Peer Review Plans

Titles are listed with Highly Influential Scientific Assessments first, followed by Influential Scientific Information. Within those groups the order is alphabetical.

NOTE: You can use your browser's "Find" function to search for titles or topics of interest to you.

Title and Description:

Smalltail Shark Status Review Report

This information product is a report on the status of the smalltail shark species and includes review of life history, abundance, and fisheries. An assessment of threats, demographic risks, and extinction risk are also included.

ID: 481 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 03/29/2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID481

Title and Description:

Stock Assessment Review Panel Review of 2023 Stock Assessments for Copper Rockfish off California, and for Rex Sole and Shortspine Thornyhead off Washington, Oregon and California

These assessments report the status of the Copper Rockfish resources off of California and for Rex Sole and Shortspine Thornyhead resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 480 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 08/10/2023
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/2023
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID480

Title and Description:

Stock Assessment Review Panel Review of 2023 Stock Assessments for Canary Rockfish and Petrale Sole off Washington, Oregon and California

These assessments report the status of the Canary Rockfish and Petrale Sole resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 479 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 08/10/2023
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/2023
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID479

Title and Description:

Biological status of Olympic Peninsula steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS)

This is a report on the biological status of the Olympic Peninsula steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS). The report has been prepared by a status review team led from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The report will be used, along with other information, by the NMFS West Coast Region to make an Endangered Species Act listing determination for this DPS.

ID: 478 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: April 30, 2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID478

Title and Description:

Biological status of Washington Coast Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU)

This is a report on the biological status of the Washington Coast Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). The report has been prepared by a status review team led from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The report will be used, along with other information, by the NMFS West Coast Region to make an Endangered Species Act listing determination for this ESU.

ID: 477 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: December 31, 2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID477

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2024 Stock Assessment for Pacific Hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

ID: 476 Info. Type:
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date:
Actual Dissemination Date: 02/26/2024
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID476

Title and Description:

Stock Assessment Review Panel Review of 2023 Stock Assessments for Black Rockfish off Washington, Oregon and California

These assessments report the status of the Black Rockfish resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 475 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date:
Actual Dissemination Date: 08/10/2023
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID475

Title and Description:

SEDAR 87 Gulf of Mexico White, Pink, and Brown Shrimp

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Gulf of Mexico White, Pink, and Brown Shrimp) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries

ID: 474 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 05/30/2025
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: I D474

Title and Description:

Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

This report summarizes the outcomes of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Climate Vulnerability Assessment workshop. The information includes an overview of the vulnerability of select focal resources found within the sanctuary to the projected impacts of climate change. These assessments of vulnerability were determined through subject matter expert opinion as a result of the workshop process described in the report, and were informed by published science on the current and projected future environmental conditions within the sanctuary, as well as the impacts of climate change on the focal resources assessed. The information contained within the report will be used to inform management actions and scientific research within Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary System.

ID: 473 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 02/7/2024
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 09/30/2024
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Zachary Cannizzo Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID473

Title and Description:

Stock Assessment Update for the Bottomfish Management Unit Species of Guam

A stock assessment update of the Guam bottomfish will be conducted through 2022 by PIFSC scientists. The deep-slope fishes of Guam support a small yet valuable boat-based fishery. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s fishery ecosystem plan for Guam includes 13 bottomfish management unit species (BMUS) that have traditionally been assessed and managed as a species complex. The update assessment will use the same methodology from the previous benchmark assessment (2019) and will be used to estimate biomass and stock status through time. Stock status will be evaluated against MSY-based reference points described in the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Mariana Archipelago.

ID: 472 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 02/19/2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID472

Title and Description:

Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal

NMFS is updating the recovery plan for the Hawaiian monk seal, which was last updated in 2007. The revised recovery plan for the Hawaiian monk seal will consist of three separate documents: (1) the Recovery Status Review, which will update and review the biology, ecology, and threats to the species; (2) the Recovery Plan, which will include updated objective and measurable recovery criteria, a description of site-specific management actions necessary to conserve the species, and estimates of time and costs required to achieve the plan's goals; and (3) the Recovery Implementation Strategy, which will include the stepped-down recovery activities as well as estimates of time and costs required to achieve the plan’s goals.

ID: 471 Info. Type:
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date:
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID471

Title and Description:

Stock Assessment for the Bottomfish Management Unit Species of Guam.

A stock assessment benchmark of the Guam bottomfish will be conducted through 2022 by PIFSC scientists. The deep-slope fishes of Guam support a small yet valuable boat-based fishery. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s fishery ecosystem plan for Guam includes 13 bottomfish management unit species (BMUS) that have traditionally been assessed and managed as a species complex. The new assessment split the complex into its component BMUS (i.e. single-species assessments), and diverges significantly from the previous work as it implements the first integrated single-species stock assessments for the Guam bottomfish. These integrated assessments will use the Stock Synthesis framework to incorporate CPUE indices, size frequency, and catch data into a single age-structured model for each one of the 13 species. These integrated models will be used to estimate biomass and stock status through time, and stock status was evaluated against MSY-based reference points described in the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Mariana Archipelago.

ID: 470 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/31/2026
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID470

Title and Description:

Stock assessment of American Samoa bottomfishes, 2023

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s fishery ecosystem plan for American Samoa includes 11 bottomfish management unit species (BMUS) that have traditionally been assessed and managed as a group (i.e., a species complex). The previous 2019 assessment concluded this complex was both undergoing overfishing and was overfished. The current benchmark assessment for the American Samoa BMUS differs significantly from all previous efforts in terms of data inputs and model structure. A major improvement for this new benchmark was the move to single-species, age-structured models in the Stock Synthesis modeling framework for all BMUS. In the terminal year of the model, 2021, all nine BMUS stock statuses were not overfished and overfishing was not occurring (see Figure S1 below). Overfishing is defined by fishing mortality (F) in 2021 being higher than FMSY and overfished status is defined by spawning stock biomass (SSB) in 2021 being lower than SSB at the Minimum Stock Size Threshold.

ID: 469 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 06/30/2023
Actual Dissemination Date: 06/28/2023
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID469

Title and Description:

Stock Assessment for the Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish Complex.

A stock assessment benchmark of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep7 bottomfish complex will be conducted through fishing year 2023 by PIFSC scientists. The Deep7 bottomfish fishery is a targeted deep-water bottomfish handline fishery operated off small boats that hold cultural and economic importance for the region. This benchmark assessment incorporated new data in the form of fishery-independent biomass estimates, and also followed data filtering recommendations from a series of 5 community workshops that involved fishers, managers, and scientists on best practices for filtering bottomfish commercial catch and effort data from Hawaii state commercial catch reports for use in stock assessments. As part of that series of workshops, individual fishers’ catch reports have been better linked further back in time and this linking is newly applied in this benchmark stock assessment. This assessment used commercial data for the years 1948-2023. It assessed Deep7 bottomfish, by building upon the previous modeling framework from the past four assessments, but with improved data and data filtering as previously described, along with improvements to CPUE standardization, and other modeling approaches. Unreported catch was calculated and included using catch and effort data following methods similar to those applied in previous assessments.

ID: 468 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 04/01/2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID468

Title and Description:

SEDAR 82 South Atlantic Gray Triggerfish

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (South Atlantic gray triggerfish) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID: 467 Info. Type:
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 05/01/2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID467

Title and Description:

SEDAR 87 Gulf of Mexico White, Pink, and Brown Shrimp

ID: 466 Info. Type:
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 05/09/2025
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID466

Title and Description:

SEDAR 79 SE US Mutton Snapper

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (SE US mutton snapper) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries

ID: 465 Info. Type:
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 10/07/2024
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID465

Title and Description:

2022 Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Crab Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports (multiple stocks) for 2023

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is responsible for stock assessments for 3 species of crab listed in the groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) for the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands (BSAI). Management recommendations for these living marine resources are provided by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The report produced and disseminated by the AFSC describes the condition and current status of groundfish resources in the Bering Sea Aleutian Island. These assessments are subject to in-house review before dissemination to the FMP Plan Teams and the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The information is provided to the NPFMC to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries Service.

ID: 464 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/14/2023
Actual Dissemination Date: 1/8/2024
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID464

Title and Description:

Biological status of Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon Northern California Coastal Chinook salmon

This is a report on the biological status of two Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU). The report has been prepared by a status review team led from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The report will be used, along with other information, by the NMFS West Coast Region to make an Endangered Species Act listing determination for these two ESUs.

ID: 463 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 2/1/2024
Actual Dissemination Date: March 19, 2024
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID463

Title and Description:

Draft Economic Report for the Designation of Marine Critical Habitat for Six Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas

Under the Endangered Species Act, NMFS is required to designate critical habitat using the best available scientific data. This draft report uses the best available data to assess the economic impacts of the potential designation of marine critical habitat for six DPSs of the green turtle. This report underwent peer-review. The draft report will be published on NMFS’ website when the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.

ID: 462 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 9/1/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 7/18/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Jennifer Schultz
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID462

Title and Description:

Draft Biological Report for the Designation of Marine Critical Habitat for Six Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas

Under the Endangered Species Act, NMFS is required to designate critical habitat using the best available scientific data. This draft report uses the best available data on green turtles’ marine habitat use in waters under U.S. jurisdiction to identify areas that meet the definition of critical habitat. This report underwent peer-review. The draft report will be published on NMFS’ website when the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.

