Farm Foundation

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO EVALUATE THE IMPACTS OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT ON COMMERCIAL FISH SPECIES AND BENTHIC HABITATS AND COMMUNITIES USING A SUITE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART, NON-LETHAL SURVEY METHODS INCLUDING AN OPEN COD-END VIDEO TRAWL, A TOWED OFF-BOTTOM OPTICAL SURVEY VEHICLE, AND ANCHORED AND ROPELESS STATIONARY CAMERA SYSTEMS. SURVEYS WILL BE CONDUCTED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER WIND FARM CONSTRUCTION TO PROVIDE DATA ON CHANGES IN COMMERCIAL FISH AND MARINE INVERTEBRATE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF BOTH TO HABITAT CHANGES, THE PRESENCE OF NEW STRUCTURES (TURBINE BASES), AND CHANGING UNDERWATER NOISE LEVELS. THROUGH USE OF MULTIPLE NON-LETHAL OPTICAL SURVEY METHODS, THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE HABITATS AND COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE IMPACTED BY OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT OFF MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. IN ADDITION, AUTOMATED DETECTORS FOR TWENTY-FOUR FISH AND INVERTEBRATE SPECIES, CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO THE REGION, WILL BE DEVELOPED USING THE IMAGERY COLLECTED DURING THE SURVEYS. PROJECT EFFORTS WILL RESULT IN A NEW METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR MONITORING MARINE SPECIES IN WIND FARMS USING OPTICAL SURVEYS, INCLUDING PREFERRED SURVEY DESIGNS, FREELY AVAILABLE AUTOMATED DETECTORS AND IMAGE SETS FOR TRAINING NEW MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS, AND SCHEMATICS FOR ANY NEW GEAR DESIGNS.

COONAMESSETT FARM FOUNDATION IS PROPOSING A PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE MASSACHUSETTS FISHERS WITH THE NECESSARY TRAINING TO FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR ABILITY TO COLLECT AND DISSEMINATE OCEANOGRAPHIC AND FISHERIES DATA. THIS WILL UTILIZE THEIR ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE TO ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVES TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE THE DATA, PRODUCING PRODUCTS THAT WILL INFORM FISHERS ON EXISTING AND PROJECTED OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ECOLOGICAL TRENDS. IN TURN, THIS WILL PROVIDE FISHERS WITH A BROAD RANGE OF SUPPORT, ENABLING THEM TO BE MORE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, AND INCREASING THE INDUSTRYS ADAPTABILITY AND RESILIENCE. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP, SUPPORT, AND PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR FISHERMEN TO BETTER ENABLE THEM TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING CLIMATE AND OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

AG SCHOLARS EFFORT -

FARMOS PODS: TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE AND FARM RECORD MANAGEMENT

TO DEVELOP A PROCESS THAT UTILIZES CITIZEN SCIENCE TO DOCUMENT ACTUALPRACTICE IMPLEMENTATION COST, AND PROVIDE STATISTICALLY SOUND COST DATATO INTERESTED PARTIES.

TO EXPAND MANAGED GRAZING IN NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK THROUGH A COALITION OF GRAZING-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS.

