vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Fish and Shellfish Program
NEWSLETTER
May 2018
EPA 823-N-18-005
In This Issue
Recent Advisory News	1
EPA News				 4
Other News 				6
Recently Awarded Research.,,. 10
Tech and Tools	12
Recent Publications	12
Upcoming Meetings
and Conferences			13
This issue of the Fish and Shellfish Program Newsletter generally focuses on Hawaii and
the U.S. Territories.
Recent Advisory News
Hawaii Department of Health Issues Fish
* and Shellfish Advisory for Kaneohe Marine
Corps Base Fuel Pier and Marina Area
On December 6, 2017, the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) advised the public
not to eat fish and shellfish caught in the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH)
Fuel Pier and Marina Area. Fish from the area may contain unsafe levels of harmful
chemicals. Higher risk groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, women who are
planning a pregnancy and children are especially sensitive to these chemicals. MCBH has
issued a catch-and-release restriction for the area where recreational fishing is permitted
on a limited basis.
This newsletter provides information
only. This newsletter does not
impose legally binding requirements
on the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), states, tribes, other
regulatory authorities, or the
regulated community. The Office of
Science and Technology, Office of
Water, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has approved this newsletter
for publication. Mention of trade
names, products, orsen/ices does
not convey and should not be
interpreted as conveying official EPA
approval, endorsement, or
recommendation for use.
https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech
Preliminary tests from two species of whole goatfish caught in the area indicate unsafe
levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the fish. Limited sampling of sediment in
the area also found PCBs above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOH
guidelines.
An ongoing investigation by the Navy/Marine Corps of the area shows the likely sources
of contaminants in the fish were PCB-containing dielectric fluids from electrical
transformers that may have leaked or spilled into the soil at the salvage yard. The salvage
site was used to store excess construction and building materials during the 1940s and
1950s.
The DOH interim fish advisory will remain in effect until more extensive sampling is
completed by the Navy/Marine Corps. DOH will work closely with MCBH to further
investigate the impact of PCBs at the salvage yard site and determine if a long-term fish
advisory is needed.
This newsletter provides a monthly summary of news about fish and shellfish

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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter
May 2018
DOH MCBH Advisory Factsheet: Interim Fish Advisory for Fuel Pier and Marina Area at the Marine
Corps Base in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Frequently eating PCB-contaminated fish over a period of years may lead to PCBs building up in your body to levels
that could affect your health. The health effects from eating fish
contaminated with PCBs depend on:
•	The concentration of PCBs in the fish you eat,
•	How much fish you eat, and
•	How long you eat it (for example, over weeks, months,
or years).
Health effects also depend on your age, sex, diet, family traits,
lifestyle, and overall state of health.
Eating large amounts of fish from this area for many years may
put you at higher risk for cancer or other diseases.
Studies have linked PCB exposure to these health
conditions
In the past, some people were exposed to very high levels of
PCBs at work or from accidental poisoning.
•	These people showed harmful health effects to their
skin, eyes, and nerves.
What are PCBs?
PCBs are man-made chemicals
banned in the U.S. since 1976.
PCBs were used extensively in
manufacturing transformers,
capacitors and other electrical
equipment.
PCBs stick to soil and sediment and
remain in the environment for a
long time.
Fish take in PCBs when they eat
sediment or smaller fish containing
PCBs.
PCBs build up in the fat of fish and
can reach levels many times higher
than the level in water or
sediments.
Studies with animals showed that high levels of PCBs could harm the liver, digestive tract, and nerves; and could
affect development, reproduction, and the immune system.
•	PCBs have also been found to cause cancer in some animal studies.
•	EPA says that PCBs probably can cause cancer in humans.
PCB levels in fish are much lower than levels that may have made people sick in the past from work or accidental
poisonings. PCB levels in fish also are much lower than levels given to laboratory animals.
Some studies suggest that low levels of PCBs, like those found in some fish, might cause small decreases in
children's I.Q. or affect their memory, especially if exposures occur during pregnancy.
Your risk of cancer or other health effects from eating contaminated fish or shellfish cannot be
predicted with certainty.
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Some groups are at higher risk for health effects from PCBs:
•	Pregnant women
•	Nursing mothers
•	Women who are planning a pregnancy
•	Children
It is unlikely that you will show obvious signs of harm from PCBs in fish and shellfish.
