SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ACT
This Web page provides access to information associated with and resulting from National Marine Fisheries Service implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Act, including 1996 changes and amendments to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Photo
from NOAA library: "Delaware Fishing Village"
On
October 11, 1996 the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA)
became law. The SFA amended the Magnuson Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (renamed the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act). SFA amendments
and changes to the Magnuson Act include numerous
provisions requiring science, management and conservation
action by the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Implementing
the Sustainable Fisheries Act - Achievements
Sustainable
Fisheries Act
The Sustainable Fisheries Act, P.L. 104-297
Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act
An electronic version of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as amended by the SFA.
A
Guide to the Sustainable Fisheries Act: Public
Law 104-297
Immediately after the SFA was enacted, NOAA's Office of General Counsel for
Fisheries summarized and interpreted each section of the SFA, and included
a legislative history in most sections.
Magnuson-Stevens
Act Implementation Activity
When the SFA was signed into law, NMFS developed a plan for its implementation.
The electronic version of Implementation Plan tasks provides a list of the
tasks required to implement the SFA.
Proposed & Final
Rules, and Documents for Public Comment
The SFA requires NMFS to seek public comment on numerous provisions. NMFS is
also required to publish certain information in the Federal Register.
Click here to access documents for public comment and for SFA-related links
to Federal Register items.
SFA
Update
The SFA Update Newsletter ceased in 1998, when the majority of amendments
were implemented. It contained information on actions taken by NMFS to implement
SFA amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Text and .pdf* versions of the
Newsletter are available.
Atlantic
HMS Activities
The NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Division of Highly Migratory Species
(HMS) implements the SFA requirements for HMS fisheries along the Atlantic
coast. Information on SFA implementation actions being taken by the HMS Division
can be found at this site.
Reports
The SFA requires NMFS to produce various plans, reports and studies on our
Nation's fisheries. This page provides access to these documents.
Guidelines
and Principles for Social Impact Assessment
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-16, May 1994
A pdf version can be found
at this site: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/tm/spo/spo16.pdf