THE DWH OIL SPILL HAD A LARGE IMPACT ON NORTHERN GANNETS AND GREAT SHEARWATERS. REDUCING INCIDENTAL MORTALITY EXPERIENCED AT SEA SUCH AS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES SEABIRD BYCATCH CAN HELP RESTORE THESE INJURED SPECIES. THIS PROJECT WILL WORK WITH FISHERIES IN WHICH THERE IS A RISK OF SEABIRD BYCATCH TO 1 IDENTIFY AREAS AND TIMES WHEN SEABIRD INTERACTIONS ARE MOST INTENSE AND 2 TEST VOLUNTARY FISHING PRACTICE MODIFICATIONS TO REDUCE SEABIRD BYCATCH. THIS PROJECT WILL INCORPORATE EDUCATION TRAINING AND OUTREACH AND DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH FISHERIES LOCATED IN U.S. ATLANTIC AREAS OPERATING OUT OF CHATHAM MA. IN ADDITION TO QUANTIFYING THE EFFICACY OF SEABIRD BYCATCH REDUCTION STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE CRITERIA WILL INCLUDE THAT TARGET CATCH LEVELS BE MAINTAINED AND OR CATCH EFFICIENCY BE IMPROVED E.G. LESS TIME LOST TO REMOVAL OF NON TARGET BYCATCH LESS BAIT LOST REDUCTIONS IN DAMAGE TO FISHING GEAR. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE SHARED BROADLY THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH FISHERMEN BY PARTNERS AND USED TO PROMOTE VOLUNTARY ADOPTION OF SEABIRD BYCATCH REDUCTION STRATEGIES ACROSS THE REGIONS WHERE THE INJURED SPECIES ARE AT RISK. FURTHER INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH THIS PROJECT INCLUDING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMERCIAL FISHERIES WILL BE SHARED WITH OBSERVER PROGRAMS TO HELP INFORM OBSERVER PROTOCOLS AND IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS.

WOLFE`S NECK FARM DAIRY FARMER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

INVESTIGATING OFFSHORE ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WINTER FLOUNDER

IMPROVING OCEANOGRAPHIC MODELS OF BOTTOM TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT THROUGH NOVEL DATA ASSIMILATION AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT

DEVELOPING A METHOD FOR ASSESSING BLUELINE (CAULOLATILUS MICROPS) AND GOLDEN (LOPHOLATILUS CHAMAELEONTICEPS) TILEFISH STOCKS USING A BAITED UNDERWATE

IMPROVING AN ECOSYSTEM FRIENDLY SCALLOP DREDGE

TESTING SELECTIVITY AND RAISED WEBBING GILLNETS ON TARGET AND NON-TARGET SPECIES IN THE NORTHEAST HADDOCK FISHERY

IMPROVING THE UNDERSTANDING OF SEA TURTLE ENTANGLEMENT IN VERTICAL LINES

HOW WILL FARMING BE ORGANIZED?

EXAMINING THE MOVEMENT ECOLOGY AND HABITAT UTILIZATION OF BLACK SEA BASS (CENTROPRISTIS STRIATA) IN CHESAPEAKE BAY USING TELEMETRY TECHNIQUES

AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY: DEVELOPING A RESEARCH AGENDA

ABSTRACT: THROUGH THIS FUNDING, WE PLAN TO EXTEND EXISTING PROJECTS TO ADDRESS SEA TURTLE RESEARCH GOALS RELATED TO A NATIONAL CENTERS FOR COASTAL OCEAN SCIENCE (NCCOS) AND NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) PROJECT ON ASSESSING MULTI-SPECIES HABITAT USE AND CONNECTIVITY OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE GULF OF MAINE. THE FIRST FOUNDATIONAL (AND PRE-EXISTING) OBJECTIVE INVOLVES STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS OF TISSUES COLLECTED COLLABORATIVELY FROM COLD STUNNED SEA TURTLES. THE SECOND FOUNDATIONAL (AND PRE-EXISTING) OBJECTIVE INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF SEA TURTLES WITHIN MASSACHUSETTS WATERS.

A MODIFIED FOOT SWEEP FOR BYCATCH REDUCTION IN THE LA SCALLOP FISHERY

REVIEW OF THE FEDERAL MARKETING PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURE

ENHANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE POLICY ON THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

HOW WILL FARMING BE ORGANIZED?

TO SUPPORT A CULTURAL DISTRICT MASTERPLAN IN HUNTINGTON.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

ANALYZING AND OPTIMIZING U.S. CARBON SINKS IN THE 21ST CENTURY - 1. DOCUMENT THE SURVIVAL AND LONGEVITY OF SPOTTED AND MEADOW KNAPWEED SEED IN THE SOIL SEED BANK, AND MONITOR THE POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY OF SPOTTED AND MEADOW KNAPWEED IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW VARIOUS LIFE STAGES CONTRIBUTE TO POPULATION GROWTH. 2. DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF HABITAT AND BIOCONTROL AGENT DAMAGE ON PLANT PERFORMANCE AND FIELD DENSITIES OF BLACK AND PALE SWALLOW-WORT.

