly accessible parts of the river.

Graduate student C. Johnston and Associate Professor J. Zydlewski implant a small tagging device into a shortnose sturgeon (ESA Permit #16036 compliant, photo courtesy G. Zydlewski).

Among the most primitive fish to inhabit the Penobscot, sturgeon are often called “living fossils" because they remain very similar to their earliest fossil forms. Their long lives (more than 50 years) and bony-plated bodies also make them unique. Historically, shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon (a related species also present in the watershed) had spawning populations in the Penobscot River as far upstream as the site of the current Milford dam, and provided an important food and trade source to native peoples and early European settlers. Overharvest and loss of suitable habitat due to dams and pollution led to declines in shortnose sturgeon populations and a listing as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1967. In 2012, Gulf of Maine populations of Atlantic sturgeon were listed as threatened under the ESA.
 
Today, a network of sound receivers, which sit on the river bottom along the lower river from Penobscot Bay up to the Milford Dam, detect movement and location of tagged fish. According to Gayle Zydlewski, an associate professor in the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences, the three individual fish observed were females. These fish have since been tracked joining other individuals in an area identified as wintering habitat near Brewer, Maine. Wintering habitat in other rivers is known to be staging habitat for spawning the following spring.

After measurement and implantation of a small tagging device, graduate student L. Izzo releases a shortnose sturgeon back into the Penobscot (ESA Permit #16036 compliant, photo courtesy G. Zydlewski).

“We know that shortnose sturgeon use the Penobscot River throughout the year, and habitat models indicate suitable habitat for spawning in the area of recent detection upriver of Veazie, although actual spawning has not yet been observed,” Zydlewski said.

Since 2006, Zydlewski has been working with Michael Kinnison, a professor in UMaine’s School of Biology and Ecology, and multiple graduate students, including Catherine Johnston, to better understand the sturgeon populations of the Penobscot River and Gulf of Maine. Johnston, who has been tagging and tracking sturgeon in the Penobscot for two years to study the implications of newly available habitat to shortnose sturgeon, discovered the detections of sturgeon upstream of the Veazie dam remnants. Each new bit of information adds to the current understanding of behavior and habitat preferences of these incredible fish.

“We’re very excited to see sturgeon moving upstream of where the Veazie Dam once stood, and into their former habitats,“ said Kim Damon-Randall, assistant regional administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ Protected Resources Division. “We need to do more research to see how they're using it, but it's a tremendous step in the right direction.”

Habitat access is essential for the recovery of these species. The removal of the Veazie Dam is only a portion of the Penobscot River Restoration Project, which, when combined with the removal of Great Works Dam in 2012, restores 100 percent of historic sturgeon habitat in the Penobscot. In addition to dam removals, construction of a nature-like fish bypass at the Howland Dam in 2015 significantly improves habitat access for the remaining nine species of sea-run fish native to the Penobscot, including Atlantic salmon and river herring.
  
“Scientific research and monitoring of this monumental restoration effort has been ongoing for the past decade,” said Molly Payne Wynne, Monitoring Coordinator for the Penobscot River Restoration Trust. “The collaborative body of research on this project is among the most comprehensive when compared to other river restoration projects across the country,” Wynne said.

NOAA Fisheries is an active partner and provides funding for this long-term monitoring collaboration that includes The Penobscot River Restoration Trust, The Nature Conservancy and others. These efforts are beginning to shed light on the response of the river to the restoration project. Restoration of the full assemblage of sea-run fish to the Penobscot River will revive not only native fisheries but social, cultural and economic traditions of Maine’s largest river.

Guilty Plea in Illegal NJ Black Bear Killing

NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICERS INITIATED
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF MAN WHO STAGED FAKE KILL SITE IN NEW YORK

A Passaic County man pleaded guilty today to illegally killing a black bear in New Jersey, transporting it across state lines to New York and veiling the crime by making false statements and staging a fake kill site.

Martin Kaszycki, 36, of Ringwood, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre in Newark federal court to two counts of violating the federal Lacey Act for unlawful transport of wildlife that has been illegally taken, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers received the original complaint for the crime and conducted an intensive field investigation, evidence gathering and interviews before working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to bring the Lacey Act violations to court.

“We would like to extend thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for providing both legal and staffing support necessary to successfully prosecute this case as a Lacey Act violation,” said Mark Chicketano, Chief, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement. “In complex cases such as this, where the violator has gone through extensive effort to conceal their violations, the added enforcement penalties provided by the Lacey Act serve as a valuable deterrent against those who would make such attempts to hide their crimes.”

