Recently
released, the National
Marine Fisheries Service's annual report
to Congress indicates that the status of many
U.S. marine fish stocks improved last year. Acting
NOAA Administrator Scott Gudes indicated that 75
rebuilding programs are in place and that NOAA is
working with regional fishery management councils
on four more. He underscored that while there have
been significant gains, it is essential to work
with the regional councils to reduce the number
of overfished stocks and comply more fully with
conservation standards.
More comprehensive than prior annual reports, the
2000 report gives managers additional information
about stocks; differentiates between stocks that
are overfished and those where overfishing is occurring;
and identifies necessary management actions.
A few highlights:
• There was no overfishing in 210 stocks, 51
more than in 1999.
• There was overfishing in 72 stocks, 5 less
than in 1999.
• 148 stocks were not overfished in 2000, 26
more than in 1999.
• The status of over 600 stocks is unknown or
undefined.
The full report is online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/
reports.html
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NESDIS's
policy and technical expertise is
supporting the Bush Administration's space policy.
Chaired by the National Security Council, an interagency
group on space issues is taking the lead in coordinating
space policy and under Gregory Withee, Assistant
Administrator for Satellite and Information Services,
NOAA is supporting that process.
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Communicating effectively is being underscored
in a series of four courses for NOS
staff. Over the past six months, Assistant Administrator
Margaret Davidson has created opportunities for
over 100 staff to benefit from an innovative partnership
with the Fish and Wildlife Service's National Conservation
Training Center in West Virginia. Training in vital,
everyday communications skills kicked off the series.
"Communications and Interpersonal Relationships"
is next in the professional development series.
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NOAA
satellites have seen a severe, persistent
drought in the Horn of Africa. Similar to last
year, the 2001 drought started early and over
the last two months has covered most of Ethiopia,
Somalia and Kenya. Last year's drought turned
into a national disaster, affecting 18 million
people in March and April.
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Selected
from a competitive pool of many hundreds, 3 NOAA employees
recently joined 13 other volunteers in boosting the
effectiveness of the Presidential Classroom for Young
Americans. Each year this program gives over 300 American
teenagers a close-up look at policy-making in the
nation's capital. This year the students explored
such issues as environmental policy, disease control,
personal freedom and technology, and media's role
in a democracy.
NESDIS
meteorologist Ida Hakkarinen volunteered for the sixth
consecutive year. NMFS's Elizabeth Broughton and Jill
Stevenson also brought home the meaning of public
service for federal employees.
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Brian Soden, a physical scientist at NOAA
Research's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
in Princeton, New Jersey, is the 2001 winner of
the NOAA-David Johnson Award presented by the National
Space Club. The award is given for outstanding use
of earth observation satellite data that has operational
potential. Brian received his award for successfully
using data from multiple satellite systems to diagnose
principal features of earth's weather and climate
system. The award is named after NOAA's David Johnson,
now retired. He pioneered operational meteorological
satellites and was the first administrator of what
has become NOAA's National
Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
-- or NESDIS.
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One of the last Hammer Awards has been given
to NOAA and two state partners in South Carolina.
Hammer Awards recognize efforts to create new government
practices that work better and cost less. Covering
South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida,
NOAA and partners won for creating a practical way
to computerize an information system for the sea.
Before launching an ocean project, users can now
access laws, environmental information, and a range
of human and natural site factors. This is the first
regional geographic information system developed
for the ocean.
NOAA's
Coastal Services Center and Office of Ocean and
Coastal Resources were key to the team. Honors went
to Cindy Fowler, Anne Hale Miglarese, Robert Neely,
Tony LaVoi, Nicholas Schmidt, Kimberly Cohen, Hamilton
Smillie, Eric Treml, and Joelle Gore.
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NOAA
Research recently recognized 15 scientists with
Outstanding Scientific Research Paper Awards and
two scientists for Outstanding Scientific Review/Tutorial
Papers. Over the last two years, each paper has
been published in a major national or international
journal.
Honored
with Outstanding Scientific Research Paper Awards:
G.N Kiladis, Aeronomy Laboratory; R.L. Molinari,
W.D. Wilson and H.E. Willoughby, Atlantic Oceanographic
and Meteorological Laboratory; J.H. Butler, S.A.
Montzka, J.W. Elkins, E.J. Dlugokencky, P.M. Lang,
and P. P. Tans, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostic
Laboratory; R. J. Stouffer, V. Ramaswamy, B.J. Soden,
T.R. Knutson, and R.E. Tuleya, Geophysical Fluid
Dynamics Laboratory; and M.J. McPhaden, R.A. Feely,
R. Wanninkhof, and P. Tans, Pacific Marine Environment
Laboratory. Honored for Outstanding Scientific Review/Tutorial
Papers: S. Solomon, Aeronomy Laboratory; and F.
Gonzales, Pacific Marine Environment Laboratory.
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