On November 7, 2013, NOAA Fisheries, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, partially approved Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.
NOAA Fisheries announced today final regulations requiring the United States Navy to implement protective measures during training and testing activities in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to reduce effects on marine mammals.
NMFS has proposed commercial quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2014, 2015, and 2016. The deadline for submitting comments is November 22, 2013.
Nominations for the NMFS Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel will be accepted through December 6, 2013.
The Council's Draft 2014 Implementation Plan is now available for public comment.
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic and New England fishery management councils, is seeking research proposals to utilize 500 Monkfish Days-at-Sea that have been set-aside through the 2014 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program.
For fishing year 2014 (November 1, 2013–October 31, 2014), the quota will remain at 1.995 million lb. The incidental trip limit will also remain unchanged from the 2013 fishing year at 458 lb.
NOAA Fisheries Service has announced more than $6 million in funding for habitat restoration projects in Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia to restore more than 11,000 acres of habitat, and open more than 200 stream miles for fish passage.
NOAA Fisheries has announced that all permitted vessels in the Northeast region are now authorized to participate in electronic trip reporting (eVTR).
During the October Council meeting in Philadelphia, PA, the Council addressed a range of issues, including specifications for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish, and spiny dogfish. Check out the October Meeting Summary to learn more.
Climate change has resulted in shifts in where and at what depths many marine species are found. The leading explanation for these changes has been biological differences among species, but a new study suggests that the local climatic conditions are more likely causing these shifts.
NOAA Fisheries, in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council, is soliciting Atlantic Sea Scallop research proposals to utilize scallop Total Allowable Catch that has been set-aside through the Atlantic Scallop Research Set-Aside Program. Click here to read the full announcement.
This week the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted to address additional conservation of river herring and shad through an interagency working group.
The Council is meeting this week, October 7-10, in Philadelphia, PA.
NOAA Fisheries has announced the availability for public comment of a draft amendment to the standardized bycatch reporting methodology (SBRM) used to assess the amount and type of bycatch occurring in Mid-Atlantic and New England fisheries.
NOAA has announced that it is proposing revisions to the accountability measures for the Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic bluefish, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Public comments will be accepted on the proposed measures until October 18, 2013.
The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's next meeting October 7-10, 2013 in Philadelphia, PA. Click here to view the meeting agenda.
NOAA Fisheries is proposing a number of revisions to the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fishery management plan to improve the catch monitoring and reduce river herring and shad bycatch through Amendment 14.
Find out what happened during the Council's recent meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council unanimously approved a first-ever strategic plan during last week's meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.
