The Biden administration, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA, has declared a substantial allocation of $20 million (equivalent to €18.9 million) in funding for NOAA. This financial support aims to bolster regional fishery management councils in their endeavors to address the challenges posed by climate change to fisheries management.
As per a statement released by NOAA, this funding will be channeled through the Inflation Reduction Act to aid the diverse efforts of these councils in climate-related fisheries management and execution.
Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, expressed the significance of the regional fishery management councils in shaping conservation and management measures for the nation's marine fisheries. She emphasized that this funding, made available through the Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act, a core element of Bidenomics, will provide crucial support for the councils' mission to enhance climate resilience and their ability to respond to climate-related impacts.
The $20 million financial package will be allocated in two portions: $3 million (€2.8 million) and $17 million (€16 million). The initial $3 million will be distributed among the eight regional fishery management councils, while the remaining $17 million will be granted to councils once they identify priority projects that align with two primary objectives.
NOAA outlines the first objective as the development of fishery management measures aimed at enhancing climate resilience and the ability to respond to climate-induced impacts. The second objective focuses on the practical implementation of these management measures, particularly in ways that benefit underserved communities.
Fishery management councils across the United States have already grappled with the repercussions of climate change. For instance, the New England Fishery Management Council has had to adapt its strategies for cod and haddock management in response to changes in fish stocks resulting from climate change. The Atlantic cod fishery in Maine serves as a stark example; it was closed in 2017 after reaching a record-low population and has yet to recover.
As early as 2018, a climate change report had predicted significant transformations in the U.S. marine economy due to shifting fish stocks. In the same year, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission adjusted menhaden quotas as this species began to appear in greater numbers in Maine, an occurrence believed to be a direct consequence of climate change pushing the species further north.
It's worth noting that the funding dedicated to U.S. management councils is not the sole government initiative addressing the impact of climate change on fish stocks. The U.S. Department of Defense recently granted funding to a researcher from Oregon State University to forecast how climate change might lead to conflicts over fishing rights.
NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit highlighted the significance of collaborating with fishery management council partners to confront the challenges posed by changing ocean conditions. These conditions are influencing the location and productivity of fish stocks, which can have profound social and economic effects on fisheries and the communities reliant on them. Together, they are committed to advancing their efforts to utilize the best available science in developing and executing fisheries management strategies in the face of climate change.
As per a statement released by NOAA, this funding will be channeled through the Inflation Reduction Act to aid the diverse efforts of these councils in climate-related fisheries management and execution.
Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, expressed the significance of the regional fishery management councils in shaping conservation and management measures for the nation's marine fisheries. She emphasized that this funding, made available through the Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act, a core element of Bidenomics, will provide crucial support for the councils' mission to enhance climate resilience and their ability to respond to climate-related impacts.
The $20 million financial package will be allocated in two portions: $3 million (€2.8 million) and $17 million (€16 million). The initial $3 million will be distributed among the eight regional fishery management councils, while the remaining $17 million will be granted to councils once they identify priority projects that align with two primary objectives.
NOAA outlines the first objective as the development of fishery management measures aimed at enhancing climate resilience and the ability to respond to climate-induced impacts. The second objective focuses on the practical implementation of these management measures, particularly in ways that benefit underserved communities.
Fishery management councils across the United States have already grappled with the repercussions of climate change. For instance, the New England Fishery Management Council has had to adapt its strategies for cod and haddock management in response to changes in fish stocks resulting from climate change. The Atlantic cod fishery in Maine serves as a stark example; it was closed in 2017 after reaching a record-low population and has yet to recover.
As early as 2018, a climate change report had predicted significant transformations in the U.S. marine economy due to shifting fish stocks. In the same year, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission adjusted menhaden quotas as this species began to appear in greater numbers in Maine, an occurrence believed to be a direct consequence of climate change pushing the species further north.
It's worth noting that the funding dedicated to U.S. management councils is not the sole government initiative addressing the impact of climate change on fish stocks. The U.S. Department of Defense recently granted funding to a researcher from Oregon State University to forecast how climate change might lead to conflicts over fishing rights.
NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit highlighted the significance of collaborating with fishery management council partners to confront the challenges posed by changing ocean conditions. These conditions are influencing the location and productivity of fish stocks, which can have profound social and economic effects on fisheries and the communities reliant on them. Together, they are committed to advancing their efforts to utilize the best available science in developing and executing fisheries management strategies in the face of climate change.
Source: Chris C. (Oct 27, 2023). Biden administration announces USD 20 million in funding for fisheries management addressing climate change. Seafood Source. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/biden-administration-announces-usd-20-million-in-funding-for-fisheries-management-addressing-climate-change
