The Domestic Fisheries Division of the NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries helps implement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, particularly regulations regarding annual catch limits and accountability measures, bycatch reduction, fish stock status, fishery disaster assistance, and catch shares.
Domestic Fisheries staff, together with NMFS staff in the regional offices and science centers, the Regional Fishery Management Councils, interstate and tribal commissions, and state governments, work to implement fishery policy within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (typically 3-200 nautical miles offshore). A Fishery Management Plan (FMP) provides directives for each U.S fishery regarding topics such as bycatch reduction, stock status, and catch shares. |