Search Results for keywords:"fisheries management"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set a new rule limiting Atlantic herring catches to 2,000 pounds per trip or day in Management Area 3, effective from February 12 to December 31, 2025. This rule was put in place because it's expected that herring catches will reach 98% of the area's annual limit soon, aiming to prevent overfishing and ensure future fishing opportunities. By skipping a previously required 40,000-pound limit when catches hit 90%, NMFS plans to avoid confusion and more potential overfishing. This decision was made to protect herring stocks and abide by fishing conservation goals without further public input since the industry was already aware of these updates through earlier notices.

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding public hearings online regarding changes to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan, known as Draft Amendment 5. These hearings will take place on January 21 and February 8, 2021, and are intended to gather public feedback, which will be considered by the full Council. People interested in attending can register via provided webinar links. The meetings will include a briefing on the amendment followed by public commentary, and special accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.

The Department of Commerce is seeking public comments on a new information collection effort conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expand research surveys in untrawlable habitats along the Pacific Coast. The surveys aim to gather data on groundfish stocks, like various types of rockfish and lingcod, to better manage these resources and address gaps in existing data. Public input, especially from recreational and commercial fishing communities, is being requested to identify potential sampling locations and techniques. This initiative is part of NOAA’s efforts to use the best scientific information for sustainable fishery management, as authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is granting an experimental fishing permit to the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA). This permit allows them to use tori lines, which are bird scaring devices, in their deep-set longline fishing operations in Hawaii to see if these can help with conservation and management without using other bird-deterrent methods usually required. The permit is valid from January 27, 2021, to January 26, 2022, unless changed or canceled sooner. This experiment is part of a broader effort to understand better how these particular fishing practices affect seabirds.

The Department of Commerce is requesting public comments on a proposal related to information collection from federally permitted fish dealers. This data is gathered to help manage fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The collection involves a mandatory weekly report detailing all fish transactions for commercial purposes. The public is invited to submit comments within 30 days on the website www.reginfo.gov.

The New England Fishery Management Council is planning a public meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) via webinar on April 4, 2025, starting at 9 a.m. The committee will review and possibly update recommendations for fishing limits for Atlantic herring, considering new research findings. They will also discuss their work plan for 2025 and talk about future meetings of the Council Coordination Committee. The meeting will be accessible to people with disabilities, and a recording will be available upon request.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has put a temporary rule in place to stop people from fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Alaska due to concerns about low salmon numbers. This ban applies from May 1 to August 15, 2025, to help conserve the salmon population as recent reports show they are not abundant. The decision follows assessments by NMFS and Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game, predicting poor salmon runs in upcoming years. To address these issues quickly, NMFS made the rule effective immediately, waiving the usual 30-day wait period after publication.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA and the Commerce Department, announced a SEDAR 80 webinar to assess the stock of U.S. Caribbean queen triggerfish. This meeting, scheduled for March 10, 2021, is part of a multi-step evaluation process involving data collection, assessment, and review to understand the status of fish stocks. Public members can attend the webinar by requesting an invitation at least 24 hours in advance. During the webinar, participants will discuss the life history data that should be included in the assessment.

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 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the opening of the fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This season will run from March 20, 2025, to December 7, 2025, aligning with the Pacific halibut season, although the exact opening and closing hours differ. The actions are taken to promote conservation and management of fishery resources as per federal laws and regulations. This rule was issued quickly without public comment to ensure the simultaneous opening of the sablefish and halibut fisheries, which is essential for effective management and reducing bycatch.