Search Results for keywords:"Magnuson-Stevens Act"

The Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is renewing an information collection related to the Crab Rationalization Program for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crabs. This program helps distribute crab resources fairly among harvesters, processors, and communities. It involves the Arbitration System, a process that allows disputes over crab deliveries and prices to be resolved through a third-party review. The information collected includes reports on arbitration activities, cost allocation, and market analysis, and is necessary for ensuring compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The public is invited to comment on these collections.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Legislative Committee will hold a public meeting via web conference on January 29, 2021, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Alaska time. The meeting will discuss draft legislation H.R. 8632, titled “Ocean Climate Action: Solutions to the Climate Crisis," and evaluate its effects on the Council’s conservation and management goals. Additionally, the committee will address potential revisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other business as necessary. Public comments can be submitted online, and more details are available on the Council's website.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will hold a two-day online meeting on January 29 and 30, 2025. The focus will be on addressing guidance from the November 2024 meeting and exploring new or updated tools for managing the Sacramento River Fall Chinook. Discussions may also cover future meetings, workload planning, and upcoming agenda items. Anyone needing special accommodations, such as sign language interpretation, should contact Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at least 10 days in advance.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is organizing an online meeting for its Habitat Committee to discuss marine planning and offshore development activities. The meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2021, and will be open to the public. The meeting will include presentations from NOAA about Aquaculture Opportunity Areas and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Development about potential offshore wind energy sites. The committee will create reports for the Council's March meeting, addressing these topics and possibly other habitat-related issues.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a temporary rule reallocating some unused Pacific cod quota from jig gear vessels to smaller catcher vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This adjustment, effective from January 2, 2025, through December 31, 2025, is necessary to ensure the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod is fully utilized. The reallocation is based on recent data showing that jig vessels cannot harvest their full share. This regulation falls under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and is exempt from public comment or a 30-day delay due to the immediacy of the data and need for action.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the final rules for the 2025 and 2026 groundfish fishing seasons in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These rules set the limits for how much fish can be caught, based on scientific assessments to ensure sustainable fishing practices. They aim to balance the fishing industry needs with conservation efforts, taking into account environmental factors and fish stock health. Public comments were considered during the process, and these rules follow the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act's requirements.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reviewing an application from the North Pacific Fisheries Research Foundation for an exempted fishing permit (EFP). If approved, the permit will allow the testing of new salmon excluder devices during summer pollock fishing in the Bering Sea, particularly aimed at reducing the bycatch of chum salmon. The experiment will involve exemptions from certain regulations to facilitate this testing. Public comments on the application are invited until April 11, 2025, and the application will be considered during a virtual meeting of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in late March and early April 2025.

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 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will be holding the SEDAR 87 Assessment Webinar VI on February 11, 2025. This assessment process involves studying Gulf of Mexico shrimp, specifically the white, pink, and brown varieties. The process includes data workshops and webinars to evaluate the current status of these shrimp stocks and identify future monitoring and research needs. The meeting will be online, open to the public, and special accommodations are available upon request.

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting via webinar on January 8, 2025, to discuss issues related to fishing gear conflicts in New England fisheries within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). During the meeting, the On-Demand Fishing Gear Conflict Working Group will review gear marking regulations and receive updates from various organizations, such as NOAA and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. The discussions will include feedback from the Council's Enforcement Committee and the planning of the group's 2025 work agenda. The meeting will be accessible to people with disabilities, and any additional issues may be addressed if they require emergency action.