•	At the PCB levels measured by the Navy in whole goatfish from Fuel Pier and Marina Area at MCBH, DOH
would not expect you to become ill from a single large meal or a few fish meals.
•	However, frequent eating of PCB-contaminated fish over a period of months or years may lead to the
buildup of PCBs that could affect your health.
•	To prevent PCBs from causing harmful effects, DOH advises you to stop eating fish from the Fuel Pier and
Marina Area at MCBH until further testing is completed.
•	Over time, PCBs and other contaminants can slowly clear from your body and lessen your risk.
•	To avoid any risk to your health, follow the DOH fish advisory.
You can also protect your health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
•	Get regular exercise.
•	Eat a balanced and nutritious diet including fish from uncontaminated waters.
•	Moderate your alcohol intake if you drink.
•	If you smoke, try to quit.
•	Get regular medical checkups for yourself and your family.
•	Minimize stress as much as possible.
This interim advisory is based on limited sampling of whole goatfish by the U.S. Navy in the Fuel
Pier and Marina Area. More testing will be done.
•	The fish were sampled to determine if PCBs from the Salvage Yard are concentrating in recreational fish.
•	The testing revealed levels of PCBs that were higher than acceptable.
•	Further testing will determine if the fillets versus the whole fish contain unsafe levels of PCBs.
For more information about DOH oversight of cleanup activities at the Salvage Yard, contact Beryl Ekimoto at
bervl.ekimoto@doh.hawaii.gov. For health effects, contact Dr. Barbara Brooks at barbara.brooks@doh.hawaii.gov.
Source: https://health.hawaii.gov/news/files/2017/12/ 17-102-DOH-issues-fish-advisorv.pdf
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter
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EPA News
New EPA Publications: Effect of Green Macroalgal Blooms on the
Behavior, Growth, and Survival of Cockles in Pacific NW Estuaries;
and Presence of pharmaceuticals in fish from urban rivers
EPA recently published two studies.
Effect of Green Macroalgal Blooms on the Behavior, Growth, and Survival of Cockles
CClinocardium nuttallii) in Pacific NW Estuaries. Nutrient enrichment of estuaries has become a pervasive
issue that adversely affects benthic flora and fauna throughout the world. The impact of nutrient enrichment on the
provision of estuarine ecosystem services is poorly known; however, in U.S. Pacific Northwest estuaries nutrients
are predominately derived from natural sources (e.g., upwelling and red alder), as opposed to the anthropogenic
sources of nutrients found in the majority of U.S. estuaries. Scientists from EPA's Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch in
Newport, Oregon, have quantified the association between naturally occurring green macroalgae (GMA) mats and
an important shellfishery bivalve (Clinocardium nattallii; heart cockles). Through a series of surveys and
experiments in the field, GMA was found to alter the distribution of cockles on a tideflat, suppress shell growth, and
increase mortality. Cockles demonstrated vertical and lateral migration to avoid smothering beneath the mats. This
behavior consequently increased their vulnerability to gull and temperature induced mortality on the sediment
surface. In laboratory experiments, the interaction of a weighted barrier and GMA presence elicited a more rapid
emergence response in cockles than did the sole effect of anoxia, GMA presence, or a weighted barrier alone. This
research reveals that macroalgal mats (which may be produced by nutrient pollution) can directly and indirectly
reduce the growth and survival of a harvested bivalve species, and likely affect other clams similarly.
For more information, contact Nathaniel Lewis at lewis.nathaniel@epa.gov or Ted DeWitt at dewitt.ted@epa.gov.
The full study can be found here: https: //doi .org/1o.°,°vc;4/mepsi 2°,28.
Presence of pharmaceuticals in fish collected from urban rivers in the U.S. EPA 2008—2009
National Rivers and Streams Assessment. This study analyzed 20 pharmaceutical compounds in wild fish
from 25 polluted U.S. river sites downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Thirteen of the 20
pharmaceuticals measured in fish fillets were at concentrations below 10 nanograms per gram (ng/g). The
compounds that occurred most frequently were psychoactive drugs, including venlafaxine, carbamazepine, and its
metabolite 2-hydroxy carbamazepine (58%, 27%, and 42%, respectively). This drug group is prescribed frequently
and does not readily degrade in natural aquatic environments or as a result of conventional treatment in WWTPs.