ID: 461 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 4/1/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 7/18/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Jennifer Schultz
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID461

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2023 Stock Assessment for Pacific Hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty

ID: 460 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 2/7/2023
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/1/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch, NOAA; jonathan.heesch@noaa.gov
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID460

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2023 Stock Assessment for Pacific Hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty

Title and Description:

Addendum to “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the North-central California Coast and Ocean”

This addendum provides an update to the 2015 report “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the North-central California Coast and Ocean”. The information includes an overview of the updated vulnerability of select focal resources found within Greater Farallones, Cordell Bank, and the northern portion of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries to the projected impacts of climate change. These assessments of vulnerability were determined through subject matter expert opinion as a result of the process described in the report, and were informed by published science on the current and projected future environmental conditions within the study area, as well as the impacts of climate change on the focal resources assessed. The information contained within the report will be used to inform management actions and scientific research within Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries as well as the National Marine Sanctuary System.

ID: 459 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 6/5/2023
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 10/16/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Zachary Cannizzo Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID459

Title and Description:

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary 2023 Condition Report: Status and Trends 2009–2021

This condition report used the best available information to assess the status and trends of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary’s resources and ecosystem services. The report is structured around a Drivers-Pressures-State-Ecosystem Services-Response model. The report provides a comprehensive update of the status and trends of sanctuary resources from 2009 to 2021, covering the broad categories of water quality, habitat, living resources, and maritime heritage resources. The report also includes the first evaluation of the status and trends of ecosystem services—the ways humans derive benefits from different ecosystem attributes that they care about for their lives, lifestyles, and livelihoods.

ID: 458 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 8/1/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 6/1/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: TBD
Contact Person: Kathy Broughton Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID458

Title and Description:

National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa Condition Report: Status and Trends 2007–2020

The purpose of this condition report is to use the best available information to assess the status and trends of various components of NMSAS, including its natural and maritime heritage resources. The report is structured around a management-logic model called the Drivers-Pressure-State-Ecosystem Services-Response, or DPSER, model. This model enables NMSAS to comprehensively document the many factors that affect management responses, including the influence of societal drivers on pressures, the effects of those pressures on the condition of resources, and the effects of changing conditions on the services they provide to society. The first condition report, which assessed resources in Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, was published in 2007. This condition report marks an updated and comprehensive description of the expanded sanctuary—National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. It includes status and trends of resources, covering the broad categories of water quality, habitat, living resources, and maritime heritage resources. This report also includes the status and trends of ecosystem services—the ways humans derive benefits from different ecosystem attributes that they care about for their lives and livelihoods. Ecosystem services evaluated in this report include non-consumptive recreation, consumptive recreation, science, education, heritage, sense of place, commercial harvest, subsistence harvest, and coastal protection. The report documents the condition of sanctuary resources and ecosystem services from 2008–2020, unless otherwise noted. Throughout the report’s development, sanctuary staff worked with numerous partners to identify and compile information and make assessments on resource and ecosystem service status and trends.

ID: 457 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 2/18/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 12/13/2022
Contact Person: Zachary Cannizzo Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID457

Title and Description:

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report: 2008–2019

The purpose of this condition report is to use the best available information to assess the status and trends of various components of the sanctuary’s ecosystem, as well as the maritime heritage resources within the sanctuary. The report is structured around a management-logic model called the DPSER model, which stands for Drivers-Pressure-State-Ecosystem Services-Response. This model enables the sanctuary to comprehensively document the many factors that affect management responses, including the influence of societal drivers on the levels of pressures on resources, the effects of those stressors on the condition of resources, and the effects of changing conditions on the services they provide to society. The first condition report for OCNMS was released in 2008. This is the second comprehensive update of the status and trends of sanctuary resources, covering the broad categories of water quality, habitat, living resources, and maritime heritage resources. This report also includes the status and trends of ecosystem services—the ways humans derive benefits from different ecosystem attributes that they care about for their lives and livelihoods. Ecosystem services evaluated in this report include consumptive and non-consumptive recreation, science, education, heritage, sense of place, commercial and subsistence harvest, and ornamentals.

ID: 456 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 4/19/2021
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 3/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 03/07/2022
Contact Person: Kathy Broughton Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID456

Title and Description:

Rapid Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

This report summarizes the outcomes of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Climate Vulnerability Assessment workshop. The information includes an overview of the vulnerability of select focal resources found within the sanctuary to the projected impacts of climate change. These assessments of vulnerability were determined through subject matter expert opinion as a result of the workshop process described in the report, and were informed by published science on the current and projected future environmental conditions within the sanctuary, as well as the impacts of climate change on the focal resources assessed. The information contained within the report will be used to inform management actions and scientific research within Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary System.

ID: 455 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/29/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Zachary Cannizzo Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID455

Title and Description:

Peer Review Plan for Endangered Species Act Status Review of the Sunflower Sea Star

On August 18, 2021, the National Marine Fisheries Service received a petition requesting that the sunflower sea star be evaluated for listing as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Agency evaluated the petition and published a positive 90-day finding indicating that the proposed action may be warranted (86 FR 73230). A Status Review Team (SRT) was convened to comprehensively review the biology and ecology of the sunflower sea star; evaluate recent and projected status trends; assess impacts from threats facing the species; and make a determination regarding extinction risk both now and in the foreseeable future. This Peer Review Plan lays out the methods by which the resulting status report will be evaluated.The draft recovery plan incorporates the best available science on the oceanic whitetip shark to describe site-specific management actions necessary for the conservation and survival of the species (recovery actions), set objective, measurable criteria that, when met, will allow the species to be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species, and provide estimates of the time and funding required to achieve the plan's goals. Once finalized, the plan will be used to guide U.S. activities and to encourage international cooperation to promote the recovery of this endangered species.

ID: 454 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 7/28/2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch, NOAA Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID454

Title and Description:

Draft Recovery Plan for the Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)

The draft recovery plan incorporates the best available science on the oceanic whitetip shark to describe site-specific management actions necessary for the conservation and survival of the species (recovery actions), set objective, measurable criteria that, when met, will allow the species to be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species, and provide estimates of the time and funding required to achieve the plan's goals. Once finalized, the plan will be used to guide U.S. activities and to encourage international cooperation to promote the recovery of this endangered species.

ID: 453 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/29/2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Kristen Koyama, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8456 kristen.koyama@noaa.gov Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID453

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Report (Rice's Whale)

This document is part of Endangered Species Act rulemaking to propose designation of critical habitat for the Rice's whale and contains: (1) the biological information used to determine the specific areas containing the features essential to the conservation of the species requiring special management, and (2) consideration of the national security, economic, and other relevant impacts of designating critical habitat.

ID: 452 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 1/13/2023
Actual Dissemination Date: 8/21/2023
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID452

Title and Description:

Recovery Plan for the Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales

NMFS is developing a recovery plan specific to the ESA-listed Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of humpback whales. The recovery plan will consist of three separate documents: (1) the Species Status Review, which will review the biology, ecology, and threats to the species; (2) the Recovery Plan, which will include objective and measurable recovery criteria, a description of site-specific management actions necessary to conserve the species, and estimates of time and costs required to achieve the plan's goals; and (3) the Recovery Implementation Strategy, which which will include the tepped-down recovery activities as well as estimates of time and costs required to achieve the plan's goals.

ID: 451 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 3/1/2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID451

Title and Description:

Third Order Draft of the Fifth National Climate Assessment

The peer review of the Fifth National Climate Assessment was conducted by a review committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. More information the peer review committee can be found here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/review-of-the-draft-5th-national-climate-assessment#sectionCommittee

ID: 450 Info. Type: HISA
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 11/7/2022
Actual Dissemination Date: 11/07/2022
Contact Person: Dan Barrie, OAR, daniel.barrie@noaa.gov, (301) 734-1256
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID450

Title and Description:

SEDAR 74 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Gulf of Mexico red snapper) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID: 449 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 06/01/2023
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 01/22/2024
Actual Dissemination Date: 01/11/2024
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID449

Title and Description:

SEDAR 77 HMS Hammerhead Sharks

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (HMS Hammerhead Sharks) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries

ID: 448 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 03/13/2024
Actual Dissemination Date: 02/07/2024
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID448

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report: Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii)

Following receipt of a petition requesting that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) list the Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), NMFS announced the initiation of a status review for this species. This status review report summarizes and evaluates the best available scientific and commercial information on the biology and status for this species, and presents an assessment of the extinction risk for this species. The information in this review was used to make a 12-month finding determination that this species has a high risk of extinction throughout its range and warrants listing as an endangered species under the ESA.

