Reports to Congress
NOAA Fisheries is mandated to produce biennial reports to Congress on the status and evaluation of grants and projects associated with the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Management Act, Interjurisdictional Fisheries and Anadromous Fish Conservation Acts, and the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act. These reports are provided below.
Interjurisdictional Fisheries & Anadromous Fish Conservation Acts
The Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 is a grant program with the overall purpose to promote and encourage State activities in support of the management of interjurisdictional fishery resources. Interjurisdictional fishery resources are those species that cross state boundaries and require cooperative management actions. (Example species include salmon, striped bass, shad, lobster, and flounder.) The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act of 1965 authorizes projects that support the conservation, development, and enhancement of anadromous fishery resources in the U.S. Anadromous species include those are born in fresh water, spend a majority of their lives in marine waters, and return to fresh water to spawn. (Example species include shad, herring, and sturgeon.) This Biennial Report provides a summary of projects that were on-going or completed during the report's timeframe.
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act
The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act was enacted in 1984 to support and encourage the development, implementation, and enforcement of the interstate fishery management plan for striped bass. This Biennial Report provides an update on the progress and findings of studies addressing the status of the stock, habitat and environmental quality, and status of management.
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act
NOAA Fisheries, through the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act) supports the interstate fisheries management efforts of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). This Biennial Report provides a summary of the funds provided to ASMFC and the Atlantic Coastal States, an overview of projects supported including funds provided to the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program, and evaluates the success of funded activities in implementing the Atlantic Coastal Act. Atlantic Coastal Act projects may vary by state depending upon needs, but must address at least one of five priorities: (1) collection, management, and analysis of fishery data (statistics); (2) fisheries management planning; (3) fisheries research, including stock assessment, and biological and economic research; (4) fisheries law enforcement; and (5) habitat conservation.