Additionally, two other drugs, salbutamol (also known as albuterol and treats asthma) and hydrochlorothiazide (a
diuretic), were detected in 20% of the samples. The study concluded that seven pharmaceutical families (anti-
inflammatories, antihelmintics, antiplatelet agents, 13-blockers, diuretics, psychoactive drugs, and antiasthmatics)
were detected in eight fish species (white sucker, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, common snook,
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter
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largemouth bass, freshwater drum, and spotted bass). These concentrations in fish were caused by chronic exposure
to water that was contaminated with these substances.
For more information, contact Leanne Stahl at stahl.leanne@epa.gov. The study can be found here:
https://\v\v\v.ncbi.nliri.nih.go\/piibmed/2o6-:;'io6.
EPA has a New Coral Reef Website
EPA launched its new website on coral reefs. The site offers basic information about these intricate ecosystems,
including what they are, where they are found, and why they are important. Coral reefs are among the most
biologically diverse and valuable
ecosystems on Earth. An estimated 25%
of all marine life, including over 4,000
species of fish, is dependent on coral
reefs at some point in their life cycle.
Approximately half a billion people
globally depend on coral reef
ecosystems for food, coastal protection,
and income from tourism and fisheries.
Map of tropical coral reef ecosystems within the U.S. This map provides the general geographic
distribution of U.S. coral reef habitat. (Map courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Healthy coral reefs provide:	Administration)
•	Habitat, feeding, spawning, and nursery grounds for over 1 million aquatic species, including commercially
harvested fish species.
•	Food for people living near coral reefs, especially on small islands.
•	Recreation and tourism opportunities, such as fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling, which contribute
billions of dollars to local economies.
•	Protection of coastal infrastructure and prevention of loss of life from storms, tsunamis, floods, and
erosion.
•	Sources of new medicines that can be used
to treat diseases and other health
problems.
Executive Order 1 '":o6o. Coral Reef Protection calls
for all federal agencies whose activities may affect
coral reef ecosystems to:
•	Identify such actions.
•	Use their programs and authorities to
protect and enhance coral reef ecosystems.
5
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Creole wrasse and Porites, a species of stony coral. (Photo courtesy of Charles
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter
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• Ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or earn out will not degrade the condition of coral reef
ecosystems.
EPA protects coral reefs by implementing Clean Water Act programs that protect water quality in watersheds and
coastal zones of coral reef areas. EPA also supports efforts to monitor and assess the condition of U.S. coral reefs,
and conducts research into the causes of coral reef deterioration. The Agency is developing tools to help coral reefs
adapt to better handle changing conditions. Much of EPA's work to protect coral reefs is conducted in partnership
with other federal agencies, states, and territories. For example, EPA is an active member of the interagency U.S.
Coral Reef Task Force.
Sources: https://www.epa.gov/coral-reefs and https://www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/what-epa-doing-protect-coral-
reefs
Other News
Assessment of Chemical Contaminants in Sediments and Biota from
Cocos Lagoon, Guam
This National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) National Centers for
Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) research
project, funded by the NOAA's Coral Reef
Conservation Program (CRCP), began in May
2015 and is ongoing. The goal of this project is
to quantify the extent of chemical
contamination in sediments and fish in Cocos
Lagoon, Guam. Significant chemical
contaminant issues have been identified in the
area of Cocos Island, as a result of past land
use activities. The project is providing an
assessment of the spatial distribution of a suite
of both organic and inorganic chemical
contaminants in sediments, as well as
contaminant body burdens in fish.
Why NCCOS Cares
Cocos Lagoon (see Figure 1 from NCCOS'
technical memorandum) is an atoll-like coral
reef lagoon located on the southwestern coast T. . , ,	r. ,, .. , ,	... . , .
0	The island of Guam. Figure 1 from the Assessment ofChemical Contaminants m
of the island of Guam. The lagoon is separated Sediments and Biota from Cocos Lagoon, Guam, Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS
from the open ocean by a series of fringing	235. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter
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reefs and barrier islands, of which Cocos Island is the largest. Cocos Lagoon is a popular area for recreational
activities including fishing, boating and diving, along with subsistence fishing.
