Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act Passes Congress On December 8, 2006, in the final hours of the 109th Congress passed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act. President Bush, through his Ocean Action Plan, made reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act a top priority. The President called for an end to overfishing, increased use […]
Council Weighs Input from Scientific Committee and AdvisorsMembers of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council utilized input from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and advisory panels during its meeting in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina last week regarding a broad range of fisheries issues in the South Atlantic. Agenda items for review included marine protected […]
2007 Bluefish Management Measures Proposed NOAA Fisheries has proposed 2007 management measures for the Atlantic bluefish fishery, including state-by-state commercial quotas, a recreational harvest limit, and recreational possession limits. The intent of this proposed rule is to ensure that harvest levels and possession limits are consistent with the stock rebuilding program for bluefish. A coastwide […]
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 […]