ID: 447 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 1/9/2023
Actual Dissemination Date: 4/7/2023
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID447

Title and Description:

Stock assessment of American Samoa bottomfishes, 2023

The American Samoa BMUS complex was initially assessed as a complex (i.e., all species combined) in 2007 using an informal index-based assessment method. The most recent assessment was completed in 2019, and concluded the BMUS complex was both undergoing overfishing and in an overfished state. The next benchmark stock assessment for the American Samoa BMUS is expected to be completed and undergo an independent review process in February 2023, following the WPSAR timeline. One key improvement for this new benchmark will be to consider single-species assessment models following the WPSAR panel recommendations associated with the 2016 assessment. This assessment has influential scientific information because the assessment contains the stock status determination and harvest levels affecting the management of the American Samoa bottomfish fishery. Depending on the results of the assessment, this can potentially change the Council's harvest policies.

ID: 446 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 6/30/2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID446

Title and Description:

Recovery Status Review for 15 Species of Indo-Pacific Reef-building Corals Listed under the Endangered Species Act

Part of draft Indo-Pacific Corals Recovery Plan

ID: 445 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: Mid-2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Lance Smith Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID445

Title and Description:

Strategic application of an Atlantis ecosystem model for Gulf shrimp

In collaboration with a Sea Grant funded proposal, the SEFSC and partners invested in the development of a 2012 Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Atlantis model (from 2012-2014), with the intention of using model outputs to provide managers with strategic advice. The utility of using Atlantis, a spatially-explicit, biogeochemical model, is to inclusively represent an extensive suite of ecosystem processes that can influence fisheries productivity and safe harvest rates across the GOM. To date the SEFSC/ GMFMC have not applied the 2012 GOM Atlantis model to provide strategic advice. Two major reasons for this are: 1) the SEFSC lacked staff proficient with the Atlantis software and, 2) though the model has been published in peer-reviewed literature, it has not been formally reviewed for use in management. Thus, the objective of this SEFSC EBFM funded project is to: 1) update data inputs and recalibrate the model, archiving in a NOAA Tech Memo; 2) conduct an internal SEFSC review of the model followed by an external review (by CIE reviewers and Gulf SSC/Council staff); 3) use the peer-reviewed Atlantis model to assess Gulf shrimp productivity scenarios and evaluate the long-term biological, economic and ecosystem-level tradeoffs. The long-term goal is to provide simulation outputs to the Council, for strategic planning purposes.

ID: 444 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 10/01/2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Jennifer Schultz Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: I D444

Title and Description:

Draft Biological Report on the Proposed Designation of Marine Critical Habitat for the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, East Pacific, Central North Pacific, Central South Pacific, and Central West Pacific Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas

Under the Endangered Species Act, NMFS is required to designate critical habitat using the best available scientific data. This draft report uses the best available data on green turtles’ marine habitat use in waters under U.S. jurisdiction to identify areas that meet the definition of critical habitat. This report is undergoing peer-review. The draft report will be published on NMFS’ website when the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.

ID: 443 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 4/1/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 6/30/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Jennifer Schultz Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID443

Title and Description:

Status Review for the Tope Shark, Galeorhinus galeus, under the Endangered Species Act

Following receipt of a petition requesting that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) list the tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), NMFS announced the initiation of a status review for this species. The status review will synthesize the best scientific and commercial data available and present an assessment of the extinction risk for this species. The status review will be documented in a report, which will be subject to peer review and which will inform the decision whether this species warrants protection under the ESA.

ID: 442 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/18/2023
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID442

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2022 Stock Assessment for Pacific hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

This stock assessment reports the status of the trans-boundary coastal Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) resource off the west coast of the United States and Canada. The stock assessment is conducted and peer reviewed as outlined in the Agreement between the Government of the United States of American and the Government of Canada on Pacific hake / Whiting. This agreement formalizes past scientific and stock assessment collaboration through the creation of two scientific bodies: a Joint Technical Committee, charged with producing an annual stock assessment that includes scientific advice on the annual potential yield of the offshore hake/whiting resource that may be caught for that fishing year; and a Scientific Review Group, charged with providing an independent peer review of the Joint Technical Committee's scientific products.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty

ID: 441 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 2/14/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/01/2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID441

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2021 Stock Assessment for Pacific hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty

ID: 440 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 2/22/2021
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/01/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 5/01/2021
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID440

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2020 Stock Assessment for Pacific hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty

ID: 439 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 2/25/2020
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/01/2020
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 5/01/2020
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID439

Title and Description:

Research Track Assessment for Northern Shortfin Squid and Butterfish

NMFS will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing northern shortfin squid and butterfish stocks. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by the research track working group and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts from the Center of Independent Experts (CIE). The public is invited to attend the presentations and discussions between the review panel and the scientists who have participated in the stock assessment process.

ID: 438 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: March 7, 2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: July 2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: July 15 2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID438

Title and Description:

Index Based Methods Working Group

NMFS and the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) Panel will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing Index Based Methods and Harvest Control Rules. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) working groups and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts from the Center of Independent Experts (CIE). The public is invited to attend the presentations and discussions between the review panel and the scientists who have participated in the stock assessment process.

ID: 437 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 7 Dec 2020
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: January 1 2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: January 15 2021
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID437

Title and Description:

Red Hake Stock Structure Working Group

NMFS and the Assessment Oversight Panel will convene the Red Hake Stock Structure Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing the stock structure of Red Hake. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) working groups and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts called the Assessment Oversight Panel (AOP). The public is invited to attend the presentations and discussions between the review panel and the scientists who have participated in the stock assessment process.

ID: 436 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 3/9/2020
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 8/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 8/15/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID436

Title and Description:

2021 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Dover Sole in California, Oregon and Washington Waters

This assessment reports the status of the Dover Sole resource along the West Coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

The Stock Assessment Review (STAR) meeting is a formal, public, multiple-day meeting of stock assessment experts from the US and abroad who serve as a peer-review panel for the stock assessments. The STAR process is a key element in an overall process designed to make timely use of new fishery and survey data, to analyze and understand these data as completely as possible, to provide opportunity for public comment, and to assure the best available science is used to inform management decisions.

ID: 435 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 5/3/2021
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/1/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 9/1/2021
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID435

Title and Description:

2021 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Lingcod in California, Oregon and Washington Waters

These assessments report the status of the Lingcod resource along the West Coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the models, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 434 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 7/12/2021
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/1/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 9/1/2021
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID434

Title and Description:

2021 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Vermilion/Sunset Rockfish in California, Oregon and Washington Waters

These assessments report the status of the Vermilion/Sunset Rockfish resource along the West Coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 433 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 7/26/2021
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 12/1/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID433

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Proposed Rule for Pillar Coral Dendrogyra cylindrus

This document is part of an Endangered Species Act rulemaking to propose a change in status for pillar coral Dendrogyra cylindrus. It contains the biological information considered for determining the status of the species.

ID: 432 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 10/30/2022
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID432

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Designation for Nassau Grouper Critical Habitat Report (Records Document)

This document is part of Endangered Species Act rulemaking to propose designation of critical habitat for the Nassau Grouper and contains: (1) the biological information used to determine the specific areas containing the features essential to the conservation of the species requiring special management, and (2) consideration of the national security, economic, and other relevant impacts of designating critical habitat.

ID: 431 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/30/2022
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID431

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report: Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)

The status review report summarizes and evaluates the best available scientific and commercial information on the biology and status of the species, and assesses the species' risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding on whether listing the species is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID: 430 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 5/23/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 8/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date: 11/10/2022
Contact Person: Adrienne Lohe, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8442 adrienne.lohe@noaa.gov
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID430

Title and Description:

Update to: 2016/2018 Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing: Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts

NMFS has developed updated draft technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species under NMFS's jurisdiction. The updated technical guidance provides updated received levels, or acoustic threshold levels, based on the best available science, above which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. This updated guidance is intended to be used by NMFS analysts and managers and other relevant user groups and stakeholders, including other federal agencies, when seeking to determine whether and how their activities are expected to result in particular types of impacts to marine mammals via acoustic exposure. Although NMFS has updated the acoustic threshold levels from those previously used, and these changes may necessitate new methodologies for calculating impacts, the application of the thresholds in the regulatory context under applicable statutes (Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act) remains consistent with past NMFS practice.

ID: 429 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 11/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date: 11/1/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID429

Title and Description:

Genomics-Based Phylogenetic and Population Genetic Analysis of Global Samples Confirms Halophila johnsonii Eiseman as Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook.f.

Manuscript from Frontiers in Marine Science that provides rationale that the seagrass species previously thought to be the unique taxon Halophila johnsonii is
actually a clone of the broadly distributed Indo-Pacific species H. ovalis. Research published in this paper was funded by NMFS-SERO and results will likely lead to a change in the Endangered Species Act listing status of H. johnsonii.

ID: 426 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 10/1/2021
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final work product: 10/29/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report:
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID426

Title and Description:

ESA Queen Conch Status Review Report

This report reviews the status of queen conch (Strombus gigas) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Information and data was reviewed for approximately 44 countries and territories through March 1, 2021. This report summarizes the best available scientific and commercial information on the species and presents an evaluation of the queen conch’s status and extinction risk. Where available, we provide literature citations to review articles that provide more extensive citations for each topic.

