Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, June 12, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, June 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 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.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a public meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council). A Federal advisory committee, the Council was created in part to foster partnerships to enhance public awareness of the importance of aquatic resources and the social and economic benefits of recreational fishing and boating in the United States. This meeting is open to the public, and interested persons may make oral statements to the Council or may file written statements for consideration.
DATES: The meeting will take place Tuesday, June 5, 2012; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, June 6, 2012; 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern daylight time). For deadlines and directions on registering to attend the meeting, submitting written material, and/or giving an oral presentation, please see ``Public Input'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The chairs and executive directors of the nation’s eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (RFMCs) met in Hawaii and concluded their three-day Council Coordinating Committee (CCC) meeting. The CCC is convened annually to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA officials and others to exchange information with the RFMCs.
NOAA's Fisheries Service released the 15th annual report to Congress on the nation's Status of Stocks. More than any a previous year, the Status of Stocks report for 2011 underscores the strength of the science-based management process and demonstrates we are actively turning the corner on ending overfishing and rebuilding our nation's fisheries. A record number of stocks were declared rebuilt in 2011, with a decrease in both categories of overfishing and overfished determinations.
To view the report click below:
The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, is searching for new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the ISAC. Members will to provide advice to the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) on a broad array of issues including preventing the introduction of invasive species, providing for their control, and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause.
Nominations must be postmarked by June 18, 2012.
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) will meet to discuss and provide advice on issues outlined below:
NMFS budget and legislative issues, aquaculture policy implementation and the Washington State aquaculture initiative, National Standard 1 advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, fisheries certification and sustainability, working waterfronts, revisions to MAFAC's Vision 2020 report, and current protected resources issues.
DATES: The meeting will be held May 22-24, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Teleconference will be held: Friday, May 18, 2012; 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Eastern daylight time). For deadlines and directions on registering to listen to the teleconference, submitting written material, and giving an oral presentation, please see ``Public Input'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
It has been reported a new safety measure taken by Toyota and Lexus will be put into place to deter E15 mis-fueling. The companies will be including a special label on gas caps on their new automobiles and will also include instructions in the owner's manual not to use E15 as the vehicles are not designed to operate on it.
Section 620 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 directed the Coast Guard to submit a survey of published data and reports pertaining to the use, safety and performance of blended fuels in marine applications.
The conclusion stated, "Although much information has been published regarding “ethanol in Marine applications a few studies with any scientific rigidity have been conducted to date. The four studies have mixed results, but raise concerns regarding the use of ethanol in marine engines leading to a conclusion that more testing is necessary. Because tests were performed on new engines they did not resolve concerns regarding the legacy fleet of older boats. "
To read the report click here: http://www.nmma.org/assets/cabinets/Cabinet213/USCGSurveyReportonBlendedFuels.pdf