Recent Regulatory Actions--Protected Resources 2007 2006 2005  & Earlier

	Features
	Aquaculture Bycatch Partnerships and Communications Recreational Fisheries Trade and Commercial Services Grants International Interests LAPP Clearinghouse Permits Magnuson-Stevens 2007 Regulations Seafood & Health Strandings Legislation Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards
What is Bycatch? National Bycatch Strategy Recent Regulatory Actions Fisheries Recent Regulatory Actions Protected Resources International Activities Research and Monitoring Reports and Articles Regional Bycatch Summaries Related Laws Meetings Bycatch Reduction Presentations Bycatch Reduction Videos

Final Rule to Implement Measures to Reduce Bycatch of Seabirds in the Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery (12/19/05)

Revised Recovery Plan for North Atlantic Right Whales Now Available (5/2005)

Final Rule to Implement Requirements to Conserve Sea Turtles in the Western Pacific (11/15/05)

Affirmative Finding Renewed for Mexico (6/17/05)
NOAA Fisheries Service has renewed the affirmative finding for the Government of Mexico under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Draft EIS Published
The Notice of Availability for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published on February 25, 2005.

2004 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
Chapter 8 of the SAFE Report describes bycatch issues for Atlantic highly migratory species.

Final Rule to re-open the Hawaii-based pelagic longline swordfish fishery (.PDF)
This final rule eliminated a seasonal closure for longline fishing in an area south of the Hawaiian Islands and reopened the swordfish-directed component of the Hawaii-based longline fishery.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/by_catch/HIlongline.pdf

Final Rule to implement new fishery management plan for highly migratory species off the West Coast of the United States (.PDF)
This final rule was desinged to prevent overfishing of the fish stocks to the extent practicable and achieve optimum yield for the U.S. fisheries involved while minimizing bycatch and protected species interactions.

Final Rule to prohibit shallow longline fishing for swordfish by U.S. fishing vessels operating out of the West Coast (.PDF)
This final rule was designed to protect endangered and threatened sea turtles.
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/news/shallowsets_prohibition.pdf

Management Measures to Reduce Seabird Incidental Take in the Alaska Hook-and-Line Halibut and Groundfish Fisheries
For more information, download the PDF document here.

Final Rule to Implement Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (.PDF)
This final rule requires the use of NMFS-certified bycatch reduction devices in shrimp trawls in the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone east of Cape San Blas, Florida.

Final Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks (.PDF)
Final actions include establishing gear restrictions to reduce bycatch or reduce bycatch mortality, and establishing a time/area closure off the coast of North Carolina.