ID: 425 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 8/20/2021
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final work product: 2/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 9/7/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID425

Title and Description:

Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Atlases for the Gulf of Mexico and Southern California

NOAA has directives to preserve ocean sustainability and facilitate domestic aquaculture in the United States. Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, the U.S. developed several policies and plans to bolster the domestic supply of seafood and address concerns about food security. Among the most notable of these policies was the issuance of an Executive Order (EO) on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, which offers a particular focus on spatial planning for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA) to support aquaculture development. An AOA is a small defined geographic area that has been evaluated to determine its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. This map atlas is a product of NOAA for use by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other coastal managers to inform aquaculture siting for identification of AOAs in federal waters off Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico. The map atlas and spatial analyses were developed by the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) in partnership with the NMFS, and in coordination with cooperating Federal agencies, Regional Fishery Management Councils, and State and tribal governments.

ID: 424 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 7/01/2021
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: TBD
Contact Person: Tyler Christensen Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID424

Title and Description:

Proposed rule to remove Siderastrea glynni from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species

As recommended by a recent five-year review of Siderastrea glynni, NMFS is proposing to delist the species based on new genetic and morphological information that demonstrates that it does not meet the statutory definition of a species, and therefore does not qualify for listing under the ESA. The proposed rule summarizes the new information supporting this action.

ID: 423 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/14/2020
Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 4/21/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 5/4/2021
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID423

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report: Black Teatfish (Holothuria nobilis)

The status review document for will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of the species as well as the species risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of it's respective range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding determination on whether listing the species is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID: 422 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/3/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report: 9/21/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 10/25/2021
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID422

Title and Description:

SEDAR 68 Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Scamp

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic scamp) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries

ID: 421 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 7/15/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 10/1/2021
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID421

Title and Description:

Designation of Critical Habitat for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment of the Bearded Seal

We are obtaining independent peer review of the following information that provides part of the basis for designating critical habitat for the Beringia distinct population segment (DPS) of the bearded seal under the Endangered Species Act: (1) the available data on habitat uses and needs of Beringia DPS bearded seals and the use and interpretation of this information in making conclusions regarding what areas meet the definition of critical habitat under the ESA; and (2) the draft impact analysis report. This peer review will be conducted during the comment period on the proposed rule.

ID: 420 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 6/15/2021
Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 2/16/2022
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final work product: 3/22/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID420

Title and Description:

Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arctic Ringed Seal

We are obtaining independent peer review of the following information that provides part of the basis for designating critical habitat for the Arctic ringed seal under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): (1) the available data on habitat uses and needs of Arctic ringed seals and the use and interpretation of this information in making conclusions regarding what areas meet the definition of critical habitat under the ESA; and (2) the draft impact analysis report for the revised proposed rule. This peer review will be conducted during the comment period on the revised proposed rule. The revised proposed rule announces revisions to the December 9, 2014, proposed designation of critical habitat for the Arctic ringed seal under the ESA.

ID: 419 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 6/15/2021
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final work product: 3/22/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID419

Title and Description:

2023 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports (multiple stocks) for 2023

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is responsible for stock assessments for over 26 species or species groups listed in the groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) for the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands (BSAI). Management recommendations for these living marine resources are provided by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The report produced and disseminated by the AFSC describes the condition and current status of groundfish resources in the BSAI. These assessments are subject to in-house review before dissemination to the FMP Plan Teams and the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The information is provided to the NPFMC to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries Service.

ID: 418 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 11/17/2023 (start of peer review 11/13/2023)
Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 1/8/2023
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID418

Title and Description:

2023 Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports (multiple stocks) for 2024

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is responsible for stock assessments for 24 species or species groups listed in the groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Management recommendations for these living marine resources are provided by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The report produced and disseminated by the AFSC describes the condition and current status of groundfish resources in the Gulf of Alaska. These assessments are subject to in-house review before dissemination to the FMP Plan Teams and the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The information is provided to the NPFMC to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries Service.

ID: 417 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 11/17/2023 (start of peer review 11/13/2023)
Actual Dissemination Date: 1/8/2024
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID417

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Reports for Pocillopora meandrina

These two reports provide the status review for the Indo-Pacific reef-building coral Pocillopora meandrina in response to a petition to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The two reports are titled "General Status Assessment of Indo-Pacific Reef-building Corals" (GSA) and "Pocillopora meandrina Status Review Report" (SRR). The two reports together constitute the status review for this species, upon which the official 12-month finding will be based, the ESA decision document that determines whether the species is proposed for ESA listing, or not warranted for ESA listing.

ID: 416 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report and final work product: 6/30/2020
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID416

Title and Description:

Draft Recovery Plan for Black Abalone (Haliotis cracherodii)

This draft recovery plan for black abalone summarizes the best available information on the natural history, status, and threats to black abalone. The document also describes a recovery strategy to address the threats and includes recovery goals and criteria. Once finalized, the plan will be used to direct U.S. activities and to encourage international cooperation to promote the recovery of this endangered species.

ID: 415 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 6/30/2020
Actual Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 11/30/2020
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final work product: 1/30/2021
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID415

Title and Description:

SEDAR 65 HMS Atlantic Blacktip Shark

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Atlantic blacktip shark) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID: 414 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/11/2020
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID414

Title and Description:

SEDAR 64 Southeastern U.S. yellowtail snapper

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Southeastern US yellowtail snapper) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID: 413 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/11/2020
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID413

Title and Description:

SEDAR 58 Atlantic Cobia

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Atlantic Cobia) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID: 412 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Actual Dissemination Date: 1/6/2020
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID412

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report for Dwarf Seahorse

An assessment of the status of dwarf seahorse: response to a petition to list the species under the Endangered Species Act.

ID: 411 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 12/15/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID411

Title and Description:

2019 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Sablefish in California, Oregon and Washington Waters

This assessments reports the status of the Sablefish resource along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 410 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/1/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID410

Title and Description:

2019 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Cowcod and Gopher/Black-and-Yellow Rockfishes

These assessments report the status of the Cowcod and Gopher/Black-and-Yellow Rockfishes resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 409 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/1/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID409

Title and Description:

2019 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Cabezon in California, Oregon and Washington Waters

These assessments report the status of the Cabezon resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 408 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/1/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID408

Title and Description:

2019 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Big Skate and Longnose Skate in California, Oregon and Washington Waters

These assessments report the status of the Big Skate and Longnose Skate resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.

ID: 407 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/1/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID407

Title and Description:

SEDAR 57 U.S. Caribbean spiny lobster

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (U.S. Caribbean spiny lobster) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID: 406 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 3/1/2019
Actual Dissemination Date: 8/16/19
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID406

Title and Description:

Status Review Report for Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, alewife or blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, which were petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A review of the status of the species is required under section 4 of the ESA. The river herring status review report will help inform the decision whether river herring warrant listing under the ESA.

ID: 405 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 1/31/2019
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 1/31/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID405

Title and Description:

Draft Economic Analysis for the Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexico, Central American, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales

ID: 404 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 6/21/2019
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 6/28/2019
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID404

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2019 Stock Assessment for Pacific hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty

ID: 403 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 2/19/2019
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/01/2019
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 5/01/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID403

Title and Description:

Revision to the Designation of Critical Habitat for Southern Resident Killer Whales - Biological Report and Economic Analysis

Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act requires the designation of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. It allows for the revision of existing critical habitat. Both designation and revision are required to be based upon the best scientific and commercial data available. We are obtaining peer review of the biological report and the economic analysis that will inform a revision to the designation of critical habitat for endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

ID: 402 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date of Peer review report: 9/1/2019
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final work product: 9/1/2020
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID402

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act draft status review report for the Upper Klamath-Trinity River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU)

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, the Upper Klamath-Trinity River Chinook salmon ESU, which was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The status review report will help inform the decision whether this species warrants listing as threatened or endangered under the Act.

ID: 401 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 7/19/2019
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 10/21/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID401

Title and Description:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing: Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts

NOAA has developed draft guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species under NOAA's jurisdiction. The guidance provides updated received levels, or acoustic threshold levels, based on the best available science, above which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. This guidance is intended to be used by NOAA analysts and managers and other relevant user groups and stakeholders, including other federal agencies, when seeking to determine whether and how their activities are expected to result in particular types of impacts to marine mammals via acoustic exposure. Although NOAA has updated the acoustic threshold levels from those previously used, and these changes may necessitate new methodologies for calculating impacts, the application of the thresholds in the regulatory context under applicable statutes (Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Marine Sanctuaries Act) remains consistent with past NOAA practice.

Behavioral threshold levels were originally included in the draft guidance and reviewed by the peer reviewers. NOAA is continuing our examination of the effects of noise on marine mammal behavior and will focus our work over the next year on developing guidance regarding the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal behavior. Behavioral response is a complex question and we determined we still need time to research and address it appropriately. Behavioral guidance will have a separate peer review plan (see ID 274).

For their Phase 3 Acoustic Effects Analysis, the U.S. Navy recently (January 2015) provided NOAA with a technical paper describing their proposed methodology for updating auditory weighting functions and subsequent numeric thresholds for predicting auditory effects (TTS/PTS thresholds) on marine animals exposed to active sonars and other active acoustic sources utilized during Navy training and testing activities.

Upon evaluation, NOAA preliminarily determined that the Navy's proposed methodology reflects the best available science and are working to incorporate it into our Acoustic Guidance before it becomes final. Before doing so, we commissioned an independent peer review of the Navy's technical paper (i.e., second peer review).

