EIN Presswire: Seafood Live Feed Press Releases

February Benihana Chef's Special

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

February Benihana Chef's Special

Hibachi Shrimp & Chicken for Two

PR Newswire

MIAMI, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHN), the nation's leading operator of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, has announced the February Chef's Specials, Hibachi Steak & Chicken for Two, a five-course feast for only $45 and Seafood Diablo for One, five courses for just $20.

Take a break from the dreary days of February with a warm, festive dinner at Benihana with close friends and family. Throughout the month, two guests can enjoy this Benihana teppanyaki treat of Hibachi Steak and Chicken entrees grilled with mushrooms and sesame seeds, Benihana onion soup, Benihana salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer, hibachi vegetables, homemade dipping sauces, steamed rice and Japanese hot green tea, a five-course meal for just $45 (tax and gratuity excluded). Another option this month is the Seafood Diablo for One, a medley of sea scallops, calamari, shrimp, assorted vegetables and Japanese udon noodles grilled in a homemade spicy sauce, along with Benihana onion soup, Benihana salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer, homemade dipping sauces, steamed rice and Japanese hot green tea, a five-course meal for only $20 (tax and gratuity excluded).

Enjoy either of the February Chef's Specials with one of Benihana's specialty drinks such as the Passionate Saketini or the Cherry Pomegranate Mojito. Or try one of Benihana's suggested wine pairings, like the Hibachi Steak & Chicken with a glass of Gascon Malbec and the Seafood Diablo with a Moscato by Beringer.

Both Chef's Specials are available throughout the month of February, excluding Valentine's Day on February 14. The specials can be found at all Benihana restaurants in the United States with the exception of Las Vegas, Little Rock and Hawaii.

For more information about the February Chef's Special or to find a Benihana location, visit www.benihana.com.

About Benihana

Headquartered in Miami, Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ GS: BNHN) is the nation's leading operator of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants with 96 restaurants nationwide, including 63 Benihana restaurants, eight Haru sushi restaurants, and 25 RA Sushi restaurants. In addition, 18 franchised Benihana restaurants are operating in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. To learn more about Benihana Inc. and its three restaurant concepts, please view the corporate video at www.benihana.com/about/video.

SOURCE Benihana Inc.

The Mille Lac Area Tourism Council Announces New "Hot Deals" Promotion

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:10:00 +0000

There may be no finer place for it than Mille Lacs Lake, and with one month left of the walleye fishing season, the local tourism council is offering some of the best deals of the year.

MILLE LACS LAKE, MN, February 01, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," it's little wonder ice fishing in Minnesota is a celebrated pastime. There may be no finer place for it than Mille Lacs Lake, and with one month left of the walleye fishing season, one group is offering its best deals of the year.

The Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council has unveiled a series of Hot Deals with ice fishing still prevalent in the upcoming winter months where perch and panfish are abundantly active. Over the next few weeks, the thousands of people who flock to the second-largest of the Minnesota lakes can get two nights for the price of one at the luxurious Fisherman's Wharf Resort.

"We're thrilled to partner with Fisherman's Wharf Resort and offer Minnesotans and others a discounted stay in this winter wonderland," council spokesperson Tina Chapman said. "We think this is a deal worth jumping for." (Visit the "Hot Deals" page by clicking here)

Those who come will be in the company of thousands of other ice fishermen and women building huts on a lake that boasts scores of fish including walleye, muskie, small and large mouth bass, northern pike, jumbo perch, tullibee, black crappie, and burbot.

The offer at Fisherman's Wharf Resort is good through February 28 of this year, though the savings do not end there. Anyone interested in renting a cabin at Camp Holiday from May 28 to June 2 can get five nights for the price of three. This comes just after the May 12th of the opening of walleye and the northern season. May 26th is the Bass opener and June 2 being the Muskie opener. The deals at Camp Holiday are even better from June 2 to June 9 when cabins can be had for seven nights for the price of four.

Though the Minnesota ice fishing season will be over by the time snow melts, the Mille Lacs area offers a range of attractions year round such as excellent lake resort accommodations, cross country skiing, Minnesota casinos and an archaeologist's dream of history to explore. In fact, the Mille Lacs area boasts evidence of some of the earliest human settlement in Minnesota. And for those who stay longer, a day trip to Minneapolis-St. Paul isn't out of the question either, with the Twin Cities less than a 2-hour drive away.

About Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council

Mille Lacs Area Tourism provides current and potential visitors with travel and recreation information for the Mille Lacs Lake area and Minnesota fishing resorts. We are also an Explore MN Travel Information Center.

Website: http://www.millelacs.com

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NOAA launches USS Monitor 150th anniversary website

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:10:00 +0000

January 30, 2012

Screen shot of new USS Monitor 150th Anniversary website.

Website link (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today launched a new website highlighting the 150-year history of the USS Monitor on the anniversary of the ship’s launch.

The website http://monitor.noaa.gov/150th, takes viewers from the iconic warship’s construction through its recovery to recent science expeditions undertaken to protect its legacy. The website, also offers students, teachers and history enthusiasts a variety of education materials and a calendar of upcoming events celebrating the Monitor.

