Search Results for keywords:"Fishery Management Plan"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released the final rule for the 2021 and 2022 harvest limits in the Gulf of Alaska's groundfish fishery. This rule sets the total allowable catch limits for various fish species to sustain fish populations and comply with management plans. The specifications are intended to balance environmental conservation with economic opportunities for fisheries and are in line with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. These regulations take effect from February 19, 2021, ensuring the responsible management of fisheries resources in the region.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a new rule under the Fishery Management Plan for Puerto Rico, which focuses on changing the annual catch limits (ACLs) for the triggerfish stock complex in Puerto Rico's federal waters. This is part of efforts to prevent overfishing and achieve the best use and conservation of these fish resources. The proposed rule intends to decrease the total ACL from 90,552 pounds to 87,220 pounds, affecting both commercial and recreational fishing limits. Public comments on this proposal are invited until January 16, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These specifications, which include catch limits and prohibitions on certain species' catch, are set to ensure sustainable fishing practices according to the Fishery Management Plan. The rules aim to conserve and manage marine resources in alignment with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The document also details the U.S. Department of Commerce's approach to balancing environmental, social, and economic factors in these fisheries management decisions.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is organizing scoping meetings via webinar on February 3 and 4, 2021, to discuss Amendment 50 related to the management of red porgy fish in the South Atlantic Region. The amendment aims to address issues like overfishing by adjusting catch levels, revising rebuilding plans, and modifying sector allocations and management measures based on recent stock assessments. Public participation is encouraged, and interested individuals are required to register to attend the webinars. Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on February 5, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the availability of Amendment 55 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic. This amendment proposes removing the yellowmouth grouper from its current grouper complex and forming a new complex with scamp, while setting new rules and catch limits to rebuild the species' populations. The amendment aims to prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, and minimize negative impacts on fishing communities. Public comments on the amendment are invited until May 16, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is making a temporary adjustment to the 2025 fishing limits for pollock and Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska. This adjustment is necessary because the original limits were based on outdated data. The new limits are intended to match the most recent scientific recommendations and ensure that fishing practices do not harm endangered Steller sea lions. Public comments on these changes can be submitted until January 3, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reallocating unused fishing allowances for pollock from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Sea to help reach the fishing goals for 2025. This change is based on recent data showing that some of the allocated pollock won't be harvested in the Aleutian Islands. The reallocation aims to use these allowances effectively, supporting the goals of the Fishery Management Plan for the region. This temporary rule, effective starting March 10, 2025, allows for adjustments without prior public notice to ensure timely use of the latest fisheries data.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced that North Carolina will transfer a portion of its 2020 summer flounder fishing quota to Massachusetts. This change is being made retroactively due to quota transfer provisions in the Summer Flounder Management Plan and was necessary to cover fish landings by a North Carolina vessel in Massachusetts. The adjusted quotas for 2020 are now 3,026,316 pounds for North Carolina and 802,549 pounds for Massachusetts. This adjustment ensures compliance with fishery management rules and allows for proper calculation of future quotas.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is proposing Amendment 12 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic States. This amendment aims to add bullet mackerel and frigate mackerel as ecosystem component species, recognizing their role as important prey in the ecosystem. Public comments on the proposal are invited until March 30, 2021. If approved, this change would heighten awareness about these species without implementing new management measures for dolphin and wahoo.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has approved six companies to provide monitoring services for the Northeast multispecies fishery during fishing years 2021 and 2022. These companies will offer at-sea and/or electronic monitoring services, which are necessary to meet regulations under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The approval process ensures that these companies meet specific performance requirements. NMFS will continue to monitor their performance and may add more service providers if additional companies meet the necessary criteria.