Additionally, NOAA has re-evaluated its methods for defining threshold usage for sources characterized as impulsive or non-impulsive using comments from the initial public comment period. This proposed methodology also underwent a separate independent peer review (i.e. third peer review).Following these peer reviews, we held a second public comment period (July-September 2015).

After the second public comment period, while NOAA was working to address additional public comments and finalize the Technical Guidance, NOAA and the Navy further evaluated certain aspects of the U.S. Navy's methodology. As a result, several recommendations/modifications were suggested.

After consideration of these recommendations, NOAA has revised the Draft Technical Guidance to reflect these suggested changes and is proposing to solicit public comment on the revised sections of the document (i.e., not the entire document) via a focused 14-day public comment period (March 2016). Concurrent with this third public comment period, NOAA requested that the peer reviewers of the Navy's methodology review the updated sections of the Draft Technical Guidance and indicate whether the revisions would significantly alter any of the comments made during their original review.

Consistent with our Draft Guidance’s finalization procedure, once the follow-up peer review and public comment period processes are complete, NOAA will evaluate how to best incorporate the proposed methodologies into our Final Guidance.

ID: 43 Info. Type: HISA
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/31/2014
Actual Initial Dissemination Date (because behavioral portion separated out): 2/4/2014
Estimated and Actual Second Dissemination Date: 6/1/2015
Estimated and Actual Third Dissemination Date: 7/31/2015
Estimated and Actual Disseminiation of Peer Review Report as follow-up to second review: 5/20/2016
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 5/31/2016
Actual Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 8/3/2016
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID43

Title and Description:

National Marine Fisheries Service's Development of Recommended Behavioral Disturbance Criteria for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic

NMFS is developing draft recommendations for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on the behavior of marine mammal species under NMFS' jurisdiction. The document provides updated received levels, or acoustic threshold levels, based on the best available science, above which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their behavior for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. This document is intended to be used by NMFS analysts and managers and other relevant user groups and stakeholders, including other federal agencies, when seeking to determine whether and how their activities are expected to result in particular types of impacts to marine mammals via acoustic exposure.

ID: 274 Info. Type: HISA
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 12/30/2024
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/30/2024
Contact Person: Amy Scholik-Schlomer Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID274

Title and Description:

2018 Arctic Report Card

Issued annually, the Arctic Report Card is a timely source for clear, reliable and concise environmental information on the state of the Arctic, relative to historical time series records. Material is prepared by an international team of scientists. The audience for the Arctic Report Card is wide, including scientists, students, teachers, decision makers and the general public interested in Arctic environment and science. The web-based format facilitates timely updates of the content. Some of the essays are based upon updates to articles in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society State of the Climate. Observations featured in the 2016 Arctic Report Card showed a continuation of long-term Arctic warming trends which reveals the interdependency of physical and biological Arctic systems, contributing to a growing recognition that the Arctic is an integral part of the globe, and increasing the need for comprehensive communication of Arctic change to diverse user audiences.

Observations featured in the 2018 Arctic Report Card indicate that the effects of persistent Arctic warming continue to mount. 2018 was the second warmest year on record since 1900 with record low winter ice extends and particularly low ice coverage in the Bering Sea. Widespread impacts of warming were demonstrated through record warmth in sea surface temperatures, massive primary productivity blooms and continued greening and browning of tundra vegetation. 2018 "Indicator Essays" on river discharge show considerable increases in major river flow over the last several decades, significant declines in seasonal landfast ice that is important for travel and hunting to subsistence communities and a dramatic decline in reindeer and caribou populations (56% drop) in relation to warming summer temperatures. The 2018 Report Card also featured "Frostbite Essays" covered topics including expanding harmful algal blooms and microplastic contamination in the Arctic for the first time ever.

ID394 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 12/11/2018
Actual Dissemination Date: 10/22/2018
Contact Person: Patricia Hathaway NOAA Locator
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID394

Title and Description:

2017 Arctic Report Card

ID393 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 11/3/2017
Contact Person:Patricia Hathaway NOAA Locator
Peer review plan for this item: ID393

Title and Description:

The 2016 Arctic Report Card

ID:392 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 11/4/2016
Contact Person: Patricia Hathaway Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID392

Title and Description:

The 2015 Arctic Report Card

The Synthesis Product was first published in 2006. The Arctic Report Card is an annual, peer-reviewed, Web-based publication http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/reportcard/index.html. It is a multi-disciplinary document composed of topical essays in the physical and biological sciences. This synthesis product presents already published data for 2015 in the Arctic that have not been previously been assembled. Issued annually, the Arctic Report Card is a timely source for clear, reliable and concise environmental information on the state of the Arctic, relative to historical time series records. Material is prepared by an international team of scientists. The audience for the Arctic Report Card is wide, including scientists, students, teachers, decision makers and the general public interested in Arctic environment and science. The Report Card is cited on a wide range of websites. Example of use for decision-making: reductions in sea ice mean that Arctic shipping routes become more feasible. Also, the Arctic Report Card is closely tied to climate change issues, which affect (see State of the Climate reports).

ID:329 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated DIssemination Date: 11/30/2015
Contact Person: Tammy Adams Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID329

Title and Description:

2014 Arctic Report Card

ID: 268 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 12/12/2014
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/8/2014
Contact Person: Patricia Hathaway Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID268

Title and Description:

2016 Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports (multiple stocks) for 2016

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is responsible for stock assessments for over 22 species or species groups listed in the groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) for the Gulf of Alaska. Management recommendations for these living marine resources are provided by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The report produced and disseminated by the AFSC describes the condition and current status of groundfish resources in the Gulf of Alaska. These assessments are subject to in-house review before dissemination to the FMP Plan Teams and the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The information is provided to the NPFMC to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries Service.

ID: 357 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 1/9/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID357

Title and Description:

2016 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports (multiple stocks) for 2017

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is responsible for stock assessments for over 22 species or species groups listed in the groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Management recommendations for these living marine resources are provided by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The report produced and disseminated by the AFSC describes the condition and current status of groundfish resources in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These assessments are subject to in-house review before dissemination to the FMP plan teams and the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The information is provided to the NPFMC to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries Service.

ID358 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 1/9/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID358

Title and Description:

2017 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for Pacific coast lingcod and Pacific Ocean Perch

These assessments report the status of the lingcod and Pacific ocean perch resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.
The Stock Assessment Review (STAR) meeting is a formal, public, multiple-day meeting of stock assessment experts from the US and abroad who serve as a peer-review panel for the stock assessments. The STAR process is a key element in an overall process designed to make timely use of new fishery and survey data, to analyze and understand these data as completely as possible, to provide opportunity for public comment, and to assure the best available science is used to inform management decisions.

ID373 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 8/23/2017
Actual Dissemination Date: 9/30/2017
Estimated Dissemination Date for final work product: 12/1/2017

Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID373

Title and Description:

2017 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for California scorpionfish and blue/deacon rockfish

These assessments report the status of the California scorpionfish and blue/deacon rockfish resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.
The Stock Assessment Review (STAR) meeting is a formal, public, multiple-day meeting of stock assessment experts from the US and abroad who serve as a peer-review panel for the stock assessments. The STAR process is a key element in an overall process designed to make timely use of new fishery and survey data, to analyze and understand these data as completely as possible, to provide opportunity for public comment, and to assure the best available science is used to inform management decisions.

ID375 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 8/23/2017
Actual Dissemination Date: 8/30/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID375

Title and Description:

2017 Stock Assessment Review (STAR) panel for yelloweye rockfish and yellowtail rockfish

These assessments report the status of the yelloweye and yellowtail rockfishes resources along the west coast of the United States using statistical population models. Specifically, the information includes a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource relative to current definitions for overfished status, a summary of available data included in the model, impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.
The Stock Assessment Review (STAR) meeting is a formal, public, multiple-day meeting of stock assessment experts from the US and abroad who serve as a peer-review panel for the stock assessments. The STAR process is a key element in an overall process designed to make timely use of new fishery and survey data, to analyze and understand these data as completely as possible, to provide opportunity for public comment, and to assure the best available science is used to inform management decisions.

The Stock Assessment Review (STAR) meeting is a formal, public, multiple-day meeting of stock assessment experts from the US and abroad who serve as a peer-review panel for the stock assessments. The STAR process is a key element in an overall process designed to make timely use of new fishery and survey data, to analyze and understand these data as completely as possible, to provide opportunity for public comment, and to assure the best available science is used to inform management decisions.

ID372 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 8/23/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item:: ID372

Title and Description:

Benchmark Review of Stock Assessment of the Coral Reef Fishes of Hawaii, 2016

The Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division is currently focusing on improving the data and information quality for assessing the management unit species described in the federal fishery ecosystem plans. The current federal stocks in Hawaii are the deep seven bottomfish complex, gray job fish (uku), kona crab and deep water shrimp and precious corals. The coral reef fish species complexes are currently designated as federal ecosystem components. Therefore, there are no plans to update the review of the 2016 benchmark stock assessment for Hawaii coral reef fish as well as the review of the length and biomass augmented catch-MSY assessment methods. The biomass augmented catch-MSY assessment method was superseded by the PIFSC-led coral reef stock assessment methods. The Council ecosystem component omnibus amendment removed the federal requirements for stock assessments and ACL specifications.

