Raimondo helps deliver funding for fisheries climate battle
My mother, who passed a few years ago, had a photo of Gina Raimondo sitting with her at her kitchen table. The photo was taken years ago when Raimondo was campaigning in the neighborhood as she ran for the governor’s seat in Rhode Island for the first time. She was a friend of habitat, fish and fishing then and is today.
Now the U.S. secretary of commerce, Raimondo has announced about $3.3 billion in funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Inflation Reduction Act. NOAA Fisheries is thus receiving unprecedented funding to invest in strengthening the agency’s core mission to provide science-based management and conservation of the nation’s marine resources as we confront climate change.
The infusion of funds allows NOAA Fisheries to advance several critical areas focused on tackling the impacts of a changing climate. Funds are earmarked for NOAA Fisheries Climate and Ecosystem Fisheries' initiative as well as North Atlantic right whale programs, Pacific salmon, red snapper, facilities modernization, Arctic research, permitting efficiency and support for hatcheries and other tribal initiatives.
To maintain sustainable fisheries and to keep up with fish stock range movements due to warming water, acidification, sea level rise and other climate impacts, data acquisition and management will receive a whopping $145 million. For a comprehensive outline on funding initiatives, visit Inflation Reduction Act: A Historic Investment in America’s Climate Resilience | NOAA Fisheries.
The fishing community has been advocating for enhanced NOAA funding for many years to help make our fisheries climate-ready. Now we must implement effective plans but I believe we should pause and tip our hats to Raimondo, and her NOAA Fisheries chief, Janet Coit, for facilitating this round of funding.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and bluefish. "East End" Eddie Doherty, fishing author and Cape Cod Canal fishing expert reported: “The action on the canal has slowed down again, however, the new moon appears on Father’s Day and there are still schools of bait swimming in the Big Ditch, so hopefully more predators return soon.” Capt. Ray Stachelek of Cast-a-Fly Charters said: “Last Thursday, anglers Dave Pollack and Mario Renzi hooked up with multiple striped bass to 25 pounds on a fly rod and bluefish to 12 pounds with fish chasing sand eels from Point Judith to Hazard Avenue, Narragansett.” Dave Henault of Ocean State Bait & Tackle in Providence reported: “The striped bass and bluefish bite slowed a bit this week with most of the action moving to the lower East Passage with Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport doing well.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside said: “The striped bass and bluefish bite diminished in Providence, yet the bite at Colt State Park and Bristol Harbor remained strong with pogies and trolling with tube-and-worm and umbrella rigs working well for customers.” Joe Castaldi of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown reported: “Although things slowed in the Bay this week, the bite out in front off Newport and Point Judith remain very strong for large bass.” Angler Curt Shumway reports a strong weekend striped bass bite on the Southwest Ledge of Block Island where he hooked up with four nice striped bass to 45 pounds. Angler Greg Spier said earlier this week, “Trolled a bit two hours after low tide on the lower Sakonnet River. Plenty of boats fishing, I think with live pogies. We were using tube-and-worm — nothing. Fished the incoming tide till high tide on a reef off Newport and it yielded a 35-inch striper.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown said: “Striped bass fishing is becoming more consistent with the bass aggressively feeding on sand eels and squid on the south shore. There are also quite a few bass being caught in the salt ponds on live bait and artificials with big bluefish mixed in.”
Scup, black sea bass and summer flounder. “We had a customer catch a 6.25-pound black sea bass at the Newport Bridge this weekend along with three nice keeper fluke," Littlefield said. "Scup is moving up the bay to Colt State Park with anglers at Sabin Pont catching a few, too.” Castaldi said: “The scup and black sea bass bite is very good in the Bay and off southern coastal shores.” Henault reported: “The scup, black sea bass and summer flounder bite is good on the East Passage channel pads, in front of Warwick Light and at Prudence Island, with areas out in front of Newport producing for anglers too.” O’Donnell said: “The best fluke bite is out in deeper water, so you might want to start looking in depths of 40 feet or more. Block Island has been more consistent than the south shore. Scup reports are improving with mostly large scup and there are a few black sea bass being caught. Bigger ones in deeper water and shorts in shallow water.”
“Freshwater fishing remains strong for both largemouth bass and trout in ponds that have been stocked, including Willet Avenue Pond in Riverside, which was restocked last week,” Littlefield said. Castaldi said: “The largemouth bass bite remains very strong for customers with many having positive results with shiners.”
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Raimondo announces $3.3B in funding for NOAA Fisheries' climate change battle
