Nominate Outstanding Steward in Coastal and Marine Habitat Conservation

Do you know someone who has done great things for coastal and marine habitat conservation?  The NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation and our partner, American Fisheries Society, are seeking nominations for the 2018 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award by June 22, 2018.  See nomination instructions and eligibility details (Download File) for more information about the […]

CLOSURE OF THE CAPE FEAR RIVER

CLOSURE OF THE CAPE FEAR RIVER On April 1, 2018 the M/V ZHEN HUA 18 (IMO 8026921) will be delivering two new ship-to­ shore container cranes to Berth Eight at the N01ih Carolina State Port Authority (NCSPA) facility located on the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, North Carolina. The combination of the size of the cranes, […]

Mid-Atlantic Council to Offer Training Workshops on…

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 […]

NOAA Names Michael Pentony to Lead Greater Atlantic Region

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 […]

Coast Guard recognizes Norfolk Fire and Rescue Captain, Police Officer for heroi

NORFOLK, Va. — The Coast Guard recognized a Norfolk Fire and Rescue Captain and a Norfolk Police Officer Tuesday at Norfolk City Hall for their roles in bringing three people to safety in May 2017. Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander, 5th Coast Guard District and Capt. Richard Wester, commander, Sector Hampton Roads, presented Norfolk Fire […]

New Trade Rule Combats Illegal, Fraudulent Seafood

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 […]

NOAA Fisheries Closes Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery on December 6, 2017

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 […]

Coast Guard medevacs man from container ship off Virginia coast

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a man who was experiencing chest pain Saturday, from a container ship approximately 80 miles off Cape Charles. The crew of the container ship Norwegian Breakaway contacted watchstanders at the Fifth District Command Center in Portsmouth at approximately 12:40 p.m., stating a 26-year-old male was experiencing chest pain […]

NMFS letting Long Liners back into the closed areas

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 […]

Coast Guard assists 2 on vessel taking on water near Portsmouth, VA

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard assisted two people aboard a vessel taking on water early this morning near the West Norfolk Bridge in Portsmouth. Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads Command Center in Portsmouth received notification at about 1:10 a.m. that a 30-foot vessel with two people aboard was taking on water near the […]