ID368 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 11/1/2016
Actual Dissemination Date for Final Word Product: 2/6/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID368

Title and Description:

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report

Sanctuary condition reports provide a standardized summary of resources in NOAA's sanctuaries, drivers and pressures on those resources, current conditions and trends for resources and ecosystem services, and management responses to the pressures that threaten the integrity of the marine environment. Condition reports include information on the status and trends of water quality, habitat, living resources and maritime archaeological resources, and the human activities that affect them. They present responses to a set of questions posed to all sanctuaries. The reports also rate ecosystem services status and trends. Resource and ecosystem service status are rated on a scale from good to poor, and the timelines used for comparison vary from topic to topic. Trends in the status of resources and ecosystem services are also reported, and are generally based on observed changes in status over the past five years, unless otherwise specified.

The reports serve as a tool for resource managers, researchers, policy makers, and educators. Condition reports distill large amounts of information, ranging from technical data to traditional, local and personal ecological knowledge into concise, easily understood assessments that can be interpreted for a wide audience. The reports help identify gaps in current monitoring efforts, as well as causal factors that may require monitoring and potential remediation in the years to come. The data discussed in the reports will enable resource managers and stakeholders to not only acknowledge prior changes in resource status, but also provide guidance for future management challenges.

ID348 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 6/30/2018
Contact Person: Kim Jenkins Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID348

Title and Description:

Climate Change and the Olympic Coast: Interpreting Potential Futures

Global projections of the physical and biological effects of climate change are increasingly established and accepted, but the scale of global climate models do not lend themselves to interpreting climate change projections for specific areas of special management concern. The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS), through its management plan, has expressed a desire to start managing for changing climate, and the goal of this report is to support that effort by collating and analyzing the available peer-reviewed literature on the documented and projected physical and biological changes likely to impact the OCNMS in the coming century. A comprehensive literature review and analysis were used to assess possible future conditions for ocean temperature, acidification, sea level rise, storm patterns, ocean currents, hypoxia/anoxia and river hydrology. Additionally, the biological consequences of changes in these physical parameters were interpreted broadly for various habitats, and also for specific species or species groups including phytoplankton, zooplankton, marine algae, deep-water corals, mussels, coastal urchin species, Dungeness Crab, fish, marine mammals and seabirds. Finally, the sensitivity of the resources managed by the OCNMS to climate change area analyzed, and management options available to the OCNMS to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change are considered.

ID: 237 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3/15/2013
Actual Dissemination Date: 2/242013
Contact Person: Kim Jenkins Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID237

Title and Description:

Designation of Critical Habitat for the Main Hawaiian Islands Insular False Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment

Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act requires the designation of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species and designations must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available. We are obtaining peer review of the biological report and the economic analysis that will inform the designation of critical habitat for the Main Hawaiian Islands Insular False Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment.

ID369 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 8/1/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID369

Title and Description:

Draft Biological Report for the Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexico, Central American, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales

This report summarizes the available data on habitat uses and needs of humpback whales and the process for determining what areas meet the definition of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The assessment and findings provided in this report, in conjunction with other agency analyses (e.g., economic analyses), will be used to inform and support any subsequent proposal to designate critical habitat for the Mexico, Central America, and Western North Pacific distinct population segments (DPSs) of humpback whales.

ID: 400 Info. Type: ISA
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 9/26/2019
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 9/28/2020
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID400

Title and Description:

Draft Recovery Plan for the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) - Revision

NMFS finalized a recovery plan for the blue whale in 1998, and in 2012 indicated its intent to update the plan. This draft revised recovery plan summarizes the best available information on blue whale natural history and the known and potential threats to the species. The document also describes a recovery strategy to address the potential threats and includes recovery goals and criteria. Once finalized, the plan will be used to direct U.S. activities and to encourage international cooperation to promote the recovery of this endangered species.

ID376 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date:10/1/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID376

Title and Description: - Due to new information, a new report is being prepared, and this current version of the report will not be reviewed. This item is closed.

Dwarf Seahorse Biological Assessment

The information and data in the biological assessment for the dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) will be used to inform the status of the species throughout its range and the subsequent Endangered Species Act listing decision. The biological assessment contains information on the dwarf seahorse’s life history and threats. We are seeking peer review on the contents of the biological assessments to ensure that it contains the best available information and data on the dwarf seahorse’s life history, threats to the continued existence of the species throughout the range, the effect of the fishery, and any existing regulatory mechanisms that may be regulating threats.

ID: 239 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 7/8/2013
Actual Dissemination Date: 2/3/2014 (peer review report, but not yet final work product)
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID239

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Designation for 7 Caribbean Corals Information Report

This report is part of the information basis for the proposed designation of critical habitat for 7 Caribbean corals under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It contains: (1) the biological information used to determine the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species that require special management, and the specific areas containing the features, and (2) the economic impact of designating critical habitat.

ID346 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3/31/2018
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID346

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Designation for 7 Indo-Pacific Corals Information Report

NMFS proposed coral critical habitat for listing Indo-Pacific corals in November 2020. The primary supporting document was the Indo-Pacific Corals Information Report, which was peer-reviewed in 2019 (see Peer Review Report filename "2019.08.13_Coral CH Peer Review Plan PIRO").

ID: 350 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 11/1/2022
Actual Dissemination Date: 11/1/2022
Contact Person: Carl Rhodes Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID350

NOTE: This project is being re-started and the item will be replaced with a new ID number, ID352,.

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act draft status review report of two East Atlantic guitarfishes

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, two species of foreign guitarfishes petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Status reviews are required under Section 4 of the Act. The two species of guitarfish are: Rhinobatos cemiculus and Rhinobatos rhinobatos.

ID: 263 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 9/1/2014
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act draft status review report for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata)

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), which was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Status reviews are required under section 4 of the Act. The status review report will help inform the decision whether this species warrants listing as threatened or endangered under the Act.

ID365 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3/21/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID365

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report for the Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, coelacanth, which was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Status reviews are required under section 4 of the Act. The status review report will help inform the decision whether this species warrants listing under the Act.

ID:305 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated DIssemination Date: 12/30/2014
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID305

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report for the Eastern Taiwan Strait population of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, the Eastern Taiwan Strait (ETS) Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin population, which was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Status reviews are required under section 4 of the Act. The status review report will help inform the decision whether this species warrants listing under the Act.

ID: 278 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 7/25/2014
Contact Person: Michael LIddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID278

Title and Description:

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report for the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale

The information is a review of the biological and conservation status of, and extinction risk to, Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), which was petitioned for listing as an endangered distinct population segment under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A review of the status of the species is required under section 4 of the ESA. The Bryde's whale status review report will help inform the decision whether the Bryde's whale in the Gulf of Mexico warrants listing under the ESA.

ID:337 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 5/2/2016
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/20/2016
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID337

Title and Description:

Explaining Extreme Events of 2013 from a Climate Perspective

Explaining Extreme Events of 2013 from a Climate Perspective is part of a recurring, annual ~100 page collection of short weather and climate attribution papers on extreme weather and climate events of the preceding year. The contributions are written by over 20 research groups around the world. Scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, in collaboration with a scientists at NOAA OAR and the UK Met Office, serve as editors and compilers of the report which is published as a supplement to the September issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Perspectives are provided on the extent to which the climate system varies and changes as well as the effect that climate is having on societies and the environment.

ID: 292 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 9/10/2014
Contact Person:Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID292

Title and Description:

Explaining Extreme Events of 2014 from a Climate Perspective.

Explaining Extreme Events of 2014 from a Climate Perspective is part of a recurring, annual ~100 page collection of short weather and climate attribution papers on extreme weather and climate events of the preceding year. The contributions are written by over 20 research groups around the world. Scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, in collaboration with a scientists at NOAA OAR and the UK Met Office, serve as editors and compilers of the report which is published as a supplement to the September issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

ID:313 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated DIssemination Date: 9/10/2015
Actual Dissemination Date: 11/5/2015
Contact Person: Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID313

Title and Description:

Explaining Extreme Events of 2015 from a Climate Perspective.

Explaining Extreme Events of 2015 from a Climate Perspective is a recurring, annual ~100 page collection of short weather and climate attribution papers on extreme weather and climate events of the preceding year. The contributions are written by over 20 research groups around the world. Scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, in collaboration with a scientists at NOAA OAR and the UK Met Office, serve as editors and compilers of the report which is published as a supplement to the October issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

ID354 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date:11/5/2016
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/15/2016
Contact Person: Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID354

Title and Description:

Explaining Extreme Events of 2016 from a Climate Perspective

Explaining Extreme Events from a Climate Perspective is a recurring, annual ~100 page collection of short weather and climate attribution papers on extreme weather and climate events of the preceding year. The contributions are written by over 20 research groups around the world. Scientists at NESDIS' National Centers for Environmental Information, in collaboration with a scientists at OAR and the UK Met Office, serve as editors and compilers of the report which is published as a supplement to a fall issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

ID380 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 11/5/2017
Contact Person:Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID380

Title and Description:

Five-Year Review for Endangered Species Act of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.