“This is a momentous year for an influential piece of American history,” said David Alberg, superintendent of NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. “While today marks the 150th anniversary of the launching of the USS Monitor, we will continue to mark important dates throughout the year, including the Battle of Hampton Roads and the sinking of the USS Monitor, through special public events.”

Designed by Swedish-born engineer and inventor John Ericsson, the USS Monitor was a Civil War-era Union ironclad warship that revolutionized naval warfare with innovations such as its low profile, iron armored deck, and rotating gun turret. The Monitor is best known for its battle with the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia off Hampton Roads, Va., on March 9, 1862. Their battle marked the first time iron ships clashed in naval warfare and signaled the end of the era of wooden warships.

Today is the 150th anniversary of the ship’s launch. The ship eventually sank later that year, on December 31.

The USS Monitor's turret rises to the surface in 2002 after spending 140 years on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The turret was raised from a depth of 230 feet, 16 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.

High Resolution (Credit: NOAA)

In addition to highlighting the Monitor’s innovations, the website profiles some of the people associated with it, including Ericsson, the captain and crew. The 1974 discovery of the Monitor is featured along with the recovery of the vessel’s turret and ongoing conservation of Monitor artifacts.

“The artifacts that are currently undergoing restoration continue to tell new stories,” Alberg said. “We are discovering new facts about her crew, and we regularly collect contemporary data on the remains of the shipwreck itself. The new website really captures the past, present, and future of the USS Monitor.”

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary also is celebrating its 37th anniversary today. On Jan. 30, 1975, the site of the USS Monitor shipwreck was designated as the Nation’s first national marine sanctuary. Creation of the sanctuary, located 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., has helped ensure the long-term protection of the wreck site of the famed Civil War ironclad for all generations.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.

Los Angeles declared StormReady and TsunamiReady

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:12:14 +0000

January 27, 2012

On January 27, the City of Los Angeles will be recognized by NOAA’s National Weather Service as StormReady® and the largest city in the nation to become TsunamiReady™.

The nationwide voluntary community preparedness programs use a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to prepare and warn citizens about severe weather, flooding and tsunami threats. To become StormReady and TsunamiReady, the city of Los Angeles met stringent criteria focusing on both internal and external communication, alert systems, reception and understanding of hazardous weather alerts, community outreach, and a comprehensive natural disaster plan.

Mark Jackson, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Oxnard, will present city officials with recognition letters and StormReady and TsunamiReady signs at a ceremony on January 27 during the Los Angeles City Council meeting.

"As a City that faces the potential wrath of Mother Nature on a number of fronts, Los Angeles is proud to have earned the National Weather Service's distinctive "TsunamiReady" and "StormReady" recognition," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Our City is committed to the highest level of emergency preparedness so that our residents can be best equipped to deal with any sort of disaster."

“Like all areas along the West Coast, a tsunami could strike Los Angeles,” said Jackson. “Preparing for disaster is everyone's responsibility. Develop your own emergency response plan, keep a disaster supply kit on hand and learn the tsunami warning signs.”

The StormReady and TsunamiReady programs are a part of NOAA National Weather Service's working partnership with the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Emergency Management Association and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. The StormReady and TsunamiReady designation must be renewed after three years. More information on how your family can be prepared for a tsunami or other natural disaster is available online.

NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Working with partners, NOAA’s National Weather Service is building a Weather-Ready Nation to support community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.

Statement from Dr. Jane Lubchenco on the death of former NOAA Administrator Dr. Anthony J. Calio

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

January 26, 2012

Last week we were informed of the passing of former NOAA Administrator (1985-87) and physicist Dr. Anthony “Tony” Calio.

Known for his strong leadership, Dr. Calio advanced the effort to modernize NOAA’s National Weather Service, which included the development of NEXRAD radar – a major advancement for its time – as well as AWIPS 90, the first program of its kind to bring operational satellite data to the forecasting community.

During his tenure, Dr. Calio supported a domestic policy council working group charged with looking at how the nation — federal agencies, in particular — could better coordinate and invest in programs to understand and address changing climate and large-scale environmental change. His work resulted in the creation of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s NSTC Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability, which recommended the establishment of the interagency U.S. Global Change Research Program.

Within NOAA, Dr. Calio is credited with developing the agency's Climate and Global Change Program that was the foundation for the vibrant climate research program within NOAA that exists today. He was also integrally involved in attempts to improve NOAA’s geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites program, including the GOES satellites that were launched in the 1990s.

Before coming to NOAA, Dr. Calio served as associate administrator for space and terrestrial applications and deputy associate administrator for space science at NASA, among other roles. He was also a part of the Apollo management team that implemented and directed all aspects of the program’s science activities for Apollo 7 through Apollo 17. Dr. Calio held an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania and an honorary doctoral degree from the Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Calio is warmly and fondly remembered by his colleagues at NOAA. On behalf of the NOAA family, I extend my sincerest condolences to Dr. Calio’s wife Jenanne and family, and all of his friends and colleagues during this sad time.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
and NOAA Administrator

Improved way to estimate saltwater recreational fishing unveiled

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:10:46 +0000

January 25, 2012

Recreational fishing. (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA today announced it has begun to use an improved method to estimate the amount of fish caught by saltwater anglers, which will allow rules that fishermen follow to be based on more accurate information.