THE FARM FOUNDATION AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS & TRADE FELLOW PROGRAM, UNDERTAKEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE USDA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST (OCE), IS DESIGNED TO NURTURE EMERGING LEADERS AND WILL PROVIDE A POST-PH.D. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST A UNIQUE 12-MONTH OPPORTUNITY TO BE MENTORED AND MENTOR, PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING APPEARANCES, EXPAND THEIR NETWORK, MANAGE HIGH-VISIBILITY PROJECTS, AND ELEVATE THEIR STATURE IN THE FOOD AND AG COMMUNITY. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST CENTURY, THE APPLIED SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS HAS GROWN IN BOTH INFLUENCE AND IMPACT IN THE AREAS OF FOOD, TRADE, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. AG ECONOMISTS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND ACADEMIA, BUT BECAUSE CAREERS IN THIS AREA OFTEN REQUIRE ADVANCED DEGREES AND TRAINING, THEIR RANKS HAVE BEEN SHRINKING. THE PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM EFFORTS TO NURTURE NEW LEADERS IN ECONOMICS, AS THESE LEADERS PROVIDE OBJECTIVE, DATA-DRIVEN INFORMATION TO ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES FACING THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR IS IMPERATIVE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES.

THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO NURTURE EMERGING LEADERS, AND WILL PROVIDE A POST-PH.D. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST A UNIQUE 12-MONTH OPPORTUNITY TO BE MENTORED AND MENTOR, PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING APPEARANCES, EXPAND THEIR NETWORK, MANAGE HIGH-VISIBILITY PROJECTS, AND ELEVATE THEIR STATURE IN THE FOOD AND AG COMMUNITY.

THE FARM FOUNDATION AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS & TRADE FELLOW PROGRAM, UNDERTAKEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE USDA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST (OCE), IS DESIGNED TO NURTURE EMERGING LEADERS AND WILL PROVIDE A POST-PH.D. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST A UNIQUE 12-MONTH OPPORTUNITY TO BE MENTORED AND MENTOR, PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING APPEARANCES, EXPAND THEIR NETWORK, MANAGE HIGH-VISIBILITY PROJECTS, AND ELEVATE THEIR STATURE IN THE FOOD AND AG COMMUNITY. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST CENTURY, THE APPLIED SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS HAS GROWN IN BOTH INFLUENCE AND IMPACT IN THE AREAS OF FOOD, TRADE, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. AG ECONOMISTS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND ACADEMIA, BUT BECAUSE CAREERS IN THIS AREA OFTEN REQUIRE ADVANCED DEGREES AND TRAINING, THEIR RANKS HAVE BEEN SHRINKING. THE PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM EFFORTS TO NURTURE NEW LEADERS IN ECONOMICS, AS THESE LEADERS PROVIDE OBJECTIVE, DATA-DRIVEN INFORMATION TO ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES FACING THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR IS IMPERATIVE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES.

THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO NURTURE EMERGING LEADERS, AND WILL PROVIDE A POST-PH.D. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST A UNIQUE 12-MONTH OPPORTUNITY TO BE MENTORED AND MENTOR, PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING APPEARANCES, EXPAND THEIR NETWORK, MANAGE HIGH-VISIBILITY PROJECTS, AND ELEVATE THEIR STATURE IN THE FOOD AND AG COMMUNITY.

EVIDENCE AND IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RESEARCH AND AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

FEEDING A GROWING WORLD: THE 30 YEAR CHALLENGE FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY

USING CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIOS TO PROJECT LOGGERHEAD TURTLE DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE U.S. MID-ATLANTIC

WORKSHOPS ON SCIENCE POLICY FOR THE 21ST CENTRY: LESSONS FROM NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEMS

SUCCESSFUL DATA COLLECTION FROM COMPLEX FARMING ORGANIZATIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY

ENHANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMICS OF PREVENTING AND MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE INVASIVE

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

THE PACIFIC FOOD SYSTEMN OUTLOOK

CONFERENCE:EMERGIN ISSUES IN GLOBAL ANIMAL PRODUCT TRADE/THEME:ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS ON GLOBAL MEAT, POULTRY AND DAIRY TRAD

HOW WILL FARMING BE ORGANIZED?