Between 1944 and 1963, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) operated a Long Range Navigation (LORAN) station on
Cocos Island. Components from the LORAN station, including several transformers and capacitors containing
PCBs, likely used in the operation of the station were found on land and in nearby waters. The USCG has since
removed the PCB containing transformers and capacitors, along with a substantial amount of contaminated soil,
but there is evidence that these chemicals have migrated into several marine matrices including fish and nearshore
sediments. This is of concern to local managers and to the public. Exposure to PCBs has been found to elicit a
range of toxic responses in animal studies including reduced growth, reproductive impairment, and vertebral
abnormalities. PCBs may also cause cancer in animals. A fish consumption advisory was put in place in Cocos
Lagoon in 2006, following detection of PCBs in fish through USCG-funded research. In 2015, local resource
managers asked NCCOS for help in assessing chemical contaminants in sediments and fish to understand the extent
of the contamination throughout Cocos Lagoon.
The analysis of samples from Cocos Lagoon is being conducted through the National Status and Trends (NS&T)
Program. Since 1984. NOAA has maintained the NS&T Program, a nationwide long-term monitoring program that
measures the spatial distribution, temporal (historical) trends, and effects of chemical contamination in U.S. coastal
waters. The NS&T Program is located within the Monitoring and Assessment Branch of NCCOS' Stressor Detection
and Impacts Division. Results from the work in Cocos Lagoon will be compared with other data collected from the
nation's coastal areas over the last 30 years as well as with established guidelines.
One of the Guam EPA vessels used to sample Cocos Lagoon. (Image courtesy of NOAA)
NCCOS Partners
For this project, NCCOS worked closely with the
Guam Environmental Protection Agency (Guam
EPA), Guam Department of Agriculture, the
University of Guam, and a local fisher, to design
the sampling strategy and collect the samples
from Cocos Lagoon. NCCOS also worked with
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Sendee
(NMFS) and CRCP scientists on Guam, in the
planning and in the field effort. In addition to
working with the partners in the design of the
project, Guam EPA provided vessels and
personnel for the fieldwork.
What NCCOS Did
For this project, NCCOS collected sediment samples (25 total) and samples of eight species of fish (27 total)
representative of those that are locally eaten. Fish were collected using a cast net or hook and line. Sediment and
fish tissue (whole fish) samples were analyzed for approximately 190 chemical contaminants, including 83 PCBs,
petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and several pesticides such as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloethane). The
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contaminant analysis protocols were developed by NOAA's NS&T Program, and have been used to monitor the
health of the nation's coastal waters for over 30 years. Concentrations of chemical contaminants detected in
sediments were compared to NOAA sediment quality guidelines. Concentrations of contaminants in the fish were
compared with human health screening values (SV) developed by EPA. Risk as defined by EPA is one excess cancer
case per 100,000 individuals that results from consumption of fish contaminated with PCBs over a 70-year lifetime.
When SV are exceeded, more intensive site-specific studies are needed. Subsistence fisher SV are lower than
recreational fishers. Subsistence fishers consume fish at a higher rate, and therefore would potentially accumulate
higher amounts of the PCBs over time.
What NCCOS Found
Sediments. Concentrations of chemical contaminants in sediments were low. One sediment sample near Cocos
Island slightly exceeded a sediment quality guideline established by NOAA for the banned pesticide DDT. The
sediments that occur throughout most of Cocos Lagoon consist of sand and coral gravel, which do not readily
accumulate organic chemical contaminants.
Fish. Concentrations of total PCBs (sum of the 83 PCBs measured) were above EPA SV for some of the fish caught
in Cocos Lagoon. Total PCB concentrations were above the EPA recreational SV in five species (banded sergeant,
blackspot sergeant, convict tang, honeycomb grouper, and orange-striped emperor) from around Cocos Island. No
fish from other locations in the lagoon were above the recreational PCB screening values. Four honeycomb groupers
caught in other parts of Cocos Lagoon were above the subsistence SV. DDT was found at concentrations above the
recreational fisher SV for two fish species, and above the subsistence SV for four other species around Cocos Island.
No fish from any other areas of Cocos Lagoon were above either SV for DDT. No other chemical contaminants
analyzed for this project were above available EPA SV.
Next Steps
NOAA will continue data analysis, working with Guam EPA, the EPA, and the USCG. EPA has indicated that it will
conduct further human health risk assessments using the NOAA data. A technical memorandum on the results
from the collection and analysis of sediments and fish became available in late 2017 and can be found here:
https://repositorv.librarv.noaa.gov/view/noaa/17261.
