Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Efforts Begin

On March 13, the House Committee on Natural Resources held its first hearing on reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Sam Rauch, NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, testified at the hearing.  

Much of NOAA Fisheries work with the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management occurs under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). 

This act sets standards for conservation, management, and sustainable use of our nation’s fisheries resources. First passed in 1976 and amended in 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was most recently reauthorized in 2006 and is set to expire at the end of September 2013. Bookmark this page for future MSA reauthorization activities. 
 

• Written Testimony of Sam Rauch, NOAA Fisheries Deputy
  Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs
  
  
• Oral Testimony of Sam Rauch, NOAA Fisheries Deputy
  Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs
  
  
• House Committee on Natural Resources website

Fisheries Economics of the United States 2011

The recently released Fisheries Economics of the United States 2011 highlights that U.S. commercial and recreational saltwater fisheries added 200,000 jobs to the economy between 2010 and 2011, topping out at 1.7 million jobs overall. Commercial and recreational fisheries also supported an additional $17 billion in sales between 2010 and 2011, reaching $199 billion total.
 

2011 Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries releases the 15th Annual Report to Congress on the Status of the Nation's Fisheries. This report documents our national journey toward ending overfishing and rebuilding the nation’s fisheries.
 

The Road to End Overfishing: 35 Years of Magnuson Act U.S. Fisheries 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Simply called “the Magnuson Act”, this law, its regional framework and goal of sustainability, has proven to be a visionary force in natural resource management - both domestically and internationally. The Magnuson Act is, and will continue to be a key driver for NOAA as we deliver on our nation’s commitment to ocean stewardship, sustainable fisheries, and healthy marine ecosystems
 

U.S. Fisheries Reach Another Milestone as  Last Annual Catch Limit is Put in Place                                                      

On June 29, 2012, a significant milestone was achieved when NOAA Fisheries approved the last Fishery Management Plan amendment putting annual catch limits and accountability measures into place. This milestone completes a journey that began in January 2007, when President George W. Bush signed the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act into law. The law required that all federal fisheries be harvested under annual catch limits with accompanying accountability measures to prevent and end overfishing in the United States