SUCCESSFUL DATA COLLECTION FROM COMPLEX FARMING ORGANIZATIONS

RESTORE AND ENHANCE 40 ACRES OF NATIVE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL AND MIGRATORY WILDLIFE INCLUDING SONGBIRDS, SMALL MAMMALS, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS AND INSECTS INCLUDING THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY

CLARIFY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN HEALTH THROUGH SUPPORT OF THE ZOONOSES SYMPOSIUM.

ENHANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMICS OF PREVENTING AND MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE INVASIVE

WORKSHOP ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN U.S. AGRICULTURAL LAND USE DATA

SUPPORT OF ZOONOSES: UNDERSTANDING THE ANIMAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN HEALTH CONNECTION SYMPOSIUM

WORKSHOP ON POLICY-RELEVANT AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND-USE INDICATORS

CONDUCTING CERTAIN HABITAT RESTORATION PRACTICES ON LANDS OWNED OR MANAGED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS

EXPANDS CLIMATE-SMART BEEF, DAIRY, WHEAT, RICE AND SPECIALTY CROP MARKETS IN AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, ID, ME, MD, MA, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, WA, VA, VT AND SUPPORTS FARMER AND RANCHER IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES.

SEASONAL SURVEYS OF 49 STATIONS ACROSS EASTERN GEORGES BANK FISHING GROUNDS OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD TO 1) EVALUATE SEASONAL BIOMASS CHANGES OF PRE-RECRUIT, RECRUIT, AND ADULT SCALLOPS USING CATCH DATA FROM A DREDGE COVER NET, 2) COLLECT SCALLOP GONAD SAMPLES TO INVESTIGATE SEASONAL AND SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN SCALLOP SPAWNING, 3) EVALUATE SEASONAL CHANGES IN SCALLOP HEALTH STATUS BY MACROSCOPICALLY INSPECTING FOR SCALLOP MEAT COLOR, NEMATODES, ORANGE PUSTULES, AND SHELL BLISTERS, 4) INVESTIGATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PREDATOR DISTRIBUTION/ABUNDANCE AND THE DISTRIBUTION/ABUNDANCE OF SCALLOPS AND CLAPPERS, 5) EVALUATE SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF KEY BYCATCH SPECIES IN RELATION TO SCALLOP AGGREGATIONS, 6) ASSESS THE POTENTIAL OF EDNA AS A METHODOLOGY TO ESTIMATE SCALLOP/FLATFISH DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE, 7) DETERMINE WHEN YELLOWTAIL AND WINDOWPANE FLOUNDER ARE SPAWNING WITHIN THE EASTERN PART GB THROUGHOUT GONAD EXAMINATION, AND 8) CONDUCT BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING OF AMERICAN LOBSTER CAUGHT IN THE DREDGES TO ASSESS DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, SHELL HARDNESS, PRESENCE OF EGGS, SHELL DISEASE SYMPTOMS, AND DAMAGE DUE TO THE DREDGE.

ASSESSMENT OF SEA SCALLOP ABUNDANCE THROUGH LARVAL SAMPLING, SORTING, AND SCANNING TO CREATE A TIME-SERIES OF SEA SCALLOP ABUNDANCE TO USE TO INFORM MODELING. THIS PROJECTS OBJECTIVES INCLUDE 1) SORT ALL BIVALVE LARVAE FROM SAMPLES IN THE NOAA NEFSC PLANKTON ARCHIVE (1977 TO PRESENT) TO SPECIES LEVEL USING A BIVALVE LARVAL IMAGING SYSTEM (BLIS) AND SHELLBI SOFTWARE PACKAGE, 2) INPUT LARVAL SEA SCALLOP ABUNDANCE DATA INTO THE SCALLOP-IBM MODEL TO EVALUATE PREVIOUS MODEL EXPERIMENT AND RUN NOVEL MODEL EXPERIMENTS, 3) EVALUATE OPTIMAL MESH SIZE AND LARVAL BIVALVE PRESERVATION TO INCORPORATE INTO FUTURE ECOMON SURVEYS, AND 4) TEST THE ABILITY OF COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS TO OPPORTUNISTICALLY COLLECT AND PRESERVE SEA SCALLOP LARVAE IN RESPONSE TO KEY EVENTS.

