Measures Proposed to Revitalize U.S. Swordfish Fishery U.S. North Atlantic swordfish catches have declined by approximately 40 percent since 1995, primarily as a result of management measures to reduce bycatch (e.g., time/area closures and gear modifications.) The objective of this proposed action is to provide a reasonable opportunity for U.S. vessels to fully harvest the […]
U.S. Makes Push for Bluefin Tuna Recovery at ICCAT Annual Meeting At the 2006 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which concluded on November 26, parties adopted new management measures that provide for the long-term sustainability of swordfish, marlin and western Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries. NOAA’s Assistant Administrator […]
NOAA PROVIDES NARROW WINDOW FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO COMMENT ON 10-YEAR AQUACULTURE PLAN On November 6th, NOAA announced that its 10-Year Aquaculture Plan was available for public review but left a narrow window for stakeholders to respond. Only comments received before the November 30th deadline were to be guaranteed consideration. Typically, NOAA allows a full 30-60 days […]
NEW DATA SHOW DOWNWARD TREND IN ARCTIC SEA ICE The extent of Arctic Sea ice has experienced a steady declining trend during the past 33 years, based on a new comprehensive analysis of satellite data by experts at the U.S. National Ice Center, a tri-agency team from NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard, […]
NOAA RECOMMENDS NEW EAST COAST SHIP TRAFFIC ROUTES TO REDUCE COLLISIONS WITH ENDANGERED WHALES Nov. 21, 2006  NOAA has urged ship captains to use new recommended routes when entering or leaving the Florida ports of Jacksonville and Fernandina, and Brunswick, Ga., as well as in Cape Cod Bay off Massachusetts. These new routes are […]
Daily Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (BFT) Retention Limit 1. NMFS Extends Three-Fish General Category Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Daily Retention Limit Through December and Waives December Restricted Fishing Days The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) adjusts the daily Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) retention limit for vessels fishing under the General category quota for the 2006 fishing year […]
U.S. Protests Japan’s Announced Return to Whaling in the Antarctic The United States government has expressed deep regrets that Japan’s whaling fleet departed on November 15, 2006 to continue a controversial hunt for research purposes in the Antarctic. Japan has announced that it will kill up to 935 minke whales and ten fin whales under […]
Gillnet Fishing During the Right Whale Calving Season This is a notice that NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published in the Federal Register on November 15, 2006, two rules addressing gillnet fishing in the Southeast U.S. during the right whale calving season: a proposed rule, consisting of permanent measures, and an emergency rule, consisting […]
NOAA Seeks Public Review of Information on State Trawl Fisheries’ Interactions with Sea Turtles NOAA Fisheries is inviting the public to review information characterizing Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico state trawl fisheries, to support the Strategy for Sea Turtle Conservation in Relation to Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fisheries. The goal of this review is […]
NOAA to Consider Updated Designations of Essential Fish Habitat for Tunas, Sharks, Swordfish and Billfish NOAA Fisheries has determined that some Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) information in its Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan may need to be updated. An environmental impact statement will be prepared to examine management alternatives for revising […]
