Changes Affect Rod and Reel Fisheries for Bluefin Tuna Based on a review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, available quota, and the availability of bluefin tuna on the fishing grounds, the General category daily retention limit of two large medium or giant bluefin per vessel per day/trip will be extended through January 31, 2006. […]
Cooperative Efforts Protecting Coral Reef Ecosystems NOAA and U.S. Coral Reef Task Force partners are improving coral reef conservation efforts from federal to local levels according to a new report. The report, “Implementation of the National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Report on U.S. Coral Reef Agency Activities from 2002 to 2003,” highlights the activities of […]
Endangered Species Bill Passes in the House of Representatives On September 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3824, the “Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005“, by a vote of 226 to 193. Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, Rep. George Miller and six other House members proposed a substitute amendment that was […]
Shark Finning Ban Adopted in the Northwest Atlantic The latest in a series of international agreements to ban shark finning – the practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the carcass – has been adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). This proposal was introduced by the United States and the European […]
NEW INDEX PROVIDES BENCHMARK FOR ATMOSPHERIC GREENHOUSE GASES Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., have developed an index that provides a simple means of tracking the annual increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Annual Greenhouse Gas Index is based on an analysis of […]
SUMMER FLOUNDER, SCUP, AND BLACK SEA BASS FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – AMENDMENT 12 Amendment 12 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management (FMP), prepared by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, is intended to manage the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation […]
Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries ManagementScoping Meetings: September 26-October 24, 2005 The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold scoping meetings for stakeholder groups and interested parties “to facilitate wide-ranging discussions with affected/interested parties and the general public in nine topic areas: (1) views regarding the adequacy of current approaches for addressing ecosystem considerations, (2) the nature […]
ASMFC Releases Draft Addendum I to the Spiny Dogfish FMP for Public Comment Comment Accepted until September 26, 2005 The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved sending forward Draft Addendum I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Spiny Dogfish for public comment and review. The Draft Addendum proposes establishing a multi-year specification setting […]
Senate Passes Commerce, Justice Appropriations Bill Including $4.48 Billion for NOAA: On September 15th , by a margin of 91-4, the Senate passed the FY 2006 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations (CJS) bill (HR 2862), which includes funding for NOAA. NOAA was highly-touted during the debate, and received positive recognition from Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran […]
Council Soliciting Input on Ecosystem Management The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council was tasked by Congress, together with the New England Council, South Atlantic Council, and the Gulf Council, to incorporate ecosystem considerations into fisheries management processes. The Mid-Atlantic Council has scheduled a series of scoping meetings to facilitate discussions with interested parties. The meetings will […]
