Search Results for keywords:"Fishery Management Plan"

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is proposing Amendment 12 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic States. This amendment aims to add bullet mackerel and frigate mackerel as ecosystem component species, recognizing their role as important prey in the ecosystem. Public comments on the proposal are invited until March 30, 2021. If approved, this change would heighten awareness about these species without implementing new management measures for dolphin and wahoo.

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 has announced that North Carolina will transfer a portion of its 2020 summer flounder fishing quota to Massachusetts. This change is being made retroactively due to quota transfer provisions in the Summer Flounder Management Plan and was necessary to cover fish landings by a North Carolina vessel in Massachusetts. The adjusted quotas for 2020 are now 3,026,316 pounds for North Carolina and 802,549 pounds for Massachusetts. This adjustment ensures compliance with fishery management rules and allows for proper calculation of future quotas.

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) announced a temporary closure of the red snapper recreational private angling component in federal waters off Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. This closure will be in effect from January 1, 2025, to June 1, 2025, to ensure that the annual catch limit (ACL) set for Texas is not exceeded and to help prevent overfishing. This decision was made following a request from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is based on the authority given by the Fishery Management Plan and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. During this period, it will be illegal for private anglers to catch or possess red snapper in these federal waters, regardless of where they are from or where they plan to land.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is planning to hold three online port meetings in January 2025 to discuss the Atlantic king mackerel and Atlantic Spanish mackerel fisheries. These meetings aim to gather public input on various issues such as environmental changes, management needs, and fishery dynamics. The information collected will help the Council with decision-making for the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan. Participants need to register for the webinars on the Council's website.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a new rule under the Fishery Management Plan for Puerto Rico, which focuses on changing the annual catch limits (ACLs) for the triggerfish stock complex in Puerto Rico's federal waters. This is part of efforts to prevent overfishing and achieve the best use and conservation of these fish resources. The proposed rule intends to decrease the total ACL from 90,552 pounds to 87,220 pounds, affecting both commercial and recreational fishing limits. Public comments on this proposal are invited until January 16, 2025.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is organizing scoping meetings via webinar on February 3 and 4, 2021, to discuss Amendment 50 related to the management of red porgy fish in the South Atlantic Region. The amendment aims to address issues like overfishing by adjusting catch levels, revising rebuilding plans, and modifying sector allocations and management measures based on recent stock assessments. Public participation is encouraged, and interested individuals are required to register to attend the webinars. Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on February 5, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the availability of Amendment 55 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic. This amendment proposes removing the yellowmouth grouper from its current grouper complex and forming a new complex with scamp, while setting new rules and catch limits to rebuild the species' populations. The amendment aims to prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, and minimize negative impacts on fishing communities. Public comments on the amendment are invited until May 16, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA and the Commerce Department, has finalized the catch limits for the 2025 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery. This decision sets the annual catch limit and total allowable landings to prevent overfishing and ensure the sustainable harvesting of these crabs. The rules, effective from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, are aligned with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan, ensuring that the plan's goals are met without negatively impacting small businesses or requiring new data collection efforts.