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Living Marine Stewardship Welcome to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service). NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. As a steward, NOAA Fisheries Service conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources in a way that ensures their continuation as functioning components of marine ecosystems, affords economic opportunities, and enhances the quality of life for the American public. About Us   Sustaining Fisheries   Protecting Marine Species   Conserving Marine Habitat   Science & Technology   Management & Budget   EEO & Diversity   International Activities   Information Technology   Law Enforcement   Features Hot Topics / Current Events Visit the News Room FishWatch Aquaculture Bycatch Partnerships and Communications Permits Implementing the Magnuson-Stevens Act Regulations Seafood & Health Strandings     From the Assistant Administrator We have a new Administration, a new Congress, and new NOAA leaders will soon come on board. >> read more   Outreach Outreach Plan for NOAA Fisheries Service   2008 Business Report for NOAA Fisheries Service Salazar and Locke Restore Scientific Consultations under the Endangered Species Act to Protect Species and their Habitats Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the two departments are revoking an eleventh-hour Bush administration rule that undermined Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. Their decision requires federal agencies to once again consult with federal wildlife experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - the two agencies that administer the ESA - before taking any action that may affect threatened or endangered species. >> read more NOAA's Fisheries Service Proposes Federal Protection for Three Georgia Basin Rockfish Species NOAA Fisheries Service today proposed to list three populations of rockfish in Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia for protection under the Endangered Species Act. A final decision on the three will be made a year from now. >> read more National System for Marine Protected Areas Launched by U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior In an effort to conserve critical natural and cultural marine resources, the U.S. Departments of Interior and Commerce are partnering with federal, state and territorial agencies to form a National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPA). >> read more Merrimack Village Dam Removal The Restoration Center has a new video of a New Hampshire dam removal. The Merrimack Dam was removed from the Souhegan River in New Hampshire last summer, but we kept the camera rolling as the river began to heal. Now 10 months later, we have a time-lapse video to show the results. >> read more NOAA Commits $16 Million to Assist the Northeast Fishing Industry to Ease Transition to New Management of Groundfish The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today it will allocate $16 million of its current fiscal year 2009 budget to assist the Northeast fishing industry with the transition to management of the fishery by sectors and catch shares. On Monday, NOAA announced the interim rules to reduce overfishing and rebuild Northeast Groundfish stocks.>> read more NOAA Develops Seafood Consumer Guide Seafood consumers in the United States, increasingly concerned about the sustainability and quality of seafood, can now turn to a NOAA Fisheries Service Web site, FishWatch, for the latest information. This consumer guide provides the best available scientific information on over 80 of the most popular types of seafood. More species will be added to the site in the near future. WARNING:   Consult IUU Fishing Lists Before Making Commercial Arrangements Illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) vessel lists have been created by Regional Fishery Management Organizations to combat IUU fishing practices. Certain penalties may apply to vessels included on such lists; therefore, it is advisable to consult these lists before making commercial arrangements with listed vessels. Penalties may include restricted port access or unloading prohibitions. Some lists are intended to include only fishing vessels, some can include transport vessels as well. For more information: >> read more >> More Announcements     FishNews News Briefs NOAA Dedicates New Chesapeake Bay Research Vessel Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures Established for Several Reef Fish Species >> Read FishNews >> Subscribe to FishNews Questions? Comments? Send us an e-mail for a prompt response.   WeirdFins is NOAA Fisheries Service’s new educational podcast series. Each weekly two minute episode is guaranteed to make learning about ocean life fun. WeirdFins is for kids 8 to 14, but will interest people of all ages. >> read more   The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal NOAA's Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement Starts Re-accreditation Process NOAA's Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement will begin a formal review on April 26 to retain its accreditation with the International Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Accreditation is a voluntary process for law enforcement agencies to demonstrate their compliance with national standards. The purpose of the accreditation program is to improve the delivery of law enforcement services. The accreditation process will also provide Office for Law Enforcement managers with assurance that the agency is meeting its internal policies and procedures, as well as facilitate a review of the office’s status and readiness. >> read more NOAA Announces Revised Regulations for California National Marine Sanctuaries New regulations for NOAA's four national marine sanctuaries in California are now in effect, providing greater protection for the sanctuaries' valuable marine resources and habitats. >> read more No Evidence of Tampering in Last Year's Sea Lion Deaths at Bonneville An investigation by NOAA Fisheries Service into the deaths last May of six sea lions trapped on two floating cages below Bonneville Dam found no evidence of human intervention, either intentional or accidental, in the closing of the cage doors. >> read more NOAA Training Workshops for Seafood Dealers and Fishermen Free workshops are planned to assist Atlantic shark dealers with the identification of various shark species. Accurate species identification is important because some regulations vary by species; some stocks are severely overfished, while others are more plentiful. Atlantic shark dealers are required to attend the shark identification workshops in order to maintain valid Federal permits. In addition, special workshops for commercial fishermen who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear will help them learn new techniques for releasing any protected species (e.g. sea turtles) that are caught accidentally. These "safe handling" workshops are required for fishermen who wish to maintain Federal swordfish and shark fishing permits. >> read more >> Visit the News Room

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