Search Results for keywords:"recreational fishing"

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has introduced 13 inseason actions affecting the West Coast salmon fishing season for 2024-2025. These actions apply to both recreational and commercial fishing from the U.S./Canada border to Humbug Mountain, Oregon. The changes aim to manage quotas effectively and ensure conservation efforts meet their goals. Adjustments include modifications to fishing limits, changes in closed seasons, and reallocations of unused quotas to prevent overfishing while maximizing economic opportunities.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are holding five public meetings to gather input on a new amendment focused on recreational fishing. This amendment aims to develop strategies for managing recreational fishing separately, such as through different data collection methods. The meetings will take place from February 25 to March 5, 2025, and will be accessible both online and in-person. Public comments are welcome until March 20, 2025, through various submission methods, including online, email, and mail.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are holding five online public hearings and a period for written comments. These hearings are to gather public input on changes to how fish like summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass are divided between commercial and recreational fishing. The existing allocations are based on historical data from the 1990s, which may no longer be accurate due to recent changes in how recreational catches are estimated. The aim is to review whether adjustments are needed and if some catches should be transferred between sectors based on their respective needs.

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a public meeting via a webinar to discuss actions that might affect New England fisheries, specifically in the exclusive economic zone. The main focus of this meeting, scheduled for January 20, 2021, is to develop recommendations on recreational fishing measures for the 2021 season, particularly for the Gulf of Maine cod and haddock. The panel will also discuss a possible limited entry program for recreational groundfish fisheries and update on revising biological catch control rules. The outcomes of this meeting will be reported to the full Council for possible action.

NMFS, a branch of NOAA within the Commerce Department, announced a temporary closure of the Atlantic bluefin tuna trophy fishery in the southern region for 2025. This closure affects recreational fishing for bluefin tuna measuring over 73 inches in length, as the quota for this category has been reached and exceeded. Fishing in the designated area must stop from February 28, 2025, until the end of the year to prevent further overfishing. While fishing is closed, anglers can still catch and release bluefin tuna, ensuring the fish are handled properly to maximize their survival.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily adjusting the 2025 recreational fishing season for gag fish in the South Atlantic to protect the fish population. This rule means the fishing season will start on May 1, 2025, but will close early on June 26, 2025, after projections showed the catch limit would be reached by that date. During this closure, anglers cannot catch or keep any gag fish until the new season begins on May 1, 2026. The decision aims to prevent overfishing as it did in 2024 and was not subject to public comment because the necessary rules were already established.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is organizing a public meeting via webinar for its Private Recreational Reporting Workgroup. This meeting, scheduled for February 17, 2021, will evaluate various reporting methods for recreational fishing in the snapper grouper fishery. Topics will include developing goals, reviewing a state survey, and updating a federal marine program. The public can provide comments on the meeting topics by February 9, 2021.