About Us  |  Regions  |  Science Centers  |  Councils  |  Commissions  |  Advisory Committee  |  Contact Us Mission | Strategic Plan | Organization Chart | Leadership Bios Alaska | Northwest | Pacific Islands | Southwest | Southeast | Northeast Alaska | Northwest | Pacific Islands | Southwest | Southeast | Northeast N. Pacific | Pacific | W. Pacific | Gulf | Caribbean | S. Atlantic | Mid-Atlantic | New England Pacific States | Gulf States | Atlantic States

		This site All of NMFS
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     FishWatch 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.   Outreach Outreach Plan for NOAA Fisheries Service   2008 Business Report for NOAA Fisheries Service Commerce Secretary Extends 2008 Disaster Declaration Due to Poor Salmon Returns U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is extending the 2008 West Coast salmon disaster declaration for California and Oregon in response to expected poor salmon returns to the Sacramento River, which have led to management reducing commercial salmon fishing off southern Oregon and California to near zero. Locke also announced that he would release $53.1 million in disaster funds to aid fishing communities. >> read more NOAA Seeks Nominations for Fisheries Advisory Committee NOAA is seeking nominations for the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). Qualified applicants are sought to fill upcoming vacancies, beginning in October 2009. The deadline for nominations is June 5, 2009. >> read more NOAA Announces Emergency Rule to Protect Threatened Sea Turtles An emergency rule to protect threatened sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico takes effect on May 18, 2009, requiring the commercial reef fish longline fleet to fish further offshore in order to avoid sea turtle feeding areas. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council requested this emergency rule after a NOAA observer study found that this fleet was incidentally catching and killing too many loggerhead sea turtles. >> read more 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 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports Available Updated marine mammal stock assessment reports are now available online. 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 System for Marine Protected Areas Launched by U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior Inseason Adjustments for Groundfish Fisheries >> 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 to Review Status of Oregon Coast Coho; Public Invited to Provide Input NOAA Fisheries Service has initiated a status review under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the Oregon Coast coho salmon. To ensure that the review is based on the best available data, NOAA is inviting interested members of the public to provide information on population structure, status and trends, and limiting factors and threats to the Oregon Coast coho. >> read more IFQs Proposed for Gulf of Mexico Grouper and Tilefish Fisheries A proposed multi-species individual fishing quota (IFQ) program would reduce fishing effort in the grouper and tilefish commercial sector of the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone. Public comments will be accepted until June 15. >> read more New NOAA Online Handbook Helps Teachers and Community Groups Create an Oral History of the Fishing Culture A new handbook published online today by NOAA Fisheries Service gives teachers, community groups, and the public a detailed roadmap of how to design and conduct oral history projects that celebrate the people, history and culture of our nation’s coastal and Great Lakes fishing communities. >> 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

Home | About Us | Forms | Privacy Policy | Information Quality | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Feedback | Search