Commercial Harvest of Gray Triggerfish in South Atlantic Federal Waters will Reo

Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic federal waters will reopen beginning 12:01 a.m. (local time) on June 13, 2016 until 12:01 a.m. (local time) July 1, 2016. The July through December fishing season reopens at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on July 1, 1016. A commercial trip limit of 1,000 pounds whole weight is […]

Federal Fishery Managers Approve Measures to Protect Spawning Areas

Designated Spawning Special Management Zones designed to protect habitat and snapper grouper species      The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has approved the designation of five offshore areas as Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs) to help protect spawning fish and unique habitat associated with spawning activities in the South Atlantic, including portions of an elbow-shaped […]

NOAA Fisheries hosts public meetings in April to discuss potential skimmer trawl

Agency also preparing Environmental Impact Statement   NOAA Fisheries is considering new regulations in the shrimp fishery of the southeastern United States based on information indicating sea turtles are vulnerable to capture by skimmer trawls and tow times may not be as effective in reducing bycatch-related mortality as turtle excluder devices. The agency will host […]

Commercial Harvest for the Longline Component of Golden Tilefish in South Atlant

The commercial longline component of golden tilefish harvest in South Atlantic waters will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) March 15, 2016. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017. The 2015 longline component commercial catch limit is 405,971 pounds gutted weight. Reports indicate the longline catch limit will be […]

NOAA Fisheries Announces the Atlantic Migratory Group (Georgia to New York) Cobi

   The recreational harvest of Atlantic migratory group cobia (from Georgia to New York) will close at 12:01 a.m. on June 20, 2016. Recreational harvest of cobia will reopen on January 1, 2017.   The Atlantic migratory group includes cobia from Georgia through New York. Cobia off the east coast of Florida are part of […]

CUTTER FORWARD BACK FROM PATROL, DISRUPTS APPROX. $10.5 MILLION CONTRABAND IN TH

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Forward returned to their homeport of Portsmouth, Virginia, Sunday, following a two-month long patrol in the western and central Caribbean Sea that resulted in the seizure of more than 124 kilograms of cocaine and disruption of more than 3,000 lbs. of marijuana with a combined […]

Coast Guard rescues 3 people 39 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet, NC, after boat

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued three people Sunday after the boat they were on began taking on water 39 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet. Sector North Carolina watchstanders received notification Sunday at about 12:20 p.m. that a 24-foot boat with three people aboard was taking on water.  An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew […]

Coast Guard rescues 3 people 39 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet, NC, after boat

 ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued three people Sunday after the boat they were on began taking on water 39 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet. Sector North Carolina watchstanders received notification Sunday at about 12:20 p.m. that a 24-foot boat with three people aboard was taking on water.   An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew […]

Coast Guard medevacs man 250 miles east of Bermuda

 PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a crew member Monday from a tanker approximately 250 miles east of Bermuda. Coast Guard watchstanders at the 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth received notification Sunday at about 3:15 p.m. from the Bermuda Rescue Coordination Center (RCC), that a 38-year-old, male crew member was experiencing abdominal pain […]

COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015

(H.R. 1987) to authorize appropriations  for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for  other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably  thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as  amended do pass. SEC. 302. SURVIVAL CRAFT.    Mr. Shuster, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, submitted the following R […]