The method is part of an overall effort to improve the accuracy of recreational catch data collected by the Marine Recreational Information Program, and was developed by a team of NOAA scientists and outside experts.

“The new estimation method is a fundamental change that better reflects what is happening on the water and within the recreational fishing community,” said Eric Schwaab, NOAA’s acting assistant secretary of commerce for conservation and management. “Better, more accurate estimates can only be a plus for the saltwater recreational fishing industry, which provides jobs for many Americans and contributes to the economic vitality of our coastal communities.”

The agency today released recalculated estimates going back to 2004 using the new method. There were no overall trends in terms of size or direction of the new estimates; catch estimates for some species go up, some go down, and some remain about the same. To view comparisons of recreational catch estimates using the previous method and the revised method, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.

“The recreational fishing community has a shared interest in scientifically sound, accurate data and a shared responsibility in making it available,” said Bruce Freeman, a New Jersey recreational fisherman, scientist and member of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association. “With this new estimation method, NOAA is taking an important first step toward the high-quality catch data that many of us have been calling for.”

Using these new estimates, NOAA will now work with the regional fishery management councils, the states, and other stakeholders to integrate these results into fisheries science and management.

Beginning this year, NOAA will use the new method to calculate estimates for the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico for use in fishery management and stock assessment by NOAA, regional fishery management councils and states. Other areas of the country, such as the West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska, use different survey and estimation methods for saltwater recreational catch. NOAA is working with these regional partners to conduct similar evaluations and, as necessary, implement improvements to their estimation methods.

Another important part of the Marine Recreational Information Program is the National Saltwater Angler Registry, which will help NOAA improve the accuracy of fishing effort estimates by increasing the proportion of fishing households that are surveyed. Additional improvements that will increase the accuracy of the estimates are being developed, including revised dockside survey methods, testing of approaches to improving data timeliness, and use of electronic logbooks in the for-hire vessel sector. To learn more about MRIP, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.

NOAA satellites aid in the rescue of 207 people in 2011

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:13:44 +0000

January 23, 2012

SARSAT System Overview.

High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

In 2011, NOAA satellites were critical in the rescues of 207 people from life-threatening situations throughout the United States and its surrounding waters. The satellites picked up distress signals from emergency beacons carried by downed pilots, shipwrecked boaters and stranded hikers, and relayed the information about their location to first responders on the ground.

NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System, called COSPAS-SARSAT. This system uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and locate distress signals from emergency beacons onboard aircraft and boats, and from smaller, handheld personal locator beacons called PLBs.

Of the 207 saves last year, 122 people were rescued from the water, 14 from aviation incidents, and 71 in land situations where they used their PLBs. Other rescue highlights from the year include:

Alaska had the most people rescued on land last year with 39, followed by Florida with 11, and California with 8.
NOAA SARSAT played a critical role in the rescue of a group of student hikers from a grizzly bear attack in Alaska by directing first responders to the scene.
In the pitch of night, two people were rescued from a life raft after their boat sank 140 miles off the coast of Marco Island, Fla.
An elderly hiker was rescued 74 miles south of Colorado Springs, Colo., during a heavy snowstorm.

Rescue at sea.

High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

“With each rescue, this system performs the way it was intended — as a real, life-saving network,” said Chris O’Connors, program manager for NOAA SARSAT.

When a NOAA satellite finds the location of a distress signal, the information is relayed to the SARSAT Mission Control Center based at NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md. From there, the information is quickly sent to a Rescue Coordination Center, operated by either the U.S. Air Force for land rescues or the U.S. Coast Guard for water rescues.

Since 1982, COSPAS-SARSAT has been credited with supporting more than 30,000 rescues worldwide, including more than 6,700 in the United States and its surrounding waters.

By law, owners of emergency beacons are required to register them with NOAA at: http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. That registration information often helps provide better and faster assistance to people in distress. It may also provide information about the location of the emergency, how many people need assistance, what type of help may be needed and other ways to contact the owner. At the end of 2011 NOAA’s registration database contained over 329,000 registrations.

Researcher earns international honor for discoveries on the role of atmospheric water vapor in climate change

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

January 23, 2012

Isaac Hayes, Ph.D.

High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

Isaac Held, Ph.D., a senior research scientist with the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J., will receive the prestigious BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for his contributions to improved understanding of climate change and atmospheric circulation systems. He will accept the award at a ceremony in Madrid, Spain, in June.

In his 34-year career with NOAA, he has enhanced the scientific community’s understanding of the atmosphere’s structure and circulation. His studies on atmospheric water vapor have led to a greater understanding of how it affects atmospheric warming. This research has earned him an international reputation for his unique contributions to the field. The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards recognize scientific and cultural contributions that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in science, technology, society, and economics.

Held, who was born in a German refugee camp in 1948 and immigrated to the United States at age 4, says that reading one of the first scientific assessments on climate change in 1972 inspired him to become a climate researcher.