Funding from NOAA's CRCP has also been received for an effort to look for PCBs in the water column around Cocos
Island, using a series of passive water samplers. Sediments are typically a reservoir for many chemical
contaminants that can accumulate in aquatic organisms, however, the sediments collected in Cocos Lagoon,
including those from around Cocos Island, contained very low levels of PCBs and other contaminants Because of
this, sediments may not be the only source or medium through which contaminants are accumulating in the fish.
One possibility is that chemical contaminants like PCBs are being transported via water from Cocos Island (e.g.,
through surface water runoff or groundwater inputs) and then subsequently taken up by the fish. It is also possible
that the fish are accumulating contaminants through the food chain, through the sediments, or perhaps through a
combination of all three sources. To assess the possibility that the water column may be an important source of
PCBs and other contaminants in the fish found adjacent to Cocos Island, NOAA in partnership with EPA and Guam
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EPA, deployed an array of passive water samplers, known as PEDs or polyethylene devices, adjacent to Cocos Island
in late September 2017. Public notification about the PEDs being deployed was released in September 2017, and it
can be viewed here:
ftp://ftp.nodc.noaa.gov/pub/data.nodc/coris/libran,/NOAA/CRCP/NOS/NCCOS/Proiect/'^ii8i/Pait20i7 PEDs
Guam.pdf.
For more information, contact Ian Hartwell at ian.hartwell@noaa.gov. Tony Pait at tonv.pait@noaa.gov. Dennis
Apeti at dennis.apeti@noaa.gov. or Andrew Mason at andrew.mason@noaa.gov.
Source: https:/7coastalscience.noaa.gov/proiect/'assessment-chemical-contaminants-sediments-biota-cocos-
lagoon-guam/
2017 NOAA Science Report: First Stock Assessments of 27 Hawaii
Reef and Bottom Fish Species
Reef fish are an economically important fishery in the Hawaiian Islands.
They serve as an important source of food for local fisherman, hold
significance in Hawaiian culture, and draw tourists to coral reefs. The
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center recently pioneered an
improved stock assessment approach for 27 of the most commonly
exploited coral reef species of Hawaii, including the culturally important
kala or unicornfish. Previously data-poor, catch-based models that lumped Gianttrevaliy. (Image courtesy of NOAA)
whole families of species together were used to set reef fish annual catch
limits. NOAA's improved approach combines observed length data, life history-based stock assessment models, and
commercial and recreational catch data to calculate the current stock condition. Findings from this assessment
suggest 11 out of the 27 species assessed, including the giant trevally, five species of surgeonfish, two species of
goatfish, and three species of parrotfish, are experiencing overfishing. By comparing these findings to well-
established sustainability guidelines NOAA scientists were able to propose options for future fisheries management.
Source:
https://research.noaa.gov/DesktopModules/EasvDNNNews/DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=o&moduleid=c;87
&articleid=2' ;ri&&dociiinentid=20. page 26
Fishery Population and Habitat Assessment in Puerto Rico Streams
Puerto Rico is known for its marine fisheries, but the freshwater habitats of the island also support a substantial
number of relatively unknown fishes, many of which provide recreational fishery values. Thomas J. Kwak from the
North Carolina State University Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in the Department of Applied Ecology
completed research to evaluate stream and river fish and habitat sampling techniques and to develop standardized
sampling protocols. The researchers modeled patterns in occurrence and abundance of stream and river fish
populations as related to physical habitat, water quality, riparian and watershed attributes, and river regulation.
They quantified contaminant concentrations and dynamics in the stream food web, and elucidated the ecology and
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migration of amphidromous fishes. Ongoing objectives of the research include sampling fishes in downstream river
reaches, assessing fish age and growth techniques, and studies of fish early life history and recruitment dynamics.
Findings from these objectives will be synthesized toward a better understanding of fish biology, ecology, and
management. Funding for this work was provided by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources.
Source: https://appliedecologv.cals.ncsu.edu/nccoopunit/research/fisherv-population-and-habitat-assessment-in-
puerto-rico-streams/
Recently Awarded Research
NOAA Awards $8 Million for Coastal Resiliency Investments Across
the Nation
Originally reported in 2016, and updated as recently as May 2018, NOAA Fisheries announced $8 million in
recommended funding for 11 shovel-ready coastal resiliency projects in various sites across the country, including
projects in Hawaii. These awards are part of NOAA's continued commitment to build resilient coastal ecosystems,
communities, and economies.
