John Brownlee gives his laundry list to President Obama’s fishery team for his second term. He addresses adequate science, arbitrary closures, catch shares and allocations. 

To read the Opinion from the Editor click here

As the first TWICs approach their expiration date, TSA has been contacted by a number of stakeholders interested in establishing mobile enrollment and activation services at their facilities. TSA understands the flexibility that mobile enrollment and activation services provide, not only for TWIC renewals, but for the recently started Extended Expiration Date (EED) TWIC. TWIC enrollment services will soon transition to a new contractor, MorphoTrust, under a Universal Enrollment Services (UES) contract. The UES contract will include enhanced mobile enrollment services, Enroll Your Own (EYO), and bulk payment arrangements.

NACO'S Legislative Work Brings About Positive Results  
The major push for NACO in this bill was to exempt COI Passenger carrying vessels from having to replace their current life rafts with inflatables. These inflatable life rafts carry a hefty price tag along with expensive inspections from private companies.

This bill initially passed the House in November 2011. The Senate adopted a revised version of the House measure in September and yesterday’s measure, which passed by voice vote, reflects a resolution of the differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills. The measure now goes back to the Senate.
 
NACO and other industry groups worked together and although this bill does not give an exemption, if approved and signed by the President, the bill requires a detailed report to congress on the need for this action, that NACO requested. We are hopeful the study will provide evidence supporting our position of an unneeded requirement that would cost our industry excessive money to implement and maintain. Depending on the details of the report it could open the door to the possibility of that portion being rescinded.
 
Below is the section of the bill that addresses our issue.

Nominations are being solicited for appointment to a Recreational Fisheries Working Group of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will be appointed by MAFAC in consultation with NOAA and will serve for an initial term of up to two years, with the option to apply to be re-appointed. The term would begin in February or March 2013. Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in the management or business of recreational fishing and/or fisheries science; a well-informed background in recreational fisheries issues; an operational knowledge of federal agencies and interactions with the Fishery Management Councils and/or regional and state partners; and be able to fulfill the time commitments required for up to two annual meetings.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before January 9, 2013, via mail or email.

NOAA Fisheries announced the appointment of Dr. Jason Link as the agency's first-ever Senior Scientist for Ecosystem-Based Management. To support our ecosystem-based management goals, Jason will be the agency's senior-most authority on ecosystem science, leading approaches and developing a suite of scientific support tools to help us better frame our management decisions. A key piece of this will be support tools for ecosystem pilot programs--a NOAA priority under the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act--that will enhance management plans in all areas of the country. 

In the U.S. alone there are 28 million small business owners that create two out of every three new jobs in America. SBA continually strives to ensure that small business entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need for their business, including information on startup how to's, marketing, financing, contracting and more. With this in mind, SBA has launched a new online learning center.

Features include:

NOAA has long been concerned about the potential for a gap in polar satellite coverage in the afternoon orbit. In addition to reports from Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office on this topic, NOAA has also convened an Independent Review Team (IRT) to review the progress of our satellite programs and identify the challenges ahead. These reports have all substantiated NOAA's concerns regarding the gap.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) in Santa Cruz, California.

The meeting will be held Tuesday, December 5, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday, December 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Refer to the web page listed below for the most up-to-date meeting agenda.

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast Region Permit Family of Forms

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 14, 2013.

A Few Simple Steps to “Pickling” Your Engine

Over the years the BoatU.S. insurance technical staff has directed the recovery of hundreds of vessels which have been sunk. They found that the opportunity to save the expensive engine is relatively easy if it’s done promptly and properly. While it is certainly preferable to have a mechanic salvage an engine, this may not be possible immediately after a hurricane. It may be up to you to protect your property.

Salvaging Your Engine

Machinery left under water too long corrodes. Machinery submerged in salt water corrodes much faster than in fresh water (and is more vulnerable to electrolysis or galvanic action). Generally, you want to raise the boat as soon as possible, certainly within a few days, but …