“I was completely surprised by this award when I received the call from the selection committee,” said Held. “The committee emphasized studies of atmospheric water vapor and climate change, partly, I think, because of the importance of projections for the drying of the subtropics, including the Mediterranean area, a subject on which I have written. There are many excellent researchers pursuing similar studies, and I am just happy to be considered a productive member of this group.”

BBVA jury chairman Bjorn Stevens said that while climate change research often focuses on rising temperatures, Held has opened up new avenues of interest that examine the essential role of water, both by studying its movement in the atmosphere and by investigating how water vapor influences the greenhouse effect.

Held’s research on water vapor and atmospheric circulation has helped reveal the processes behind the existence of geographic climate zones. His work also helps predict how climate zones will change as the atmosphere warms.

“Isaac Held’s choice to investigate the role of water vapor in atmospheric warming was, in the 1970s, a turn down Frost’s ‘road less traveled’,” said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. “His brilliant research and tenacious pursuit of knowledge have given us a better ability to predict future changes in climate that will result from a warming atmosphere. I am very proud to have researchers of his caliber working for NOAA.”

Held is the first U.S. government scientist to receive the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge in the climate change category. The foundation has also given the climate change category award to British scientist Nicholas Stern, German physicist and mathematician Klaus Hasselmann, and Wallace Broecker of Columbia University who receives funding through NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Climate Applications and Research.

Held’s initial academic interest was in physics, and he earned a master’s degree in physics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1971. However, reading about the effects of greenhouse gases drew his interest in another direction. He continued his studies at Princeton University, earning a doctorate in atmospheric and oceanic sciences in 1976. After a research fellowship at Harvard University, he joined NOAA in 1978. He is also an associate faculty member at Princeton University.

He is a fellow of both the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2003. He received the U.S. Commerce Department gold medal in 1999 for world leadership in studies of climate dynamics.

Learn more about Held by visiting his homepage, http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/isaac-held-homepage.

BBVA is an international financial services group based in Spain. The BBVA Foundation established the Frontiers of Knowledge Awards in 2008 to recognize outstanding contributions and significant advances in a broad range of scientific and technological areas.

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Newcomer Adds Eastern Mediterranean Vibe to Downtown Manhattan Dining

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:50:00 +0000

Newcomer Adds Eastern Mediterranean Vibe to Downtown Manhattan Dining

Pera Soho Debuts as Melange of Traditional & Modern, Gastronomically & Atmospherically

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The debut of Pera Soho has added a novel sensory seductive Eastern Mediterranean - with a Turkish bias - destination and dimension to the vibrant dining landscape of one of Manhattan's most stylish neighborhoods. The new 80-seat restaurant (another 90 slated for the expansive 2000-square-foot garden come Spring), located at 54 Thompson Street, proffers a singular menu that runs an intriguing gastronomic gamut from traditional Turkish meat preparations to contemporary interpretations of classic Eastern Mediterranean recipes. The result of a culinary collaboration between the owner, Istanbul native Burak Karacam and Pera's team of chefs, Ryan Skeen, Kevin Cahill and Sezai Celikbas, the acclaimed Turkish chef who opened Pera Soho's popular midtown Manhattan sibling Pera Mediterranean Brasserie five years ago.

Although Pera Soho is an extension of the Pera brand, it delivers a thoughtfully differentiated experience by design, with a more seasonal and seafood-centric menu, presented in a much edgier environment in which the starkly modern fuses with the ornately vintage in a downtown-Manhattan-meets-late-19th-century-Istanbul decorative mosaic. Early crowd-pleasers on Pera Soho's menu reflect an affinity for multi-dimensional food, including: smoked eggplant with garlic yogurt; Turkish white anchovies with olives and grapefruit; raw sea urchin with pickled radish and parsnip among the mezes; and appetizers such as grilled prawns, coco beans, parsnip, black kale and bottarga; chilled crab and tabouleh salad, with coarse bulghur, parsley, mint, red onion, tomato, red and green peppers; and kale and fried chickpea salad with radish, piquillo peppers, smoked almonds, currants and pickled red beet eggs.

Particularly palate-pleasing mains, in addition to Pera's signature Mediterranean meat dishes, are: grilled striped bass with slow-roasted squash and basil confit; pan roasted chicken with cucumber, red onion, pea tendrils, and harissa yoghurt sauce; sliced sirloin "shaslik" steak with grilled red and green, sweet onions and bulghur pilaf; and whole roasted leg of lamb, available for four diners with 24 hour notice.

While relishing what is placed on the ebony-dark, highly polished custom wood tables and ensconced in cream leather chairs, Pera Soho diners' eyes are drawn to monumental specially commissioned murals of landmarks in Pera, the restaurant's chic Istanbul neighborhood namesake, and photographs etched on bronzed mirrors of late 1800s Pera street scenes.

Pera Soho, 54 Thompson Street at the corner of Broome, is open daily for dinner and on Saturday and Sunday for brunch. The garden area, warmed by heat lamps and a fire pit, is a cocktailing alternative to the indoor large bar and lounge area. For more information, visit http://www.peranyc.com/soho and for reservations call 212-878-6305.