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Kaszycki killed a 450-pound, male black bear from an elevated tree stand in a wooded area in Newfoundland in Passaic County on Oct. 5, 2012, which is outside of the legal bear hunting season in New Jersey. Kaszycki set out bait for the bear within 300 feet of the stand and a used a bow and arrow for the kill, all in violation of New Jersey game code.

Kaszycki drove the bear to New York, where archery hunting was in season. He falsely told a New York weigh station employee that he had killed the bear in New York’s Sterling State Forest, resulting in the employee filing false information on a New York state Bear Data Form.

On Oct. 8, 2012, Kaszycki drove the hide and skull of the bear to a taxidermy shop in Pennsylvania for mounting of a trophy display.

After receiving a tip, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers confronted Kaszycki about the bear on Oct. 10, 2012 at his place of business. Kaszycki informed the officers he had killed the bear in New York. Later that night, Kaszycki brought the entrails of the bear to Sterling State Forest and placed them in the woods to stage a fake kill site.

Kaszycki was interviewed again the next day by New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers and he led them to the staged kill site, prompting further investigation. The officers also located the suspected kill site in New Jersey and confirmed it was the location through the testing of recovered DNA evidence by East Stroudsburg University.

“New Jersey has in place a Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy that manages the state’s bear population through a carefully monitored hunting season complemented by education and research efforts,” said New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda. “We will not tolerate activities that are not consistent with bear hunting regulations that are established within the framework of this management policy.”

The Lacey Act prohibits the interstate transport of wildlife taken or possessed in violation of any state law or regulation as well as the making of a false record for wildlife that has been or is intended to be transported in interstate commerce.

As part of his plea agreement, Kaszycki must pay a fine of $5,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lacey Act Reward Fund. He must also forfeit the skull and hide of the bear and pay $1,250 to the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Pittstown for the care and release of orphaned and injured black bears in New Jersey.

Kaszycki was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond with the condition that he not engage in hunting, pending sentencing, or renew any hunting license, permit or certificate. As a condition of bail, he was also ordered to surrender his current hunting license.

The charge to which Kaszycki pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2016.

New York DEC Proposes New Sea-Level Rise Projection Regulations

To better prepare coastal communities and business owners for extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy three years ago, New York continues its national leadership by proposing new state sea-level rise projections that will help state agencies and project planners develop more resilient structures, Basil Seggos, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. Public comments on the proposed regulation will be accepted following publication in the State Register through December 28.

"The sea-level rise projections DEC is proposing today reflect the best science available and are critical to Governor Cuomo's vision of a more resilient New York in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated whole communities that are still rebuilding," Acting Commissioner Seggos said. "Sea level projections will help state agencies, developers, planners and engineers to reduce risks posed by rising seas and coastal storms over the next several decades."

Governor Cuomo signed the Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) in September 2014. CRRA requires applicants for certain permit and funding programs to demonstrate consideration of future physical risks due to sea-level rise, flooding and storm surge. DEC is required by CRRA to adopt state sea-level rise projections.

DEC's regulation to adopt sea-level rise projections does not by itself create any new design standards or permit requirements. Project planners and state agencies will, however, be able to use these projections in project design, and routine permit and funding decision making, which will result in more resilient projects and safer communities to live, work and conduct business in. DEC is working with other agencies to prepare guidance that directs and supports thorough examination of sea-level rise, flooding and storm surge in several permitted and funding programs, as required by CRRA. The guidance will help project planners and agency staff select appropriate sea-level rise and flooding scenarios so they can plan for changing water levels and associated risks that might occur over the life of a project.

DEC's proposed projections are based on peer-reviewed research by scientists at Columbia University, Cornell University and Hunter College in the ClimAID study, which was funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The original 2011 research report and the 2014 update are available at NYSERDA's website (leaves DEC website.)

The ClimAID projections include consideration of the possibility of rapid melt of land-based ice on Antarctica and Greenland, which could result in significantly higher rates of sea-level rise than would otherwise occur. Subsequent reports continue to affirm the underlying assumption that ice melt will likely accelerate beyond historical rates of melt.

The proposed regulation provides a range of projections suitable for risk-based planning and review of projects of varying projected life times and risk tolerance. For example, the New York City/Lower Hudson projections range from a low of 15 inches to a high of 75 inches by 2100. Projections for Long Island and the Mid-Hudson are similar. By having a full range of projections, decision makers will be able to consider the possibility of more rapid sea-level rise when planning long-term land-use change and critical, long-lived infrastructure.

New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales said, "These proposed regulations are a critical step forward as the Department of State and other State agencies work to provide clear and consistent guidance to communities on how to address the future threats they face from sea level rise. These projections will help the Department work with its State, local and regional partners on the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and SmartGrowth initiatives to plan for and create a more resilient New York."