"Americans who live on the coast face enormous risks when Mother Nature strikes; however, it is natural
infrastructure - wetlands, marshes, floodplains, and coral reefs - that often serve as our best defense. The selected
projects will restore our natural barriers and help keep people, communities, and businesses safe." said Eileen
Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for Fisheries.
Six projects aim to restore critical wetlands, marshes, and floodplains in Massachusetts, California, Washington,
and Hawaii. These will increase resiliency and offer flood protection for homes and businesses.
•	The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will receive $250,000 to restore floodplain
connectivity in the Teanaway Community Forest which will reduce peak flows and recharge groundwater
for the nearby community and enhance streams for salmon by reducing water temperatures.
•	The Nature Conservancy will receive $721,095 to support coastal habitat restoration on the Hawaiian island
of O'ahu through invasive species removal, native species replanting, and traditional management practices
to strengthen ecological and community resilience.
•	Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe will receive $1 million to restore the tidal connection between Kilisut Harbor
and Oak Bay, Washington. This effort will provide passage for endangered juvenile salmon, and enhance
cultural traditions of fishing and clam digging.
•	The Redwood Community Action Agency will receive $1,091,045 in funds to support a multi-phase project
to enhance Martin Slough in Northern California which will reduce flooding on surrounding public and
agricultural land and improve habitat for threatened salmonids.
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•	The Town of Yarmouth. Massachusetts, will receive $633,044 to replace a degraded and undersized bridge
on a major transportation corridor in Cape Cod and allow for restoration of the estuary to reduce flooding
for property owners caused by storm surge and also improve fish passage.
Two projects focus on coral reef restoration efforts in Florida and in Hawaii to help sustain many economically
important fisheries and natural barriers to storm surge.
•	The Coral Reef Alliance will receive $842,782 to reduce the flow of water and levels of nutrients and
sediment that reach nearshore coral reefs off West Maui. In applying best management practices, the
project will increase these reefs' resilience to climate changes.
•	The University of Mi a mi will receive $521,920 to restore coral reefs across Miami Beach and Key Biscayne
which will improve the resiliency of threatened staghorn and elkhorn corals to sea temperature changes.
Three projects focus on dam removals in Massachusetts and Maryland to remove unnecessary or unsafe structures
and restore critical fish passage:
•	American Rivers will receive $1 million to work with partners to remove the Bloede Dam (near Baltimore,
Maryland) which will enhance the natural resiliency of the Patapsco River Valley and restore 65 miles of
spawning habitat for herring, shad, eel, and other species.
•	The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game will receive $212,871 as part of a partnership to remove
the Carver Cotton Gin Dam, which will remove a safety hazard and open 13 miles of riverine corridor for
migratory fish like river herring and eel.
•	The Town of Scituate. Massachusetts, will receive $192,566 to remove the Hunter Pond Dam, which will
open five river miles for fish species that have been in decline for centuries, including the American eel,
river herring, and rainbow smelt. Removing the dam will eliminate the potential for dam failure that would
cause flooding and close a road.
These projects will be funded through Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants, administered by NOAA Fisheries,
which is dedicated to the development of healthy and sustainable coastal ecosystems through habitat restoration
actions.
Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-awards-8-million-coastal-resiliencv-investments-
across-nation
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Tech and Tools
Tech and Tools is a new section of the Fish and Shellfish Program Newsletter. It will highlight new or recent
technologies and tools for fish advisories as well as those for monitoring and assessing fish, shellfish, and their
habitat. Features will showcase apps, maps, and other innovative tools and methods.
Alaska's Fish Tissue Monitoring Map
The Alaska Fish Monitoring Program characterizes and tracks contaminant levels from over 90 species of
aquatic species from across the state. The Fish Tissue Monitoring Map shows the sampling and results of the
locations of the fish tested.
View the map here: http: //dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/fish-monitoring-program/fish-monitoring-map.aspx.
Recent Publications
Journal Articles
The list below provides a selection of research articles focusing on Hawaii, the U.S. Territories, and reefs.
~	Spatial distribution of sewage pollution on a Hawaiian coral reef
Abaya, L.M., T.N. Wiegner, J.P. Beets, S.L. Colbert, K.M. Carlson, and K.L. Kramer. 2018. Spatial distribution of sewage pollution on
a Hawaiian coral reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin 130: 335-347.
