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: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/05/05_10_12status_of_stocks_rollout.html?utm_source=Annual+NOAA+Fisheries+report+shows+record+number+of+fisheries+rebuilt+in+2011&utm_campaign=MAFAC+Announcements&utm_medium=email

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

National Standard 1 (NS1) of the MSA states that conservation and management measures shall prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield (OY) from each fishery for the U.S. fishing industry.

NMFS has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking  to provide background information and request public comment on potential adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines, one of 10 national standards for fishery conservation and management contained in Section 301 of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  This action provides the public with a formal opportunity to comment on the specific ideas, as well as any additional ideas and solutions that couldimprove provisions of the National Standard 1 Guidelines.

Before a plant or animal species can receive the protection provided by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, it must first be added to the Federal lists of threatened and endangered wildlife and plants. The List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants contain the names of all organisms that have been determined by the Services to qualify as ``endangered species'' or ``threatened species.'' After a species is listed as endangered or threatened under the Act, the Service that listed the species designates as ``critical habitat,'' to the maximum extent prudent and determinable, specific areas essential for the conservation of the species.