Search Results for keywords:"Magnuson-Stevens Act"

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 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public input on its information collection activities related to vessel identification requirements in the West Coast region. This initiative, guided by the Paperwork Reduction Act, aims to minimize the reporting burden on businesses while ensuring regulatory compliance. Fishing vessels must display identification numbers in specific locations to assist with enforcing conservation laws. Public comments will help evaluate the necessity of this information, its data accuracy, and ways to improve collection and minimize respondent burden.

The Department of Commerce is asking for public comments on its information collection process related to the National Saltwater Angler Registry Program. This program gathers details from anglers and for-hire fishing vessels, such as names and contact information, to help estimate recreational fishing activities. The document invites comments for 60 days, offers details on how to send them, and describes the registration process, ensuring transparency about respondent obligations and legal authority. Comments will help assess and improve the accuracy and utility of the collection while seeking to minimize any reporting burden on the participants.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the final groundfish harvest specifications for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for the years 2025 and 2026. This includes details on total allowable catches (TACs), acceptable biological catches (ABCs), and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, aimed at conserving fish resources while balancing ecological and economic needs based on the latest scientific data. These regulations follow goals set by the Fishery Management Plan prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and align with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to manage fisheries sustainably. The rule notes that TACs are intentionally set below ABCs to ensure sustainability, and it addresses how these specifications were informed by public comments and scientific assessments.

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 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed a rule setting the 2021 allocation of Pacific whiting fishery resources. This rule allocates 17.5% of the U.S. total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific whiting to Pacific Coast Indian tribes, honoring their treaty rights. The remaining TAC will be divided among various non-tribal fishing sectors, with a focus on preventing overfishing and achieving optimal yields. Public comments on the proposal are invited until March 18, 2021, emphasizing the importance of community input.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comments on an information collection related to observer programs for at-sea processing vessels involved in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This initiative aims to ensure the efficient gathering of data by observers, which is important for monitoring fishery activities and managing resources to prevent overfishing, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The public is invited to submit comments by March 8, 2021, to assist in evaluating the necessity, efficiency, and burden of these data collection activities. The proposed methods of collection involve both electronic and paper forms, as well as interviews and phone calls.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a final rule to implement Amendment 111, which reauthorizes the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program. This rule aims to preserve the program's existing benefits in conservation, management, safety, and economics. Key changes include removing the expiration date for the Rockfish Program, simplifying reporting requirements for fishing participants, and adjusting regulations to improve the program's efficiency. These updates are intended to continue promoting the goals of sustainable fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed harvest specifications for the groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands for the years 2025 and 2026. This proposal outlines catch limits, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances necessary to manage groundfish resources sustainably, aligning with regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Public comments are invited until January 3, 2025, and these regulations include measures to protect species such as Pacific cod, halibut, and salmon, while ensuring fishing operations do not exceed scientific recommendations for conservation.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has implemented a final rule that allows hook-and-line catcher/processors to use longline pot gear when targeting Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea. This regulation aims to improve fishing efficiency, boost economic benefits, and reduce interactions with killer whales, which have negatively impacted this fishery. With the approval of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the rule addresses gear restrictions, whale depredation, and species retention, promoting effective fishery management and conservation. The new rules will be effective from April 28, 2025, and include requirements for gear marking and reporting to aid in monitoring and enforcement.