~	Contaminants in tropical island streams and their biota
Buttermore, E.N., W.G. Cope, T.J. Kwak, P.B. Cooney, D. Shea, and P.R. Lazaro. 2018. Contaminants in tropical island streams and
their biota. Environmental Research 161: 615-623.
~	Follow that fish: Uncovering the hidden blue economy in coral reef fisheries
Grafeld, S., K.L.L. Oleson, L. Teneva, and J.N. Kittinger. 2017. Follow that fish: Uncovering the hidden blue economy in coral reef
fisheries. PLoS ONE 12(8): e0182104.
~	Small-scale fisheries under climate change in the Pacific Islands region
Hanich, Q., C.C.C. Wabnitz, Y. Ota, M. Amos, C. Donato-Hunt, and A. Hunt. 2018. Small-scale fisheries under climate change in the
Pacific Islands region. Marine Policy 88: 279-284.
~	Abundance of commercially important reef fish indicates different levels of over-exploitation across shelves of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Kadison, E., M. Brandt, R. Nemeth.J. Martens, J. Blondeau, and T. Smith. 2017. Abundance of commercially important reef fish
indicates different levels of over-exploitation across shelves of the U.S. Virgin Islands. PLoS ONE 12(7): e0180063.
~	Pilot surveys to improve monitoring of marine recreational fisheries in Hawai'i
Ma, H., T.K. Ogawa, T.R. Sminkey, F.J. Breidt, V.M. Lesser, J.D. Opsomer, J.R. Foster, and D.A. Van Voorhees. 2018. Pilot surveys to
improve monitoring of marine recreational fisheries in Hawaii. Fisheries Research 204: 197-208.
~	Large-scale climatic effects on traditional Hawaiian fishpond aauaculture
McCoy, D., M.A. McManus, K. Kotubetey, A.H., Kawelo, C. Young, B. D'Andrea, K.C. Ruttenberg, and R.A. Alegado. 2017. Large-
scale climatic effects on traditional Hawaiian fishpond aquaculture. PLoS One 12(11): e0187951.
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter
May 2018
~	Estimating nearshore coral reef-associated fisheries production from the main Hawaiian Islands
McCoy, K.S., I.D. Williams, A.M. Friedlander, H. Ma, L. Teneva, and J.N. Kittinger. 2018. Estimating nearshore coral reef-associated
fisheries production from the main Hawaiian Islands. PLoS ONE 13(4): e0195840.
~	Mercury bioaccumulation in offshore reef fishes from waters of the Southeastern USA
Sinkus, W., V. Shervette, J. Ballenger, L.A. Reed, C. Plante, and B. White. 2017. Mercury bioaccumulation in offshore reef fishes
from waters of the Southeastern USA. Environmental Pollution 228: 222-233.
~	Linking ecosystem service supply to stakeholder concerns on both land and sea: An example from Guanica Bay watershed. Puerto Rico
Smith, A., S.H. Yee, M. Russell, J. Awkerman, and W.S. Fisher. 2017. Linking ecosystem service supply to stakeholder concerns on
both land and sea: An example from Guanica Bay watershed, Puerto Rico. Ecological Indicators 74: 371-383.
Upcoming Meetings and Conferences
148th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society -
Communicating the Science of Fisheries to Diverse Audiences
August 19-23, 2018
Atlantic City, New Jersey
72nd Annual Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
Shellfish Conference andTradeshow
September 18-20, 2018
Blaine, Washington
Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers Annual
Conference and Business Meeting
November 4-8, 2018
Hood River, Oregon
9th International Conference on Fisheries and
Aquaculture
September 17-18, 2018
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
18th International Conference on Harmful Algae
October 21-26, 2018
Nantes, France
Fish Passage 2018 - International Conference on River
Connectivity
December 10-14, 2018
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Additional Information
This monthly newsletter highlights current information about fish and shellfish.
For more information about specific advisories within the state, territory, or tribe, contact the appropriate
state agency listed on EPA's National Listing of Fish Advisories website at https://fishadvisorvonline.epa.gov/Contacts.aspx.
For more information about this newsletter, contact Sharon Frey (Frev.Sharon@epa.gov. 202-566-1480).
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