Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Reauthorized

MSRA Home MSRA Reauthorization Details Annual Catch Limits Marine Recreational Information Program National Environmental Policy Act Limited Access Privilege Programs International Provisions Deep-Sea Corals Other Provisions

Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act Details

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in United States federal waters. The Act was first enacted in 1976 and amended in 1996. Most notably, the Magnuson-Stevens Act aided in the development of the domestic fishing industry by phasing out foreign fishing. To manage the fisheries and promote conservation, the Act created eight regional fishery management councils. The 1996 amendments focused rebuilding overfished fisheries, protecting essential fish habitat, and reducing bycatch.

President George W. Bush, through his Ocean Action Plan, made reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act a top priority. The President called for a hard deadline to end overfishing, increased use of market-based management tools, creation of a national saltwater angler registry, and an emphasis on ecosystem approaches to management.

Learn more about the 2006 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act by clicking on the links below.

• Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Blue Book)
• Enrolled Version of the Act
• Redline Version of the Act
• Implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act overview presentation

Questions? E-mail us at cyberfish@noaa.gov or call (301) 713-2341.

For more information about fisheries management, visit NMFS' Office of Sustainable Fisheries.