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Mathew J. Driscoll said, "Governor Cuomo is leading the way in making New York stronger, safer and better prepared for rough weather and high water. Working with our sister agencies, these new sea-level rise projections are an important step in helping us develop a transportation network that is more resilient and weather ready now and in the future."

State Senator Tom O'Mara, chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee said, "The Senate has shown a great willingness to address these short- and long-term risks and challenges with last year's passage of the Community Risk and Resiliency Act. It was overwhelmingly supported and requires consideration of extreme weather events for a large number of state programs and in the issuance of major permits. So we are a willing partner in addressing the range of these concerns with solutions like this one that are reasonable and effective."

State Senator Diane J. Savino, the Senate sponsor of the Act, said, "The Community Risk and Resiliency Act will play a crucial role in reducing our risks from sea level rise and extreme weather events. It requires advance planning for extreme weather events as well as the consideration of the effects of climate change. Taking full consideration of the risks from sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding will increase the resilience of our communities. I am very pleased that the Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed regulations to adopt sea-level rise projections pursuant to the Act, and I'm looking forward to a vibrant discussion of these proposals in the weeks to come."

Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation said, "According to the National Climate Assessment, 'the Northeast has experienced a greater recent increase in extreme precipitation than any other region in the U.S.; between 1958 and 2010, the Northeast saw more than a 70% increase in the amount of precipitation falling in very heavy events (defined as the heaviest 1% of all daily events). These statistics have been illustrated most recently by the devastating impacts of storms such as Sandy, Lee and Irene. In addition to the tragic loss of life, property and environmental damage, there is also a steep economic cost of extreme weather events and rising sea level. For example, the financial toll of Superstorm Sandy on New York is estimated to be at least $42 billion dollars. Sea level rise projections will help build resiliency into coastal communities and reduce risks to life and property by allowing critical infrastructure to be constructed in a manner to withstand future weather events."

Daniel Zarrilli, Director of the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency said, "Accurate science is critical to effective climate adaptation. By adopting sea level rise projections that are consistent with the climate change projections produced by the New York City Panel on Climate Change, the State is demonstrating a forward-looking approach that reflects the best available science. These coordinated projections, which also inform the City's investments, will support the critical work of making investments in climate adaptation and resiliency across the entire State."

Stuart F. Gruskin, chief conservation officer for The Nature Conservancy in New York said, "The state's release of sea level projections to implement the Community Risk and Resilience Act is another significant and welcome step to ensure that New York State is ready to face the changing climate. As we look back at the catastrophic impacts of storms like Sandy, Irene, and Lee, we are encouraged that under Governor Cuomo's leadership New York is affirmatively acting to protect our communities from similar devastation in the future. We look forward to reviewing the proposed projections and to continuing our work with the State to implement important programs that enhance resilience across New York."

Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters said, "These projections are the fruit of the Community Risk and Resiliency Act, which was a top priority for NYLCV in 2014. As we pause to remember the three year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy this week, this data will help us make smarter decisions as we strengthen our infrastructure and improve resiliency in advance of the next big storm. I commend Governor Cuomo and Acting Commissioner Seggos for their forward thinking."

Erin Crotty, Executive Director of Audubon New York said, "Audubon New York applauds Acting Commissioner Seggos' introduction of sea-level rise predictions as another step towards making our coastal communities more resilient in the face of future storm events and sea level rise. Some of our most vulnerable areas lie within the Long Island Sound and Hudson River estuaries, both of which are ecologically and economically significant to the people, birds, and wildlife of New York and the Atlantic Coast. Sea level rise projections will allow for proper planning to ensure the safeguarding of natural features, processes and irreplaceable habitat in our most vulnerable areas while ensuring the protection of our residents and communities."

Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said, "Governor Cuomo is showing strong national-caliber leadership to ensure New York is combatting climate change and preparing for its impacts. Scenic Hudson has collaborated with the Department of Environmental Conservation to help communities plan for rising sea level, identifying areas and property likely to suffer inundation and damage and utilities such as sewage treatment plants likely to be disabled by intense storms and associated surges. The DEC's new sea level rise projection regulations under CRRA provide crucial guidance that will help ensure that New York is building for resilience under the 'new normal' of climate change."

The proposed regulation and support documents are available on DEC's website.

Feds to Auction 344,000 Acres Offshore New Jersey for Wind Energy Development

Thirteen energy companies qualified to bid in lease sale

 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announced that 343,833 acres offshore New Jersey will be offered for commercial wind energy development in a competitive lease sale on November 9, 2015.

