Search Results for keywords:"Magnuson-Stevens Act"

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is hosting the second SEDAR 91 Assessment Webinar for the U.S. Caribbean Spiny Lobster on February 28, 2025. This is part of a series of meetings aimed at assessing the Caribbean spiny lobster fishery, involving various data collection and analysis steps. These assessments are conducted to evaluate the health of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. The meeting is open to the public, and registration can be done by contacting the SEDAR coordinator, Emily Ott.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is shifting unused pollock fishing allowances from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Sea to ensure the full harvest of the 2025 pollock quota. This reallocation involves transferring 12,100 metric tons from the Aleut Corporation's allocation and 1,900 metric tons from the Community Development Quota to various sectors in the Bering Sea. The action, effective March 28, 2025, ensures that the goals of the Fishery Management Plan are met and complies with regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, usual notice and comment procedures were waived to expedite this change based on recent data.

The Gulf Fishery Management Council will hold a one-day in-person meeting of its Ecosystem Technical Committee on May 9, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. The meeting will cover topics like the Gulf Fishery Ecosystem Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act project update, and a discussion on Red Tide. The agenda also includes an opportunity for public comments and will be available online for those who cannot attend in person. The meeting will be accessible to people with disabilities, and accommodations can be requested in advance.

The New England Fishery Management Council is hosting a public webinar of its Joint Herring Committee and Advisory Panel to discuss actions impacting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone. This online meeting will occur on April 11, 2025, and will focus on revising recommendations for fishing specifications for the years 2025 and 2026, as well as default specifications for 2027. The outcomes of the webinar will be considered by the full Council for potential formal decisions. People with disabilities who need special accommodations for the meeting should contact Cate O'Keefe at least five days before the event.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is considering an application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that would allow certain fishing boats to operate outside of the usual regulations. This permit aims to help small boats from Cape Cod catch and sell smaller quantities of Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs more safely and efficiently. The application involves using alternative containers for the catch, which could benefit local fishermen by improving market access and safety. The public can comment on this proposal until April 7, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing an application from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP). This permit would allow some fishing boats to catch herring outside regular fishing rules to help study the genetic makeup of Atlantic herring populations. The study aims to improve fishery management by updating catch limits based on newer scientific findings. The public can comment on this proposal until April 4, 2025.

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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are holding a joint public meeting on February 1, 2021. Due to COVID-19, the meeting will be conducted via webinar, with details available on the Council's website. The agenda includes discussing the Recreational Management Reform Initiative and considering a Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment for final action. Special accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities upon request.

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a public meeting via webinar on January 22, 2021, to discuss actions impacting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone. The Scallop Committee will evaluate specifications and make final recommendations for Framework Adjustment 33, which sets catch limits and fishing rules for 2021 and 2022. They will also consider scallop work priorities and potentially adjust the priority list. This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities, and registration can be completed online.

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.