Fish and Wildlife Service Redefines Shellfish

 FWS.gov, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Modernizes Shellfish Definition, Reduces Regulatory Ambiguity. "Final rule clarifies that cephalopods such as squid are included in regulatory definition of shellfish."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a final rule updating the regulatory definition of "shellfish" to eliminate outdated language, improve regulatory clarity, and reduce unnecessary burdens on the regulated community.

Under 50 CFR part 10, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulates the import and export of wildlife and wildlife products. The regulations provide an exemption from certain import and export requirements for shellfish.

The final revisions clarify that cephalopods—including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish—are included within the regulatory definition of shellfish. The update aligns federal regulations with modern scientific understanding and longstanding commercial practice.

 

“America’s seafood industry operates in a global marketplace, and our regulations should reflect modern science and common sense,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik. “This update removes an unnecessary regulatory burden on U.S. squid fisheries, provides greater certainty for seafood producers and exporters, and aligns our regulations with longstanding commercial and international practice.”

These changes help ensure that commercially harvested squid fisheries are treated consistently with other seafood products under existing import and export regulations. By clarifying the scope of the shellfish exemption, the rule reduces unnecessary regulatory requirements and associated costs for seafood producers, processors, importers, and exporters.

The Service developed the rule in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help ensure consistency across federal agencies.

The rule does not alter existing conservation authorities, wildlife protections, or management responsibilities. Instead, it updates definitional language to better reflect current scientific understanding and longstanding industry practice.

OK, that make sense, but I wonder how many days they spent working on it. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Redness a bit late, but within reason.

The Wednesday Wetness

Politico whines about Water world’s quiet Trump freak-out. 

A Native American tribe with a powerful water claim had an ultimatum for the Trump administration: Release money to protect the Colorado River — or fight over the future of the most important river in the West. 

Uncharacteristically, the Trump administration backed down. The Interior Department released $105 million eight days later to repay the tribe for work it had done to line leaky canals and take other measures to protect a waterway that supports farms and cities in seven states.

It was a victory for Arizona’s Gila River Indian Community — and a rare success in cities, farmers and tribes' ongoing fight over drought funding from Democrats' signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act.

But the episode last month, previously unreported, underscores the alarm that Western officials are feeling over the Trump administration’s freeze of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for the waterway, which supports 40 million people and a $1.4 trillion economy but has been gripped by megadrought for more than two decades.

The Gila River tribe is still one of the few entities to have its funding freed up. Most entities with federal contracts for water-saving work are still waiting to find out if they’ll be paid.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Waitress on the Ramparts posted and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Seattle Sex Show Cancelled Over Cannibalism Concerns

Seattle Aquarium cancels octopus sex act due to cannibalism concerns

The octopus at the Seattle Aquarium won't be getting any love this Valentine's Day.

Each Valentine's Day the Aquarium invites people to watch the sea creatures mate, but this year the chance to watch some 8-armed nooky has been called off.

Aquarium staff say they're afraid that their male octopus - a 70-pound cephalopod named Kong - is too big for the females who are 30 to 40 pounds, and he may eat them.
So much for romance!

Instead of mating, Kong will be released back into the Puget Sound Monday at noon.

Good luck finding an suitable mate, Kong!

Wombat-socho's "Rule 5 Sunday: Rally ‘Round The Banner, The Banner Purple And Green" is ready at The Other McCain.