🎣Amendment 23 to CPS Fishery Management Plan Impacting Fisheries
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 23 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved, Amendment 23 would implement a revised rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine. This proposed amendment is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA), the CPS FMP, and other applicable laws. NMFS will consider public comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 23. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, NMFS also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment that analyzes the potential effects of the associated proposed amendment.
Learn More🦞12-Month Finding for Spinytail Crayfish - Not Warranted
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the spinytail crayfish (Procambarus fitzpatricki) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The spinytail crayfish is a small, burrowing freshwater crayfish endemic to southern Mississippi. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the spinytail crayfish as an endangered or threatened species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the spinytail crayfish or its habitat.
Learn More🐟Reallocation of Pollock Allowances in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) pollock directed fishing allowance (DFA) from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide the opportunity for the harvest of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI).
Learn More🦞Notice of SEDAR 91 Assessment Webinar for Caribbean Spiny Lobster
The SEDAR 91 Assessment of the US Caribbean Stock of Spiny Lobster will consist of a data scoping webinar, a data workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a review workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Learn More🎣Public Meeting on Fishery Management by Mid-Atlantic Council
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Tilefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.
Learn More🐟Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Public Meetings Overview
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Program Planning Standing Committee (SC), Pelagic and International SC, Executive and Budget SC, and its 202nd Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
Learn More🎣Inseason Adjustments for Pacific Coast Groundfish Management 2025
This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
Learn More🎣Regulation on Pacific Cod Fishing in Alaska's Exclusive Economic Zone
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.
Learn More🎣Notice of Amendment 35 to Pacific Coast Fishery Management Plan
NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (referred to as "the Council") has submitted amendment 35 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, amendment 35 would define stocks that are in need of conservation and management, consistent with the provisions and guidelines of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Amendment 35 would define stocks for eight species within the fishery management unit. These species were prioritized because they are scheduled for stock assessments in 2025 or in 2027. Amendment 35 is necessary for NMFS to make stock status determinations, which in turn will help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and achieve optimum yield. Amendment 35 is administrative in nature and does not change harvest levels or timing and location of fishing, nor does it revise the goals and objectives or the management frameworks of the PCGFMP.
Learn More🎣Amendment 25 to Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has transmitted Amendment 25 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 25 would revise the stocks of Atlantic cod managed in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This action is necessary to incorporate the best scientific information available into the fishery management plan. The intended effect of Amendment 25 is to revise the fishery management plan to manage Atlantic cod in U.S. waters as four stocks rather than two. This document is intended to alert the public to this action and provide an opportunity for comment.
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