🦈NOAA Initiates 5-Year Reviews for Endangered Elasmobranch Species
NMFS announces the initiation of 5-year reviews of six foreign elasmobranch species: Argentine angelshark (Squatina argentina), spiny angelshark (S. guggenheim), narrownose smoothhound shark (Mustelus schmitti), striped smoothhound shark (M. fasciatus), common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos), and blackchin guitarfish (R. cemciculus). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered species to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified from a threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted). The determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request relevant data (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) that have become available since the previous reviews of these species.
Learn More🎣NMFS Council Coordination Committee Public Meeting Overview
The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) will host a hybrid meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC) consisting of eight Regional Fishery Management Council (RFMC) chairs, vice chairs, and executive directors and its subcommittees from May 13, 2025 to May 15, 2025. The intent of this meeting is to discuss issues of relevance to the Councils and NMFS, including issues related to the implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSA), other topics of concern to the RFMCs, and decisions and follow-up activities.
Learn More🎣Temporary Closure of Pacific Cod Fishing in Gulf of Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Learn More🦞Impacts of Exempted Fishing Permits on Fisheries Business
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 Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
Learn More🐟Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting on Dogfish Regulations
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Spiny Dogfish Monitoring Committee will hold a public webinar meeting.
Learn More🦪Closure of Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Area
NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. After reviewing final harvest information, the area may be reopened by Framework 39, if approved, for Limited Access General Category vessels. Subject to specific enumerated exceptions, possession, retention, or landing of scallops is prohibited in the NGOM Scallop Management Area once the Regional Administrator publishes a notification in the Federal Register that the NGOM Set-Aside has been reached. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2025 NGOM Set-Aside.
Learn More🐟NOAA Meeting on Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management
NMFS will hold a 3-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting via webinar in May 2025. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. The meeting is open to the public.
Learn More🐬Notice on Marine Mammals Taking for Construction Activities in Ketchikan
NMFS has received a request from the City of Ketchikan (COK), Alaska, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the Berth III Mooring Dolphins Project in the Port of Ketchikan in the Tongass Narrows, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS requests comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS also requests comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances, and, if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments before making any final decision on issuing the requested MMPA authorization, and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Learn More🎣Regulatory Changes for Pacific Coast Groundfish Fisheries Management
This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial and recreational groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial and recreational fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
Learn More🐬Permit Application for Marine Mammal Photography – NOAA Notice
Notice is hereby given that Jacob Steinberg, CosmoVision Media Group, 64 Kenilworth Drive East, Stamford, CT 06902, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial and educational photography on marine mammals.
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