🐚Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan Compliance Notice
The Department of Commerce, via NOAA, invites public comments on the Greater Atlantic Region Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan's information collection activities. This includes reporting requirements on fishing efforts, quota transfers, and cost recovery measures necessary for effective fishery management under federal law.
Learn More🐟Overfishing Notice Impacts on Fishing Industry Compliance
This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has found that witch flounder and Saint Matthew Island blue king crab continue to be overfished; Gulf of America lane snapper, Southern Atlantic snowy grouper and Southern Atlantic gag continue to be subject to overfishing; and Southern Atlantic blueline tilefish is now subject to overfishing. NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, is required to provide this notice whenever it determines that a stock or stock complex is subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.
Learn More🎣Temporary Fishing Closure for Pollock in Gulf of Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.
Learn More🐟Economic Surveys of US Commercial Fisheries
The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking public comments on proposed economic surveys of specific U.S. commercial fisheries. These surveys aim to collect data on operational costs, earnings, and demographics, which are vital for informed conservation and management decisions regarding marine resources. Participation is voluntary, and the data will be collected periodically across various fisheries.
Learn More🌊Draft Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Options for Alaska State Waters
NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) collaborated with NOAA NMFS to initiate a marine spatial planning study to identify draft Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) Options within State waters of southeast, southcentral, and southwest Alaska as part of the AOA identification process. An AOA is a defined geographic area that has been evaluated to determine its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. NOAA is identifying AOAs as directed by Executive Order, "Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth" (May 7, 2020). This notice invites public comment on the preliminary results of the marine spatial planning study including the identification of draft AOA Options in Alaska State waters. NMFS will consider information received in response to this notice when finalizing the results of the marine spatial planning study, and may or may not identify AOAs after further public participation and review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Learn More🔄Correction Notice for Magnuson-Stevens Act on Fishing Permits
This document serves as a correction to a previous notice regarding the Magnuson-Stevens Act provisions related to domestic fisheries. Specifically, it updates the application dates for exempted fishing permits, ensuring all stakeholders are informed of the accurate timeline. The correction emphasizes the Department of Commerce's commitment to maintaining updated and accurate regulatory information in the fisheries sector.
Learn More🎣New England Fishery Management Council Public Meeting Announcement
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Climate and Ecosystem Steering Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This meeting will be held in- person with a webinar option. Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
Learn More🐟Public Meeting Notice
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) will hold a meeting of its Citizen Science Operations Advisory Panel (AP) via webinar.
Learn More🎣New Regulation on Shortraker Rockfish for Alaska Fisheries
NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/ processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish for vessels other than these catcher/processors has been reached.
Learn More🎣Correction to Halibut and Sablefish Fishing Cost Recovery Fees
NMFS is correcting the 2024 Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Cost Recovery Fee Notice. The published ex-vessel fishery value and actual fee percentage were incorrect. The original document was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024, and all other information remains unchanged and will not be repeated in this document.
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