The harvest of brown shrimp in the western Gulf of Mexico is expected to be 44.2 million pounds, which is above the predicted value for the last two years yet below the historical 56-year average of 56.2 million pounds, according to NOAA’s annual forecast. The prediction covers the period from July 2017 through June 2018 […]
NOAA Fisheries Announces A Reduction in the Gulf of Mexico Vermilion Snapper Annual Catch Limit KEY MESSAGE: NOAA Fisheries announces a reduction to the annual catch limit for vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The annual catch limit is the maximum amount of vermilion snapper that can be landed each year. NOAA […]
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a public hearing webinar to collect comments on Reef Fish Amendment 49 – Modifications to the Sea Turtle Release Gear and Framework Procedure for the Reef Fish Fishery. The amendment considers modifying the sea turtle release requirements to allow three new approved sea turtle release […]
NOTES 1 Currently, the best available annual estimate of dead discards for the 2017 pelagic longline fishery is the 2016 estimate of 25.0 mt. 2 The Adjusted Quota column in the table above reflects the adjusted quota as of December 31, 2017. Category quotas were adjusted by inseason and other actions during the year as shown below. […]
Mid-Atlantic Council to Offer Training Workshops on Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting for the For-Hire Community The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold two workshops in February to help for-hire vessel operators prepare for upcoming electronic reporting requirements. Beginning March 12, 2018, all vessels with Federal charter or party permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic […]
Today, NOAA Fisheries announced that Mr. Michael Pentony is the new Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He will assume his new duties on January 22, 2018. Mr. Pentony has been with the agency since 2002, serving in a series of positions including as the Assistant Regional Administrator […]
Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for Atlantic Cobia Management Public hearings scheduled via webinar with listening stations; written comment period open North Charleston, SC – January 10, 2018 Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia as they consider revising the […]
Seafood traders are now required to provide more documentation for fish and fish products they wish to sell to American consumers. As of January 1, 2018, importers have new recordkeeping requirements for proving that seafood products entering the United States are legally and sustainably caught, and truthfully represented. The new rule, known as the Seafood […]
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) closes the General category fishery for large medium and giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) effective 11:30 p.m. local time, Wednesday, December 6, 2017, through December 31, 2017. The base quota for the General category is 466.7 mt. To date this year, NOAA Fisheries has adjusted the General category base […]
Dear TBF Friends, The Office of Highly Migratory Species (NMFS), a division of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), charged with conserving and responsibly managing highly migratory fish species reversed 16 years of conservation with their approval of an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on August 10, 2017. The permit will allow pelagic longline boats back […]