Media Contact:
Shelley Clark, sclark@platformcomm.com
Platform Communications
646-489-8582

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Pera Soho

Weather-Ready Nation emergency response project launched in Louisiana

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:10:00 +0000

January 21, 2012

Weather-Ready Nation emergency response vehicle unveiled at the National Weather Service's New Orleans/Baton Rouge office.

High Resolution (Credit: NOAA)

The National Weather Service’s New Orleans/Baton Rouge office today increased its rapid response ability with the launch of a new 24/7 emergency response desk and team of meteorologists and hydrologists who will provide forecasts, warnings, and timely decision support services during high-impact weather and other disasters. A critical part of NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative, these emergency mobile weather and water forecasters are trained to work alongside emergency managers to enhance preparedness efforts in the central Gulf coast region.

“This team adds tremendous value to the weather forecasting services we already provide in Louisiana,” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., deputy administrator, NOAA. “Their ability to produce timely, accurate forecasts will provide better information for better decisions, allowing officials to pre-position people and resources more effectively to mitigate the impacts of floods and other disasters.”

These weather and water forecasters will serve as part of future incident command centers in the region and are skilled at handling a wide range of hazards. Rapid deployment of these forecasters is made possible by their emergency response vehicle – a 38-foot trailer equipped with a high-speed communications link and a full weather forecasting suite.

The forecast office’s new emergency response desk is the first of its kind and one of a series of community-based Weather-Ready Nation pilot projects under development to help the nation better prepare for extreme weather. Other projects will be launched later this year in the South and mid-Atlantic.

The New Orleans/Baton Rouge forecast office, located in Slidell, La., serves 2.9 million people in 22 parishes in Louisiana and eight Mississippi counties.

“Weather-related damages have impacted our area to the tune of $150 billion in 25 years. We hope this pilot project will help the community reach the highest level of preparedness and demonstrate resilience to high-impact weather,” said Ken Graham, meteorologist-in-charge, New Orleans/Baton Rouge forecast office.

“In the wake of one of the most destructive weather years on record, this pilot project is an important step to increase weather-readiness in 2012 and in the future,” said Jack Hayes, Ph.D., National Weather Service Director.

Pilot projects like the one in New Orleans are an important aspect of NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative. In addition to changes made within the weather service, NOAA is also leveraging a diverse network of partners critical to emergency response to participate in a national dialogue. The dialogue began in earnest last month at a national symposium in Norman, Okla. Recommendations from the symposium will be the topic of a Weather - Ready Nation Town Hall Meeting on Jan. 23 during the American Meteorological Society annual meeting in New Orleans.

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to save lives and livelihoods and enhance the national economy. Working with partners, NOAA’s National Weather Service is building a Weather-Ready Nation to support community readiness, responsiveness and resiliency in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather. Visit us online at weather.gov and join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.

Outback Steakhouse® Brightens Up a Dreary Winter With the Fresh Flavors of Its New Sirloin & Seafood Mixed Grill

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:53:49 +0000

Outback Steakhouse® Brightens Up a Dreary Winter With the Fresh Flavors of Its New Sirloin & Seafood Mixed Grill

PR Newswire

TAMPA, Fla, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Outback Steakhouse® is inviting customers to beat the winter blues with fresh flavors from the NEW Outback Sirloin & Seafood Mixed Grill, a signature sirloin paired with seasoned and seared shrimp and scallops on a bed of freshly diced mango salsa. Now through February 18, this mouthwatering offer is available nationwide for just $12.99*, served with a choice of one Outback side.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120120/FL39234-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120120/FL39234-b)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090608/FL29306LOGO)

"We are excited to offer a new creation that pairs fresh flavors at a really affordable price," said Outback Steakhouse Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Kappitt. "Our passion for creating fresh grilled classics that are made from scratch daily allows us to provide flavorful innovations to customers across the country."

Also for a limited time, Outback Steakhouse® will offer OREO® Cookies 'N Cream Waffles dessert which features warm chocolate waffle cakes with vanilla ice cream, OREO® cookie crumbs, whipped cream, and house made chocolate sauce. Other favorites including the Outback Special® Sirloin & Ribs, Chicken Artichoke Flatbread, and Coconut Shrimp are also available. Additionally, the refreshing Naturally Skinny 'Rita, made with 100% Blue Agave El Jimador® Reposado Tequila and naturally mixed with real citrus juices, will liven up the winter bar scene at Outback locations nationwide.

To find a location near you or for more information about Outback Steakhouse, please visit www.Outback.com, facebook.com/outback or follow us on Twitter @Outback.

*Prices and participation may vary

About Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse was once again voted #1 Best Steak in the 2011 Zagat Survey® of National Full-Service Restaurant Chains for the third consecutive year. Outback Steakhouse starts fresh every day to create the flavors that our mates crave. Best known for grilled steaks, chicken and seafood, Outback also offers a wide variety of crisp salads and freshly made soups and sides. New creations and grilled classics are made from scratch daily using only the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the world. For more information, please visit www.outback.com or http://www.facebook.com/outback.

