🎣NOAA Notice on Alaska American Fisheries Act Permits
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Learn More🎣Applications for American Fisheries Advisory Committee Membership
Applications are being sought for appointment by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for 7 membership positions to serve on the 22- member American Fisheries Advisory Committee (AFAC or Committee). Individuals selected to serve on the Committee will serve a term of three years, unless otherwise stipulated.
Learn More🐟Notice on Gulf of America Red Snapper Assessment Webinar
The SEDAR 98 assessment process for Gulf red snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Learn More🐟Notice on Exempted Fishing Permits
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
Learn More🦈Atlantic Shark Workshops
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in July, August, and September of 2025. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and to maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted in 2025 and will be announced in a future notice. In addition, NMFS has implemented online recertification workshops for persons who have already taken an in-person training.
Learn More🎣Summer Flounder Quota Transfer Regulation Impacting NC and VA Fisheries
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2025 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2025 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Virginia.
Learn More🎣Upcoming Public Meetings of the Pacific Fishery Management Council
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory bodies will meet Wednesday, June 11, 2025, through Monday, June 16, 2025, in Rohnert Park, California and via webinar. The document listed on the agenda, under the heading, Schedule of Ancillary Meetings, for Day 1, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, that the Scientific and Statistical Committee Groundfish Subcommittee, 10 a.m., are meeting, but this meeting has been cancelled. The agenda for the meetings has removed this topic and are corrected as set out in this document.
Learn More🎣Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Public Meeting Details
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC's) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will hold a public meeting jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Technical Committee.
Learn More🎣New Regulations on Red Snapper Fishing Impact Businesses
NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (Snapper-Grouper FMP) (Amendment 59). For South Atlantic red snapper, this final rule revises the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs). Amendment 59 also revises the fishing mortality (F) at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) proxy for determining overfishing, overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), and total ACL and sector ACLs for red snapper. For the 2025 fishing year, this final rule also announces the red snapper commercial and recreational fishing season dates in the South Atlantic. For red snapper, this final rule is intended to end and prevent overfishing and revise the catch limits consistent with the most recent stock assessment.
Learn More🐟NOAA's Notice on Alaska Fisheries Act Reporting Requirements
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Learn More