BOEM has awarded nine commercial offshore wind leases, including seven through the competitive lease sale process (two in an area offshore Rhode Island-Massachusetts, another two offshore Massachusetts, two offshore Maryland and one offshore Virginia). These lease sales have generated about $14.5 million in winning bids for more than 700,000 acres in federal waters.

BOEM has determined that the following energy development companies are legally, technically and financially qualified to participate in the upcoming New Jersey lease sale:

●      Convalt Energy LLC
●      GSOE I LLC
●      EDF Renewable Energy Development Inc.
●      Energy Management Inc.
●      Fishermen’s Energy LLC
●      Green Sail Energy LLC
●      IBERDROLA RENEWABLES Inc.
●      New Jersey Offshore Wind LLC
●      OffshoreMW LLC
●      RES America Developments Inc.
●      Sea Breeze Energy LLC
●      US Mainstream Renewable Power (Offshore) Inc.
●      U.S. Wind Inc.

The New Jersey Wind Energy Area starts about seven nautical miles from shore. A map of the Wind Energy Area can be viewed at http://www.boem.gov/New-Jersey/.  Additional information on the New Jersey Wind Energy Area and upcoming auction can be found at http://www.boem.gov/State-Activities-New-Jersey/.

In the meantime BOEM has invited all recreational and commercial fisherman to a workshop on November 4, 2015 in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ for BOEM to understand how the lease area is used for fishing. You can see the invitation here: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/images/marine/boemnj11-15.jpg

New Discovery Channel series “Pacific Warriors” highlights Kayak Fishing

Beneath the pristine waters of Hawaii, ancient volcanoes have forged steep underwater cliffs, resulting in the best deep-sea fishing in the world. For centuries, generations of Hawaiians have caught these monster fish from small, hand-made canoes, using nothing more than a fishing pole and their bare hands. Now, a rare breed of men and women – armed with just a sea kayak – are re-inventing this ancient art, and risking their lives to catch 100-plus pound fish. One fresh catch can reel in $1,500 dollars or more; but big rewards bring stiff competition. PACIFIC WARRIORS, an all-new series premiering Friday, October 23, at 10 PM ET/PT on the Discovery Channel, follows these brave adventurers who will stop at nothing to bring in their prize. The series is produced by Original Media.

Though these men and women survive and thrive by living off the ocean, kayak fishing is not for the faint of heart; even the slightest mistake can invite deadly consequences. The series follows seven teams as they train and battle it out on the rough waters. Using primitive means, the fearless fishermen and women are regularly taken on what they call "Hawaiian Sleigh Rides," which occur when they hook monster fish that drag them out to sea – sometimes as much as 10 miles or more. They also fend off sharks regularly, deeming them "tax men," which are looking for an easy meal.

Each fishing expert brings his or her own techniques and expertise to the craft. Veteran fisherwoman Kimi Werner’s style of kayak fishing is one of the most dangerous. Unlike the others, Kimi goes straight to the source by “free diving” to depths of 150 feet, where she hunts down her prey.

“Though being brave is part of the job, having an appropriate amount of fear and trepidation is healthy, and is what keeps me alive,” Kimi said. “It reminds me that I’m really so small and humbled in this big ocean. I think the people who forget that are the ones who end up in danger.”

The last pioneers of this ancient art face brutal conditions and bloodthirsty predators. Man versus fish is in their DNA; despite the risks, Pacific Warriors live for the moment when they hook their catch.

PACIFIC WARRIORS is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Media. For Original Media, Executive Producers are Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock, Lisa Bloch, Peter Goetz, Kelly Hefner and Bryan Severance. For Discovery Channel, Executive Producers are Joseph Schneier and Christo Doyle. To learn more, go to www.discovery.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery. 

About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. For 30 years Discovery has been dedicated to satisfying curiosity and entertaining viewers with high-quality content through its global television brands, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science and Turbo/Velocity, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery controls Eurosport, the leading pan-regional sports entertainment destination across Europe and Asia-Pacific. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

About Original Media
Original Media is a subsidiary of Endemol Shine North America and is run by Emmy award-winning producers Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock. Producing hundreds of hours of programming across unscripted and scripted television, digital media and feature film, Original Media has built a strong reputation for cutting-edge content and quality production. Hit series include “Swamp People,” “Dual Survival,” “Ink Master,” “Comic Book Men” and “I Love You But I Lied.” Original Media also produced the Academy Award-nominated films “The Squid and the Whale” and “Half Nelson.”

Fracking Chemical Released into Water Supply in Potter County, PA

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is issuing a Notice of Violation to JKLM Energy after the chemical release from JKLM’s Reese Hollow 118 well pad on September 18, 2015. The wellpad is located in Sweden Township.