OREO® is a registered trademark of Kraft Foods Global Brands, LLC; Monin® is a registered trademark of Monin, Inc; Absolut® is a registered trademark of V&S Vin&Spirit AB; Kahlua® is a registered trademark of Pernod Ricard USA, LLC; Bailey's® is a registered trademark of R&A Bailey & Co; 100% Blue Agave El Jimador® Reposado Tequila is a registered trademark of Brown-Forman Corporation.

SOURCE Outback Steakhouse

Additional critical habitat designated for leatherback sea turtles off West Coast

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

January 20, 2012

Leatherback Sea Turtle.

High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA announced today the designation of additional critical habitat to provide protection for endangered leatherback sea turtles along the U.S. West Coast. NOAA is designating 41,914 square miles of marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

This designation will not directly affect recreational fishing, boating and other private activities in critical habitat. Critical habitat designations only affect federal projects that have the potential to adversely modify or destroy critical habitat. Critical habitat designations aid the recovery of endangered and threatened species by protecting habitat that the species rely on.

NOAA and FWS have already designated critical habitat for leatherback turtles along Sandy Point Beach at the western end of the island of St. Croix, U.S.V.I., and in adjacent Atlantic coastal waters. NOAA is designating this additional critical habitat in the Pacific Ocean as a result of a petition to revise the existing critical habitat for leatherbacks to include important habitat off the U.S. West Coast. Once an Endangered Species Act petition is received, NOAA Fisheries must evaluate the petition and scientific information provided to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. If it is, the agency must make a determination on how to move forward.

The newly designated critical habitat is made up of two sections of marine habitat where leatherbacks are known to travel great distances across the Pacific to feed on jellyfish. The southern portion stretches along the California coast from Point Arena to Point Arguello east of the 3,000-meter depth contour, while the northern portion stretches from Cape Flattery, Wash. to Cape Blanco, Ore., east of the 2,000-meter depth contour.

The leatherback sea turtle, the largest marine turtle in the world, has been listed as endangered since 1970. Leatherbacks have the largest range of any living reptile and occur throughout the oceans of the world. They feed primarily on jellyfish and lay their eggs on tropical and subtropical beaches. Although very little is known about their lifespan, biologists estimate leatherbacks can live for 45 years or more. Leatherbacks face many dangers both in the marine environment and on land, including bycatch in fishing gear, habitat destruction and the harvest of eggs and adults on nesting beaches.

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American Holdco, Inc. (AHI) Acquires Seatrade International Co., Inc.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:50:27 +0000

American Holdco, Inc. (AHI) Acquires Seatrade International Co., Inc.

PR Newswire

LYNN, Mass., Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Tourkistas, President & CEO of East Coast Seafood, Inc., is pleased to announce the acquisition of Seatrade International Co., Inc by East Coast Seafood's parent company, American Holdco, Inc. (AHI).

East Coast Seafood, who sells live and frozen lobster and seafood throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, recently celebrated a 30 year anniversary. The company's headquarters are in the greater Boston area of Massachusetts with direct distribution offices throughout Europe. AHI owns and operates several additional subsidiaries including: Paturel International Company, with processing facilities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada; Worldwide Perishables Enterprises, Inc., a perishable freight forwarding company located in Chelsea, Massachusetts and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and Canadian Gold Seafood Company, with offices in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Brussels, Belgium. AHI offers high quality seafood products worldwide through a sophisticated and fully integrated network of companies.

Seatrade International, which also recently celebrated its 30th year in business, operates scallop processing plants in Portsmouth, NH and New Bedford, MA. Seatrade sells its products throughout the United States and Europe with a network of both direct sales and sales representatives. Steve Barndollar, Karin Barndollar and Bob Blais will continue in their management capacities of Seatrade International.

"Our combined operations present an excellent fit and formalize an existing long term strategic relationship," said Michael Tourkistas. "In keeping with AHI's strategic vision of vertical and horizontal integration, this acquisition is a step in building a highly diversified seafood company with logistical efficiencies and continued commitments towards sustainable practices and responsible business. When delivering high quality seafood products to customers around the world, there are many positives to sharing operational advantages, which is at the very heart of the companies' sustainability mission, Plan Green. With goals focused on five areas of operational improvement including Energy, Waste, Community, Education and Sustainability, AHI aims to benefit all partners in the supply chain through this merging of two seafood leaders."

Steve Barndollar remarked, "The AHI family of brands complements our business and provides us all an excellent platform for growth. Our Seatrade team is excited by the opportunity to address a larger, consolidated customer base, while providing enhanced product offerings and logistical advantages; thereby creating incremental value for all of Seatrade's stakeholders -- our employees, harvesters, and customers."

For more information on the respective companies, please visit www.eastcoastseafood.com and www.seatrade-international.com, or contact Marketing Director, Christina Ferranti-Clift at +1.781.593.1737 x 143, christina@myseafood.com.

East Coast Seafood
Christina Ferranti-Clift
175 Alley Street
Lynn, MA 01905
(o) +1.781.593.1737 x 143
(c) +1.401.529.2825
christina@myseafood.com

SOURCE East Coast Seafood, Inc.