The information is a review of the recovery status of the Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), which is listed under the Endangered Species Act. 5-year reviews are required under Section 4 of the Act.

ID: 286 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 10/15//2014
Contact Person: Michael LIddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID286

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2016 Stock Assessment for Pacific hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

The Scientific Review Group (SRG) will be composed of up to six individuals, with two appointed by each party (e.g. the United States and Canada) and two independent members appointed jointly from a list supplied by the Advisory Panel. The SRG will meet annually, or as often as required, to:
· Establish Scientific Review Group terms of reference for approval by the Joint Management Committee
· Review the stock assessment criteria and methods and survey methodologies used by the Joint Technical Committee
· Annually provide, by Mar. 1, unless otherwise specified by the Joint Management Committee, a written technical report of the stock assessment and its scientific advice on annual potential yield
· Perform other duties and functions as directed by the Joint Management Committee.

Additional information regarding the Pacific hake / Whiting Scientific Review Group and Joint Technical Committee, including current member composition and meeting documents, can be found on the Pacific hake/Whiting Treaty website: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Whiting-Management/Treaty.cfmN

ID:334 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3//1/2016
Actual Dissemination Date: 2/25/2016
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID334

Title and Description:

Joint Scientific Peer Review of the 2018 Stock Assessment for Pacific hake / Whiting in US and Canadian waters

This stock assessment reports the status of the trans-boundary coastal Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) resource off the west coast of the United States and Canada. The stock assessment is conducted and peer reviewed as outlined in the Agreement between the Government of the United States of American and the Government of Canada on Pacific hake / Whiting. This agreement formalizes past scientific and stock assessment collaboration through the creation of two scientific bodies: a Joint Technical Committee, charged with producing an annual stock assessment that includes scientific advice on the annual potential yield of the offshore hake/whiting resource that may be caught for that fishing year; and a Scientific Review Group, charged with providing an independent peer review of the Joint Technical Committee's scientific products.
The Scientific Review Group (SRG) will be composed of up to six individuals, with two appointed by each party (e.g. the United States and Canada) and two independent members appointed jointly from a list supplied by the Advisory Panel. The SRG will meet annually, or as often as required, to:
· Establish Scientific Review Group terms of reference for approval by the Joint Management Committee
· Review the stock assessment criteria and methods and survey methodologies used by the Joint Technical Committee
· Annually provide, by Mar. 1, unless otherwise specified by the Joint Management Committee, a written technical report of the stock assessment and its scientific advice on annual potential yield
· Perform other duties and functions as directed by the Joint Management Committee.
Additional information regarding the Pacific hake / Whiting Scientific Review Group and Joint Technical Committee, including current member composition and meeting documents, can be found on the Pacific hake/Whiting Treaty website: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Whiting-Management/Treaty.cfmN

ID383 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3//15/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID383

Title and Description:

Leatherback Turtle Status Review

This status review provides the scientific basis (i.e., the best available scientific and commercial data) for management decisions regarding a petition to identify the North Pacific leatherback turtle as a distinct population segment and list it as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

ID384 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 9/20/2019
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact info
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID384

Title and Description:

Lesser Electric Ray Status Review

The Lesser Electric Electric Ray (Narcine bancroftii) Status Review will be used in making an Endangered Species Act listing determination.

ID:325 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated DIssemination Date: 7/31/2015
Actual Dissemination Date: 1/3/2017
Contact Person: Michael LIddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID325

Title and Description:

Loggerhead Turtle North Pacific Ocean DPS Status Assessment

This status assessment provides the scientific basis (i.e., the best available scientific and commercial data) for management decisions, such as recovery planning, 5-year reviews, and section 7 consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

ID385 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 6/1/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact informaton
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID385

Title and Description:

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES – CREEL SURVEY
DOCUMENTATION

The information being reviewed is a complete documentation of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) recreational fisheries creel survey (LA Creel) data collection methods. In 2014, LDWF implemented the LA Creel survey to replace NOAA Fisheries recreational survey. This documentation outlines the survey program and is being reviewed for potential certification by NOAA Fisheries.

ID341 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID341

Title and Description:

Operational Assessments of 20 Northeast Groundfish Stocks

In September 2015 the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) will carry out Operational Stock Assessments of 20 Atlantic groundfish stocks which occur off the NE coast of the US. These stocks are managed by the New England Fishery Management Council and are included in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The stocks were last assessed in 2008 and 2012. The assessments in 2015 will be peer reviewed by members of the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC), and comments from the review panel will be included in the final assessment report. The results will be published by the NEFSC and will serve as a basis for fishery management specifications starting in May 2016.

ID:321 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated DIssemination Date:10.15//2015
Contact Person: Michael LIddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID321

Title and Description:

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDIFE – OCEAN RECREATIONAL BOAT SURVEY

The information being reviewed is a complete documentation of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Ocean Recreational Boat Survey (ORBS) recreational fisheries data collection methods. The ORBS program conducts angler-intercept interviews and boat counts to collect data on kept and released fish and angler effort, as well as biological samples. In 2010, NOAA Fisheries Marine Recreational Information Program sponsored an independent review of the ORBS. Since then, ODFW has pilot tested improvements recommended in that review. This documentation outlines the improved survey program and is being reviewed again for potential certification by NOAA Fisheries.

ID342 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: Not given.
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID342

Title and Description:

Population genetics of Halophila johnsonii Eiseman

This is a final report delivered to NMFS that contains influential scientific information pertaining to the taxonomic status of Johnson's seagrass. The information is based on genetic analyses conducted in 2013 and 2014. While the lead authors of this report are in the process of modifying this information into peer reviewed journal articles, we (NMFS) are tasked with using the best information available to administer the Endangered Species Act. The information will be used to conduct a status review on the species, specifically evaluating its listing status.

Following comments received during the peer review NMFS decided not to publish the report to our website and not to proceed with a status review. Based on the peer review comments, the agency decided against publishing the report to our website and further decided to abort the intended status review.

ID:323 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated DIssemination Date: 7/31/2015
Contact Person: Michael LIddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID323

Title and Description:

Recovery Plan for Listed Indo-Pacific Corals

The recovery plan for listed Indo-Pacific corals will consist of three separate documents: the Recovery Status Review, which will review the biology, ecology, and threats to the species; and the Recovery Plan, which will include objective and measurable recovery criteria, a description of site- specific management actions necessary to conserve the species, and estimates of time and costs required to achieve the plan's goals,; and the Recovery Implementation Strategy, which steps down the recovery actions into discreet recovery activities.

ID359 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: peer review report, 1/2/2025; final product: 10/30/2025
Actual Dissemination Date:
Contact Person: CDR Jonathan R. Heesch Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID359

Title and Description:

Recovery Plan for the Main Hawaiian Islands Insular False Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment

The recovery plan for the Main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale will consist of two separate documents: the Species Status Assessment, which will review the biology, ecology, and threats to the species; and the Recovery Plan, which will include objective and measurable recovery criteria, a description of site-specific management actions necessary to conserve the species, estimates of time and costs required to achieve the plan's goals; and the Recovery Implementation Strategy.

ID360 Info. Type: ISI
ID360 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 8/1/2018 for the peer review report and 9/30/2018 for final project
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID360

Title and Description:

Replacement of Critical Habitat for the Western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Steller Sea Lion -- Biological Report

Section 4 of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires the designation of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. It allows for the revision of existing critical habitat. Both designation and revision are required to be based upon the best scientific and commercial data available. The Draft Biological Report for Identifying Critical Habitat for the Western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Steller Sea Lion presents information needed to determine if NMFS should replace currently designated critical habitat for Steller sea lions to account for the delisting of the Eastern DPS and to focus on identifying those specific geographical areas that meet the ESA's definition of critical habitat for the Western DPS. The intent of the report is to provide the best available information about; the geographical range of the species at the time of listing; its current range; its biology, ecology, and status necessary to identify those physical and biological features of its habitat that are essential to its conservation; whether those essential features may require special management considerations or protection; specific geographical locations where those physical and biological features are located; and whether there are unoccupied geographical areas that are essential to its conservation. This report will be considered by NOAA Fisheries in its decision about critical habitat for the Western DPS under Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act.

ID:332 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 5/1/2017
Actual Dissemination Date: 9/1/207
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID332

Title and Description:

Review of Length and Biomass Augmented Catch-MSY Assessment Methods

A large number of fish and invertebrate species listed in fisheries management plans have insufficient data to conduct routine stock assessments. Nearly all of the assessment methods for data-poor stocks rely solely on catch data, or one source of data for directly estimating population density. A modified integrated assessment model has been developed, focusing on developing extensions for the Catch-MSY method, or stock reduction analysis proposed by Martell and Froese (2012) and Taggart and Kimura (1982)and modified by Sabater & Kleiber (2014), by incorporating data other than catch times series that directly inform total mortality rates (e.g. changes in mean size), relative and absolute abundance estimates, and other life history information. This modified model is being applied to data-poor coral reef fish stocks throughout the Pacific Islands Region, including Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. However these scientific analyses have not previously been applied for management purposes in the Pacific Islands Region, so there is a need to conduct an independent peer review of the analyses to improve the scientific basis for management.

