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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 FishWatch Aquaculture Bycatch Partnerships and Communications Recreational Fisheries Trade and Commercial Services Grants LAPP Clearinghouse Permits Implementing the Magnuson-Stevens Act Regulations Seafood & Health Strandings Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards     An electronic version of the 2007 NOAA Fisheries Service Business Report is now available. >> read more   Outreach Outreach Plan for NOAA Fisheries Service   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. Combining audio, text, and photos, WeirdFins episodes are carefully coordinated with NOAA scientists and educators to ensure that material is accurate and appropriate. But there’s no doubt that the subjects are very strange indeed, and little known outside the scientific community. Read more>> "Fishery Failure" Declared for West Coast Salmon Fishery Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez has declared a commercial fishery failure for the West Coast salmon fishery due to historically low salmon returns. The determination clears the way for Congress to appropriate money to alleviate the financial hardship caused by the fishery disaster. NOAA Fisheries Service has also issued regulations to close or severely limit recreational and commercial salmon fishing in the area. >> read more NOAA Fisheries Service Concludes Very Successful Expo Staff from the Partnerships and Communications division and the Seafood Inspection Program led a very successful presence at the 2008 European Seafood Exposition held recently in Brussels, Belgium. >> read more Plan to Recover Lake Ozette Sockeye Salmon Released NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposed plan to recover threatened sockeye salmon in Washington state’s Lake Ozette, its shore, tributaries and the Ozette River. >> read more National Art Contest for Students NOAA's partner, Coastal America is sponsoring a national ocean art contest open to all students from grades K-12. The contest also includes a category for college and university students. The purpose of the contest is to enhance public awareness of the importance of the ocean through visual expression and by incorporating one of the seven “Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy”. >> read more NOAA to Study Ice Seals for Possible Listing Under Endangered Species Act NOAA’s Fisheries Service has accepted a petition from a California environmental group seeking protection under the Endangered Species Act for an ice seal called the “ribbon seal” that inhabits Alaska’s Bering Sea. >> read more NOAA Budget to Fund Ocean, Climate Priorities President Bush has released a fiscal year 2009 budget for NOAA that includes significant increases to implement the President’s Ocean Initiative, to maintain critical weather forecasting abilities and to sustain the nation’s ability to monitor and predict global climate change. The $4.1 billion request represents a 7.7 percent increase over the President’s FY 2008 request and a 5.2 percent increase over the FY 2008 budget passed by Congress. The request is the highest ever for NOAA. >> read more 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 26 of the most popular types of seafood, with more species to be added in the near future. 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 Atlantic Sea Scallop IFQ Final Rule Announced Lynn Canal Herring Not Endangered >> Read FishNews >> Subscribe to FishNews Questions? Comments? Send us an e-mail for a prompt response. The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal NOAA Fisheries Service Extends Decision on Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Listing NOAA Fisheries Service will extend the final decision on listing Cook Inlet beluga whales up to six months, which will give NOAA researchers time to prepare a 2008 population abundance estimate before the agency decides whether or not to list the population under the Endangered Species Act. >> read more NOAA Fisheries Service Seeks Comments on Loggerhead Sea Turtles NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that a petition to reclassify loggerhead turtles in the western North Atlantic Ocean as a distinct population segment with endangered status may be warranted, and is seeking comments on the petition action. Currently, loggerhead turtles are listed as a threatened species throughout the world. >> 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

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