2011 a year of climate extremes in the United States

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:12 +0000

January 19, 2012

Selected Annual Climate Records for 2011 - Green dots show the wettest, yellow dots the driest, red dots the warmest and blue dots the coolest records.

High Resolution (Credit: NOAA)

According to NOAA scientists, 2011 was a record-breaking year for climate extremes, as much of the United States faced historic levels of heat, precipitation, flooding and severe weather, while La Niña events at both ends of the year impacted weather patterns at home and around the world.

NOAA’s annual analysis of U.S. and global conditions, conducted by scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, reports that the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 53.8 degrees F, 1.0 degree F above the 20th century average, making it the 23rd warmest year on record. Precipitation across the nation averaged near normal, masking record-breaking extremes in both drought and precipitation.

On a global scale, La Niña events helped keep the average global temperature below recent trends. As a result, 2011 tied with 1997 for the 11th warmest year on record. It was the second coolest year of the 21st century to date, and tied with the second warmest year of the 20th century.

Key highlights of the report include:

From extreme drought, heat waves and floods to unprecedented tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, wildfires and winter storms, a record 14 weather and climate disasters in 2011 each caused $1 billion or more in damages — and most regrettably, loss of human lives and property.

High Resolution (Credit: NOAA)

U.S. weather and climate disasters

NOAA has identified two additional events in 2011 that caused an economic impact of $1 billion or greater, bringing the total number of major billion-dollar weather and climate disasters to 14 (not including the pre-Halloween snowstorm in the Northeast, which is still being analyzed).

Tropical Storm Lee, which made landfall on the Gulf Coast on September 2, caused wind and flood damage across the Southeast, but considerably more damage to housing, business and infrastructure from record flooding across the Northeast states, especially Pennsylvania and New York. The storm occurred in an area that had experienced high rainfall from Hurricane Irene barely a week earlier.
A Rockies and Midwest severe weather outbreak, which occurred July 10-14, included tornadoes, hail and high winds. Much of the damage was from wind, hail, and flooding impacts to homes, business, and agriculture.

Together, these two events resulted in the loss of 23 lives (21 from Tropical Storm Lee, 2 from the Rockies/Midwest outbreak).

Nationally

Warmer-than-normal temperatures were anchored across the South, Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. Delaware had its warmest year on record, while Texas had its second warmest year on record. The U.S. has observed a long-term temperature increase of about 0.12 degrees F per decade since 1895.
Summer (June-August) 2011 was the second warmest on record for the Lower 48, with an average temperature of 74.5 degrees F, just 0.1 degree F below the record-warm summer of 1936. The epicenter of the heat was the Southern Plains, where Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas all had their warmest summer on record. The 3-month average temperatures for both Oklahoma (86.9 degrees F) and Texas (86.7 degrees F) surpassed the previous record for warmest summer in any state.
With the exception of Vermont, each state in the contiguous U.S. had at least one location that exceeded 100 degrees F. Summertime temperatures have increased across the U.S. at an average rate of 0.11 degrees F per decade. Much of this trend is due to increases in minimum temperatures (“overnight lows”), with minimum temperature extremes becoming increasingly commonplace in recent decades.
Despite a “near normal” national precipitation average, regional precipitation outcomes varied wildly. Texas, ravaged by exceptional drought for most of 2011, had its driest year on record. In contrast, seven states in the Ohio Valley and Northeast — Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania — had their wettest year on record.
The past nine years have been particularly wet across the Northeast region - since 2003, the annual precipitation for the region is 48.96 inches, 7.88 inches above the 20th century average. Precipitation averaged across the U.S. is increasing at a rate of about 0.18 inches per decade.
Precipitation extremes and impacts were most prevalent during spring (March - May) 2011. Across the northern U.S., ten states were record wet, and an additional 11 states had spring precipitation totals ranking among their top ten wettest. These precipitation extremes, combined with meltwater from a near-record snow pack, contributed to historic flooding along several major rivers across the central United States.
Meanwhile, drought rapidly intensified in the southern Plains, where Texas had only 2.66 inches of precipitation, its driest spring on record. This led to record breaking drought and wildfires, which devastated the southern Plains. Following 2010, during which drought across the country was nearly erased, the 12 percent of the continental U.S. in the most severe category of drought (D4) during July 2011 was the highest in the U.S. Drought Monitor era (1999-2011).
The spring brought a record breaking tornado season to the United States. Over 1,150 tornadoes were confirmed during the March-May period. The 551 tornado-related fatalities during the year were the most in the 62-year period of record. The deadliest tornado outbreak on record (April 25-28th) and the deadliest single tornado (Joplin, Missouri) contributed to the high fatality count.

