Fishery Conservation & Management

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages approximately 750 active fisheries, 26 game management units, and 32 special areas. We work to foster the highest standards of scientific integrity and promote innovative sustainable fish and wildlife management programs to optimize public uses and economic benefits. Site has a lot of Commercial & Sport Fishing information, including Licenses & Permits, Fishing Regulations, and much more.

Managing fishery resources in the U.S. federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to manage fishery resources from where state waters end, out to the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico. These waters are also known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is the primary law that governs marine fisheries management in U.S. federal waters. First passed in 1976, the MSA fosters the long-term biological and economic sustainability of marine fisheries.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is responsible for the conservation and management of fishery resources within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. The Mid-Atlantic Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils created when Congress passed Public Law 94-265, the Magnuson Fishery Conservation And Management Act of 1976 (also known as Magnuson-Stevens Act, MFCMA or MSA). The law created a system of regional fisheries management that was designed to allow regional, participatory governance by knowledgeable people with a stake in fishery management. Dover, Delaware

The New England Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils established by federal legislation in 1976, is charged with conserving and managing fishery resources from three to 200 miles off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The management authority of the Council extends to the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and southern New England, and overlaps with the Mid-Atlantic Council for some species in that region. Major ports include Portland, ME, Gloucester and New Bedford, MA, and Point Judith, RI. Newburyport, Massachusetts

The Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Permit Shop makes it easy to apply for and renew the following federal vessel permits required to fish for Atlantic tunas, billfishes, swordfish, and sharks: Atlantic HMS Angling Category; Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat Category; Atlantic Tunas General Category; Atlantic Tunas Harpoon Category; Swordfish General Commercial; Combination Swordfish/Tunas. Learn more about HMS bag and size limits and recent news, including bluefin tuna landing updates. You can also meet catch reporting requirements for those permits using our online reporting system or mobile app.

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. We provide vital services for the nation: productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems—all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management. U.S. fisheries are among the world’s largest and most sustainable. Seafood harvested from U.S. federally managed fisheries is inherently sustainable as a result of the U.S. fishery management process. Using the Magnuson-Stevens Act as the guide, NOAA Fisheries works in partnership with Regional Fishery Management Councils to assess and predict the status of fish stocks, set catch limits, ensure compliance with fisheries regulations, and reduce bycatch. Formally known as the National Marine Fisheries Service, we are an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.

The primary mission of the Office is the protection of the Nation's living marine resources. From tackling seafood fraud nationally to helping crack down on illegal fishing internationally, we're here to make sure that those who obey the rules reap the benefits of fair competition and an even playing field in the market. We protect marine resources and their habitat and help safeguard the health of seafood consumers and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats.We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program works with partners and the public to manage fish and other aquatic resources to achieve the goals of healthy, self-sustaining populations, and the conservation or restoration of their habitats.

Marine Mammal Protection Act. Moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products, Regulations on taking of marine mammals, and more.

Marine Sanctuaries. Information from the Legal Information Institute at Cornell University

Control of Illegally Taken Fish & Wildlife. Information from the Legal Information Institute at Cornell University