PURPOSE: THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO ASSESS CATCH PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A DREDGE WITH A 5-ROW APRON WITH A 1.5:1 TWINE TOP AND A DREDGE WITH AN EXTENDED-LINK APRON WITH A 2:1 TWINE TOP. THE APPLICANT POSTULATES THAT THE EXTENDED LINK APRON MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT RETAINING TARGET CATCH AND REDUCING BYCATCH THAN THE FIVE-ROW APRON, WHICH IS A GEAR MODIFICATION REQUIRED TO REDUCE FLATFISH BYCATCH WHEN TRIGGERED BY ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES. IN ADDITION, THE APPLICANT WOULD USE TENSIOMETERS TO RECORD WARP TENSION DURING EACH TOW TO RELATE TENSION TO CATCH WEIGHT/COMPOSITION, AND GAUGE THEIR UTILITY FOR MONITORING DREDGE FULLNESS. 2024: 60,543LB @ $14/LB

PURPOSE: THIS APPLICANT PROPOSES TO CONDUCT ANNUAL OPTICAL SURVEYS OF THE ATLANTIC SEA SCALLOP (PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN GEORGES BANK AND THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE MID-ATLANTIC. THESE SURVEYS WILL BE USED TO COLLECT PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGERY FROM TRANSECTS IN THE SURVEY AREAS, DEVELOP GIS-BASED PLOTS OF SCALLOP DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY BY SIZE AND LENGTH-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTIONS, AND DERIVE OVERALL SCALLOP BIOMASS (TOTAL AND EXPLOITABLE) WITHIN EACH SCALLOP AREA MANAGEMENT SIMULATOR (SAMS) MODEL AREA SURVEYED. 2024: 157,102LB @$14/LB 2025: 113,521LB @$14/LB 2026: 109,437LB @$14/LB 2027: 114,257LB @$14/LB

PURPOSE: THE PROPOSED WORK WILL FOCUS ON THE SEASONAL CHANGES IN SCALLOP ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, REPRODUCTIVE STAGE, AND HEALTH STATUS, AS WELL AS SEASONAL BYCATCH RATES AND SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF EACH KEY BYCATCH SPECIES. OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) EVALUATE SEASONAL BIOMASS CHANGES OF SCALLOPS WITHIN GEORGES BANK (GB), 2) INVESTIGATE SEASONAL AND SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN SCALLOP SPAWNING WITHIN GB, 3) EVALUATE SEASONAL CHANGES IN SCALLOP HEALTH, 4) INVESTIGATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PREDATORS AND, SCALLOPS AND CLAPPERS, 5) EVALUATE SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF KEY BYCATCH SPECIES, 6) DETERMINE YELLOWTAIL AND WINDOWPANE FLOUNDER SPAWNING PERIOD, AND 7) CONDUCT BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING OF AMERICAN LOBSTER CAUGHT IN THE DREDGES. RESEARCH WILL TAKE PLACE OVER A ONE-YEAR PERIOD ON FORTY-NINE STATIONS SPREAD ACROSS EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN GB FISHING GROUNDS. VESSELS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH TWO SCALLOP DREDGES; ONE OF THE DREDGES WILL USE A COVER NET TO CATCH INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE ESCAPE.

