Regulations
How
are the Federal Living Marine Resources Managed?
The
nation's premier fisheries law, the Magnuson Fishery Conservation
Act, created eight Regional Fishery Management Councils that work
in partnership with NOAA Fisheries to manage marine fish stocks.
The council membership is a balance of commercial and recreational
fishermen, marine scientists, and state and federal fisheries
managers, who combine their knowledge to prepare fishery management
plans for marine fish stocks in their respective geographic areas.
These plans can limit fishing effort, seasons, fishing gear, the
number of fishermen allowed to fish for a certain species, and
the total amount of fish that can be caught. The federal management
process provides many opportunities for input from fishermen and
others concerned with the use of these resources. Similarly, NOAA
Fisheries manages stocks of marine mammals, sea turtles, and protected
salmon through a planning process that also features public comment,
and advice from the regional fishery management councils.
How
are Rules and Regulations Made?
- Fisheries
Management Council identifies problem and proposes alternatives.
- Council
hold public hearings and collects comments
- Council
then reviews, approves fishery management plan or amendment
and submits it to Commerce Secretary for formal review.
- Commerce
Department published proposed rule on plan or amendment and
seeks further public comment.
- Upon
further review, Commerce Secretary makes final decision on plan
or amendment, NOAA Fisheries implements rules.
What
Marine Resource Laws does NOAA Fisheries Follow?
NOAA
Fisheries receives its ocean stewardship responsibilities under
many federal laws, in addition to the Magnuson Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. Most important are the Endangered
Species Act, which protects species determined to be threatened
or endangered; the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which regulates
interactions with marine mammals; the Lacey Act, which prohibits
fish or wildlife transactions and activities that violate state,
federal, and native American tribal, or foreign laws; the Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act, which authorizes NOAA Fisheries
to collect fisheries data on environmental decisions which affect
living marine resources; and the Federal Powers Act, which allows
NOAA Fisheries to minimize effects of dam operations on anadromous
fish, such as prescribing fish passageways that bypass dams. Many
other statutes, international conventions, and treaties also guide
NOAA Fisheries activities.
For
a comprehensive listing of the regulations established by NOAA
Fisheries, see the Regulations.gov
portal.
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