ID339 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 12/31/2015
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID339

Title and Description:

SAW-SARC 61, 2016

A comprehensive Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) on Atlantic surfclam was conducted in July 2016. The Northeast Regional SAW is a formal, scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers. The SAW protocol is used to prepare and review assessments for fish stocks in the offshore US waters of the Northwest Atlantic. This represents the convening of the 61st SAW-SARC since the program's inception in 1985.

ID363 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 11/30/2016
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID363

Title and Description:

SAW-SARC64 Public Meeting

NMFS and the Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) will convene the 64th SAW Stock Assessment Review Committee for the purpose of reviewing the stock assessments of Atlantic mackerel. The Northeast Regional SAW is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by SAW working groups and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts called the Stock Assessment Review Committee, or SARC.

ID388 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 2/15/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID388

Title and Description:

SAW-SARC65 Public Meeting

ID389 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 9/1/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID389

Title and Description:

SAW-SARC66 Public Meeting

NMFS and the Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) will convene the 65th SAW Stock Assessment Review Committee for the purpose of reviewing the stock assessments of Summer flounder and Striped bass. The Northeast Regional SAW is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by SAW working groups and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts called the Stock Assessment Review Committee, or SARC.

ID390 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 2/1/2019
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID390

Title and Description: The assessment was halted due to issues with the data, so there will be no review.

SEDAR 48: Southeastern U.S. Black Grouper

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Southeastern US Black Grouper) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID367 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 12/15/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
:Peer Revew Plab for this item: ID367

Title and Description:

SEDAR 49 Gulf of Mexico data-limited species

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Gulf of Mexico data-limited species: Red Drum, Lane Snapper, Wenchman, Yellowmouth Grouper, Speckled Hind, Snowy Grouper, Almaco Jack, Lesser Amberjack) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries

ID361 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 12/1/2016
Actual Dissemination Date: 12/6/2016
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID361

Title and Description:

SEDAR 50 Atlantic blueline tilefish

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Atlantic blueline tilefish) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID356 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 9/26/2016
Actual Dissemination Date: 8/31/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get Contact Informatiion
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID356

Title and Description:

SEDAR 51: Gulf of Mexico Gray Snapper

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Gulf of Mexico gray snapper) relative to definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks, estimates of management benchmarks, and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the appropriate regional fishery management agencies to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID366 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 4/20/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this item: ID366

Title and Description:

State of the Climate in 2014

The State of the Climate Report is a recurring, annual 200+ page summary of weather and climate conditions of the past year. Working with contributing authors from about 55 countries around the world, this report places today's climate in historical context and provides perspectives on the extent to which the climate system varies and changes as well as the effect that climate is having on societies and the environment.

ID: 291 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 7/16/2015
Actual Disseminiation Date: 6/26/2015 (for final product, 7/16/2015)
Contact Person:Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID291

Title and Description:

State of the Climate in 2015.

ID355 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date (final work product, peer review report not available): 5/31/2016
Contact Person: Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID355

Title and Description:

State of the Climate in 2016

ID379 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 6/15/2017
Actual Dissemination Date: 8/10/2017 (final work product; peer review report not available)
Contact Person:Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID379

Title and Description:

State of the Climate in 2017

The State of the Climate Report is a recurring, annual 200+ page summary of weather and climate conditions of the past year. Working with contributing authors from about 60 countries around the world, this report places today's climate in historical context and provides perspectives on the extent to which the climate system varies and changes as well as the effect that climate is having on societies and the environment.

ID391 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 8/1/2018
Contact Person:Peter Grimm Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID391

Title and Description:

Status Review for Endangered Species Act consideration of the giant manta ray (Manta birostris) and reef manta ray (Manta alfredi)

The status review for the giant and reef manta rays will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of these species as well as their respective risks of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding determination on whether listing the giant manta ray and reef manta ray is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID353 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 11/10/2016
Actual Dissemination Date: 1/12/2017
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID353

Title and Description:

Status Review for Endangered Species Act consideration of two guitarfishes

The draft status review report is a review of the biologicla and conservation status of, and the exiction risk to, two species of guitarfish, the common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) and the blackchin guitarfish (Rhinobatos cemiculus). Status reviews are required under Section 4 of the Act. This peer review plan replaces peer review plan 263 which was posted on 5/15/2014 and was titled: Endangered Species Act draft status review report of two East Atlantic guitarfishes.

ID352 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 7/15/2016
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID352

Title and Description:

Status Review for Endangered Species Act consideration of the chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius)

The status review for the chambered nautilus will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of this species as well as its respective risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding determination on whether listing the chambered nautilus is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID371 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date and Date of Completion: 5/31/2017
Actual Dissemination Date: 10/23/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID371

Title and Description:

Status Review of the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Under the Endangered Species Act

In May 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) convened the Humpback Whale Biological Review Team (BRT) to conduct a comprehensive review of the status of humpback whales as the basis for considering revisions to this species’ Endangered Species Act listing status. Conducting an ESA status review involves two key tasks: identifying the taxonomic units (species, subspecies or DPS) to be evaluated, and assessing the risk of extinction for each of these units.

ID: 284 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 12/1/2014
Contact Person: Michael LIddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID284

Title and Description:

Status Review Report of 7 Giant Clam Species Petitioned Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act: Hippopus hippopus, H. porcellanus, Tridacna derasa, T. gigas, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosa, and T. squamosina.

The status review document for 7 giant clams will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of the species as well as each species' risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their respective ranges. The information in the review will be used to reach a determination on whether listing each species is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act. We received an initial round of peer review on this Status Review Report from three subject matter experts in 2019. After substantial revision to the previous version of this report, we received a second round of peer review from two subject matter experts.

ID: ID382 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 11/30/2023
Contact Person:Carl Rhodes NOAA Locator
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID382

Title and Description:

Status Review Report of the Common and Bigeye Thresher Sharks: Alopias vulpinus and Alopias superciliosus

The status review document for the thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus and A. superciliosus) will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of the species as well as the species' risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding determination on whether listing the species is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID344 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 2/28/2016
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID344

Title and Description:

Status Review Report of the Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)

The status review document for the oceanic whitetip shark will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of the species as well as the species' risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding determination on whether listing the species is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID345 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 9/1//2016
Actual DIssemination Date: 12/20/2016
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID345

Title and Description:

Status Review Report of the Taiwanese humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis)

The status review document for the Taiwanese humpback dolphin will consist of a report explaining the best available information on the biology and status of the species as well as the species' risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The information in the review will be used to make a 12-month finding determination on whether listing the species is warranted or not warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

ID370 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3/15/2017
Actual Dissemination Date: 5/24/2017
Actual Dissemination Date (draft final product): 6/26/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID370

Title and Description:

Basis-of-Design Technical Guidance for Offshore Aquaculture Installations in the Gulf of Mexico

This document will provide guidance for potential offshore aquaculture applicants in regard to the structural integrity and ability of proposed aquaculture systems to withstand physical stresses associated with major storm events. Specifically, the document describes the data, information and analyses that include information on general site characteristics, system layout, system analysis and loading, individual component specifications, auxiliary equipment and deployment and operations protocols.

ID381 Info. Type: ISA
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3/1/2018
Estimated Dissemination Date of Final Work Product: 4/16/2019
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID381

Title and Description:

U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessment (2017)

Section 117 of the U. S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), as Amended through 1997, requires that a stock assessment be prepared for each marine mammal stock that occurs in waters under USA jurisdiction in consultation with regional Scientific Review Groups (SRGs). The SRGs consist of individuals with expertise in marine mammal biology and ecology, population dynamics and modeling, and commercial fishing technology and practices and are mandated to review the marine mammal stock assessments and provide advice to the Secretary of Commerce. Use of these experts enables NOAA to obtain the best available scientific information for these stock assessments. The reports are then made available on the Federal Register for public review and comment before final publication.

The MMPA also requires that stock assessments be updated at least annually for stocks specified as strategic stocks, or for which significant new information is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic stocks. In these documents, major revisions and updating of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico SARs are completed for approximately ten strategic stocks and for upwards to 50 nonstrategic stocks.

ID386 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated and Actual Dissemination Date: 3/7/2017
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID386

Title and Description:

U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessment (2018)

ID387 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 3/7/2018
Contact Person:Michael Liddel Get contact information
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID387

Title and Description:
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDIFE – OCEAN SAMPLING PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION

The information being reviewed is a complete documentation of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Ocean Sampling Program (OSP) recreational fisheries data
collection methods. The WDFW OSP is a stratified, two-stage survey designed to estimate total ocean recreational fishery effort and catch by boat type (charter and private), port,
catch area, and trip type (primary target species). In 2010, NOAA Fisheries Marine Recreational Information Program sponsored an independent review of the OSP. Since
then, WDFW has pilot tested improvements recommended in that review. This documentation outlines the improved survey program and is being reviewed again for
potential certification by NOAA Fisheries.

ID343 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: Not given.
Contact Person: Michael Liddel Get contact info
Peer Review Plan for this Item: ID343