PURPOSE: THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO TAG AND COLLECT BIOLOGICAL DATA FROM 20 LOGGERHEAD TURTLES IN ORDER TO DOCUMENT THE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF LOGGERHEAD TURTLES WITHIN THE MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT, IDENTIFY THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF NEMATODE PARASITES AND ANTHROPOGENIC WASTE IN LAVAGE SAMPLES, AND EXPAND THE DATABASE OF LOGGERHEAD TURTLE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY. THE APPLICANT ALSO PROPOSES USING A REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE TO DOCUMENT BEHAVIOR AND POTENTIAL PREY SPECIES. 2024: 77,062LB @14/LB

THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL ADDRESS MEDIUM PRIORITY #2, FOCUSING ON SEASONAL CHANGES IN SCALLOP ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, REPRODUCTIVE STAGE, HEALTH STATUS AND EPIBIONT ABUNDANCE. BY CONTINUING TO EXAMINE SEASONAL BYCATCH RATES AND SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE KEY BYCATCH SPECIES, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL ALSO ADDRESS GENERAL PRIORITY #8.

WE PROPOSE TO USE THE INDUSTRY-BASED HABCAM V3 TOWED CAMERA SYSTEM TO CONDUCT AN OPTICAL SURVEY OF THE ATLANTIC SEA SCALLOP (PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) RESOURCE IN THE ROTATION AREAS OF CLOSED AREA II (CA2), INCLUDING THE SOUTHEAST (SE), SOUTHWEST (SW), EXTENSION (EXT), AND THE NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP SOUTH (NLS-S). ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL SURVEY THE OPEN BOTTOM AREAS OF THE NEW YORK BIGHT (NYB) (INCLUDING THE RECENTLY PROPOSED CLOSURE AREA), LONG ISLAND SOUND (LI), AND BLOCK ISLAND SOUND (BI).

PROJECT SUMMARY: THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL EVALUATE THE IMPACTS OF TRANSPLANTING ON SCALLOP GROWTH, DISPERSAL AND MORTALITY ADDRESSING SCALLOP RSA GENERAL RESEARCH NEEDS #4: SCALLOP RECRUITMENT SUPPLEMENTATION. THE PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER ONE-YEAR PERIOD, STARTING APRIL 1ST, 2022, THROUGH MARCH 30TH, 2023. DURING THIS PERIOD, WE WILL PERFORM FIVE SURVEYS TO EVALUATE GROWTH, MORTALITY, AND DISPERSAL OF TRANSPLANTED SCALLOPS. WE PROPOSE TO MOVE 2,000 BASKETS OF SCALLOPS FROM A HARVEST SITE WITHIN TEN MILES OF THE TRANSPLANTING SITE AND ~50,000 SCALLOPS WILL BE TAGGED WITH 3/4" FLOY FLEXIBLE SHELLFISH TAGS. A SURVEY WILL BE COUNTED ONE-MONTH PRIOR TO, ONE-MONTH, THREE-MONTHS, SIX-MONTHS, AND ONE-YEAR FOLLOWING TRANSPLANT. BY TRACKING TAGGED SCALLOPS WITHIN THE TRANSPLANT SITE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO EVALUATE GROWTH AND CHANGES IN BIOMASS RELATIVE TO SCALLOPS IN A NEARBY CONTROL SITE.

DESPITE THE SPECIES BEING THOROUGHLY STUDIED AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGED, SCALLOP RECRUITMENT IS STILL POORLY UNDERSTOOD AND STRONG RECRUITMENT EVENTS ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT. GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SCALLOP RECRUITMENT IS IMPACTED BY THE DIFFICULTY OF IDENTIFYING LOCATIONS WHERE SPAT INITIALLY SETTLE. BARCODING OF SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (EDNA) COULD PROVIDE A METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE PRESENCE OF SCALLOP SPAT BEFORE THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED USING DREDGE AND OPTICAL SURVEYS. USE OF METABARCODING, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MULTIPLE SPECIES IN A SINGLE EDNA SAMPLE, WOULD ALSO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SCALLOP PREDATORS, INCREASING THE VALUE OF USING THIS METHOD.