Globally

This year tied 1997 as the 11th warmest year since records began in 1880. The annual global combined land and ocean surface temperature was 0.92 degrees F above the 20th century average of 57.0 degrees F. This marks the 35th consecutive year, since 1976, that the yearly global temperature was above average. The warmest years on record were 2010 and 2005, which were 1.15 degrees F above average.
Separately, the 2011 global average land surface temperature was 1.49 degrees F above the 20th century average of 47.3 degrees F and ranked as the eighth warmest on record. The 2011 global average ocean temperature was 0.72 degrees F above the 20th century average of 60.9 degrees F and ranked as the 11th warmest on record.
Including 2011, all eleven years of the 21st century so far (2001-2011) rank among the 13 warmest in the 132-year period of record. Only one year during the 20th century, 1998, was warmer than 2011.
La Niña, which is defined by cooler-than-normal waters in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean that affects weather patterns around the globe, was present during much of 2011. A relatively strong phase of La Niña opened the year, dissipated in the spring before re-emerging in October and lasted through the end of the year. When compared to previous La Niña years, the 2011 global surface temperature was the warmest observed.
The 2011 globally-averaged precipitation over land was the second wettest year on record, behind 2010. Precipitation varied greatly across the globe. La Niña contributed to severe drought in the Horn of Africa and to Australia’s third wettest year in its 112-year period of record.
Arctic sea ice extent was below average for all of 2011, and has been since June 2000, a span of 127 consecutive months. Both the maximum ice extent (5.65 million square miles on March 7th) and the minimum extent (1.67 million square miles on September 9th) were the second smallest of the satellite era.
For the second year running, NCDC asked a panel of climate scientists to determine and rank the year’s ten most significant climate events, for both the United States and for the planet, to include record drought in East Africa and record flooding in Thailand and Australia. The results are at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-monitoring.

Scientists, researchers and leaders in government and industry use NOAA’s monthly and annual reports to help track trends and other changes in the world's climate. This climate service has a wide range of practical uses, from helping farmers know what and when to plant, to guiding resource managers’ critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets.

CBS Foods Defies the Odds after Being Denied by Shark Tank Investors

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:21:42 +0000

CBS Foods Defies the Odds after Being Denied by Shark Tank Investors

Brand Announces Rapid Retail Distribution Growth Early in 2012

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CBS Foods announces 2012 large scale distribution, placing their Original Shrimp Burger in over 800 retail stores by the end of first quarter alone. Starting with several retail food-chains along the east coast, including Price Chopper, Giant Eagle and BJ's Wholesale Club – the brand has poised itself for nationwide roll-out and continued growth potential through 2012.

In May 2011, Shawn "Chef Big Shake" Davis pitched the panel of investor "Sharks" (Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin Harrington, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary) on season 2 of the hit ABC show Shark Tank, requesting a $200,000 investment for his company's flagship product – the Original Shrimp Burger by CBS Foods. Despite not getting an offer from the Sharks, the disappointed entrepreneur secured over $500,000 from private investors who saw him on the show, and also saw the potential for the brand.

Davis is excited to announce the 2012 large scale distribution, saying: "At CBS Foods, we are pleased to experience such immense growth in so little time. We are thrilled that consumers enjoy the Shrimp Burgers, as our mission has always been to bring gourmet seafood dishes into the everyday meal. CBS Foods looks forward to selling in supermarkets across the country, all of which was made possible thanks to the help of Shark Tank."

In February 2012, Davis will reappear on Season 3 of Shark Tank in a follow-up episode to share his success story behind CBS Foods. Davis says, "The Shark Tank experience has truly been fantastic. We have learned a lot about our brand and where we want to go in the future – and are proud to be featured as a success story."

At the end of 2010, sales for CBS Foods equaled about $30,000. After the episode aired in 2011, the company's revenue grew over 300% in just 3 months time. Now, analysts project $5.5 million in profits by the end of 2012.

The critically acclaimed Shark Tank gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true, and possibly make a business deal that will make them millionaires. Season Three continues to make TV history, with the Sharks offering over $6.2 million of their own money in investment deals to bankroll a creative array of innovative entrepreneurs.

This large scale distribution is the first of its size for CBS Foods, as well as a major breakthrough into the burger alternative market. The Original Shrimp Burger is packed with domestic shrimp and gives diners a low-fat, high-protein alternative to traditional beef burgers. For more information about CBS Foods, Inc. and Chef Big Shake, visit www.cbsfoods.com.

About Shark Tank
Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill and Phil Gurin are the executive producers of Shark Tank, based on the Japanese "Dragons' Den" format created by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The series is from Sony Pictures Television.

About CBS Foods, Inc.:
Founded by Shawn "Chef Big Shake" Davis, CBS Foods, Inc. specializes in creating gourmet seafood dishes. Each product the company offers is priced to be affordable to all consumers. Chef Big Shake's first creation was the "Original" Shrimp Burger, a patty of a blend of succulent shrimp, fresh peppers and spices blended together to create a divinely delicious burger. Today, CBS Foods makes the burger in four flavors: Original, Jalapeno, Cajun, and Teriyaki. Our other delicious creations include Lobster Sliders, Lobster Pot Pies and Lobster Mac and Cheese. Follow us on Facebook at CBS Foods and Twitter at @ChefBigShake.

Media Contact:
Jason Geller – 5WPR
jgeller@5wpr.com
212.999.5585

SOURCE CBS Foods, Inc.