The Notice of Violation includes:
• Failure to prevent pollution of fresh groundwater;
• Drilling through fresh groundwater with a substance other than air, freshwater or freshwater based drilling fluids; and
• Violations of Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law.

DEP has had representatives in the area almost daily since September 21, collecting samples, meeting with property owners affected by the release, and overseeing operations at the gas well. More than 60 individual water samples have been taken from residential water supplies through September 29, 2015. DEP is continuing to test and analyze residential and municipal water supplies for evidence of contamination.

DEP is also ensuring water supply replacement to affected residences, including the Cole Memorial Hospital, which was transitioned to municipal water sources as a precaution. The Department also participated in a September 25, 2015 meeting with the Potter County Commissioners, PEMA, Potter County EMA, Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport Borough, and JKLM Energy.

According to JKLM estimates, approximately 98 gallons of surfactant (F-485) was released to groundwater during top-hole drilling activities. This surfactant included isopropanol at 10-15% concentration, which is not approved for use when drilling through freshwater aquifers. The surfactant was reportedly diluted in 22,000 gallons of water and also included 35 gallons of rock oil, a paraffinic petroleum product used to lubricate the drill bit. DEP is working to verify this information.

DEP is currently in discussions with JKLM Energy on cleanup and remediation of the release. JKLM has also voluntarily suspended related drilling activities at the Reese Hollow site.

If residents suspect contamination with their water supply, they should contact DEP at 570-327-3636 immediately. Residents with impacted water supplies should not use their water for drinking, washing or bathing.

New Strategic Plan Targets Current, Future Challenges to Fish and Aquatic Resources

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a new strategic plan for its Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) Program that will address some of the nation’s greatest aquatic conservation challenges. The plan provides an overarching strategic vision that will guide the program’s annual operations for fiscal years 2016-2020.

Issues addressed in the document include habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation; overharvest; competition for water; introduction and establishment of invasive species; and climate change. Collectively, these ecological threats continue to pose significant risks to our nation’s aquatic resources.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long and proud history of conserving and protecting our nation’s fish and aquatic resources,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “The framework provided by the strategic plan will help us work with states, tribes, other federal agencies and our partners to protect aquatic species and their habitats for generations to come.”

The plan identifies seven interdependent goals, each representing a fundamental theme that is critical to accomplishing the mission of the FAC Program. The goals include:

• Conserving aquatic species.
• Conserving, restoring and enhancing aquatic habitats.
• Managing aquatic invasive species.
• Fulfilling tribal trust and subsistence responsibilities.
• Enhancing recreational fishing and other public uses of aquatic resources.
• Increase staffing levels, technical capabilities and natural and physical assets to fully meet the Service’s mission.
• Educating and engaging partners and the public to advance the Service’s conservation mission.

“The Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program is uniquely qualified to address the significant and constantly evolving conservation challenges facing our nation’s fish and aquatic resources,” said David Hoskins, Assistant Director of the FAC Program. “The strategic plan will help us direct our resources toward our highest priorities. As a result, we will be better positioned to fulfill the plan’s goals and will ensure the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program is fit for the future. We look forward to working with our many colleagues, partners and stakeholders to implement this new strategic plan for the benefit of all Americans.”

The plan builds on prior FAC strategic plans. In August 2014, a public comment period for the draft plan was announced on the FAC Program’s website. Comments were received from various individuals and organizations, including the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, eight U.S. states, seven federally recognized Tribal entities, Service staff, the American Fisheries Society, Trout Unlimited, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, National Fisheries Friends Partnership, National Fish Habitat Partnership, the Booth Society, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The Service’s FAC Program operates across the nation to recover and restore endangered, threatened and imperiled species, fulfill tribal trust and mitigation responsibilities, and conserve a wide range of fisheries and other aquatic resources. The program also works to restore habitat across the landscape, prevent and control invasive species, assist Native American tribes and other partners in managing their fish and wildlife resources, advance fisheries and aquatic sciences and technologies, foster outdoor recreational opportunities, educate the public on the economic and ecological benefits of aquatic species and their habitats, and address new and emerging challenges, such as climate change.

This complex conservation portfolio reflects the challenge of managing aquatic species at a national scale in the 21st century. The broad responsibilities of the FAC Program underscore the need for a focused vision and strategic plan to make smart, well-informed decisions that make the best use of limited resources for achieving the program’s mission and long-term conservation goals.

For information about the plan visit http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/pdf_files/FAC_StrategyPlan_2016-2020.pdf. For more information about the Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program visit http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/.