THE PROPOSED RESEARCH FOCUSES ON DETERMINING THE ECOLOGY OF THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA) THAT OVERLAP WITH THE SEA SCALLOP FISHERIES OF THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC OCEAN TO HELP REDUCE HARMFUL INTERACTIONS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT (MAB), SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND (SNE) AND GEORGES BANK (GB). OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO EXAMINE SEA TURTLE DISTRIBUTIONS, BEHAVIOR AND FORAGING HABITS; IMPROVE SEA TURTLE BYCATCH ESTIMATES; IDENTIFY FACTORS IMPACTING BYCATCH RATES; AND DETERMINE THE ROLE LOGGERHEADS PLAY IN IMPACTING SEA SCALLOP HEALTH. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL AID IN EVALUATING LOGGERHEAD ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES, DEVELOPING SCALLOP-HARVESTING STRATEGIES THAT MINIMIZE HARM TO SEA TURTLES, AND DEFINING CRITICAL HABITATS FOR LOGGERHEADS. THIS PROJECT IS AN ONGOING EFFORT AKIN TO A FISHERIES SURVEY. EACH YEAR WE EXPECT TO COLLECT NEW AND RELEVANT DATA TO CONTINUOUSLY AID IN UPDATING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, WITH THE LARGER MULTI-YEAR DATASET USED FOR MORE HOLISTIC ANALYSES WHEN APPROPRIATE.

THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL ADDRESS SEA SCALLOP RSA HIGH PRIORITY #2, FOCUSING ON SEASONAL CHANGES IN SCALLOP ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, REPRODUCTIVE STAGE, AND HEALTH STATUS. BY CONTINUING TO EXAMINE SEASONAL BYCATCH RATES AND SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE KEY BYCATCH SPECIES THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL ALSO ADDRESS GENERAL RESEARCH NEED #5. RESEARCH WILL TAKE PLACE OVER ONE-YEAR PERIOD, STARTING JULY 1ST, 2022, THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023.

THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO IMPROVE AUTOMATED CLASSIFICATION OF BENTHIC HABITATS IN HABCAM IMAGERY AND INCORPORATE AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT OF TARGET ORGANISMS, INCLUDING SCALLOP SHELL HEIGHT MEASUREMENTS, INTO THE VIAME SYSTEM. VIAME (VIDEO AND IMAGE ANALYTICS FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTS) IS AN OPEN-SOURCE SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS OF UNDERWATER IMAGERY DEVELOPED BY KITWARE, INC. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NOAA ADMINISTRATION AUTOMATED IMAGE ANALYSIS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE. IT ALSO PROPOSES TO INVESTIGATE HABITAT PREFERENCES OF PRE-RECRUIT SCALLOPS AND WILL USE HABCAM IMAGERY COLLECTED OVER MULTIPLE YEARS IN CLOSED AREA II AND THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF GEORGES BANK AND IN THE ELEPHANT TRUNK AND HUDSON CANYON ACCESS AREAS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC. SIZE-SELECTIVE SCALLOP DETECTORS WILL BE USED TO LOCATE PRE-RECRUIT SCALLOPS (<35MM), AND WHEN SURVEY TRACKS FROM SUCCESSIVE YEARS COVER THE SAME AREA, OVERLAPPING IMAGES WILL BE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE IF THESE SCALLOPS REMAINED IN THE AREA BY LOOKING FOR SHIFTS IN

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)

IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH, WEATHER RESILIENCE AND FORAGE QUALITYTHROUGH CROP DIVERSITY ON LIVESTOCK FARMS IN MAINE. AMENDMENT TO CHANGE PM AND GMS.

THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE AN EARLY-VERSION OF A FAIR TECH REGISTRY AND ASSESS THE UTILITY OF THE REGISTRY TO NRCS STAFF.

THIS AGREEMENT WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF STANDARDIZED PACK SIZES AND CONSISTENT NAMING CONVENTION FOR PRODUCE ACROSS THE LOCAL FOODS SECTOR. THE COOPERATOR WILL OVERSEE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY A VOLUNTARY CONSENSUS STANDARD FOR FRES