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NOAA Proposes Interim Northeast Groundfish Rules

NOAA is proposing measures to govern Northeast groundfish fisheries beginning May 1, 2009, the start of the new fishing year. The measures strive to reduce overfishing, continue rebuilding of groundfish stocks, and provide more options for fishing businesses trying to mitigate the economic effects of the measures while the New England Fishery Management Council finalizes a major revision to the fishery management plan.

NOAA: Up to 5 million dollars in emergency aid to New England states for red tide damage

NOAA’s Fisheries Service today announced the states of Massachusetts and Maine will each be eligible for up to $2 million and New Hampshire will be eligible for up to $1 million in disaster aid to assist the shellfishing industries affected by this year’s closures due to the harmful algal bloom, commonly known as a red tide.

NOAA: Commerce secretary determines red tide disaster in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today determined that the economic effects of closing some shellfish fisheries due to a harmful algal bloom, commonly referred to as a red tide, in ocean waters off Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine has caused a commercial fishery failure.

NOAA: NOAA advises New England mariners to watch for migrating right whales

Right whales.

High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA’s Fisheries Service advises all mariners and fishermen to keep a sharp look out for North Atlantic right whales in southeast U.S. waters from Nov. 15 through April 15.

Each year, pregnant female North Atlantic right whales migrate southward more than 1,000 miles from their feeding area off Canada and New England to the warm, calm coastal waters off South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida to give birth and nurse their young. These waters are the only known calving area for the species.

Ship strike reduction rule aims to protect North Atlantic right whales

This isn't quite a weather story, but I figure most of us who frequent this website share a love for New England and nature at large, and figured you'd want to read a few slightly "off topic" items.  Click "Continue Reading" for more.  -Matt

NOAA officials today issued a regulation that  will implement new measures to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales.

The regulation will, for the first time, require large ships to reduce speeds to ten knots in areas where the whales feed and reproduce, as well as along migratory routes in between. The goal of the regulation is to reduce the risk of ship collisions with the whales.