Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Reauthorized
International Provisions
| The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA) contains a number of new provisions that will significantly shape the focus of fisheries management in the coming years. Importantly, the MSRA pays an unprecedented level of attention to international fisheries. The overarching approach is a call for the Secretary of Commerce to work multilaterally through various fora, such as Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs), to address illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs). The National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries) is the implementing agency within the Department of Commerce for the authorities and responsibilities under the MSRA. |
News
- NMFS announces five public hearings to discuss and collect comments on the issues described in the proposed rule for developing identification and certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs) pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act). Click here to read the Federal Register notice on these hearings. Click here to read the press release.
Dates, Times, and Locations
The public hearings will be held as follows:
- Monday, March 16, 2009, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, meeting room 203, Boston, MA 02210; phone 617-954-2000.
- Monday, April 6, 2009, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Crowne Plaza, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Lincoln room, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 301-589-0800. Please note that the Federal Register notice incorrectly indicates that this meeting will be held at the Hilton. The correct meeting location is at the Crowne Plaza.
- Monday, April 13, 2009, 4:00-6:00 p.m., NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 3333 N. Torrey Pines Court, meeting room 370, La Jolla, CA 92037; phone 858-546-7000.
- Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 4:00-6:00 p.m., NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Auditorium, Seattle, WA 98112; phone 206-860-3200. Proof of identification will be required for entry.
- Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Miami Airport Marriott, 1201 NW LeJeune Road, Caribbean Room, Miami, FL 33126; phone 305-649-5000.
Special Accommodations
The sessions are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be made at least 7 days prior to the session. See notice for details.
Rules and Notices
- On January 13, 2009, NOAA submitted the first ever report to Congress identifying nations whose fishing vessels were engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2007 or 2008. This report opens the way for consultations between the U.S. government and officials of each of the six nations to encourage them to take corrective action to stop IUU fishing by their vessels. Click here for the press release.
- On January 14, 2009, NMFS proposed to implement identification and certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs) pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act), as amended by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act. Public comments will be accepted through May 14, 2009. Click here to read this rule.
- NMFS solicits information from public on nations whose vessels are engaged in IUU fishing and bycatch of PLMRs (Through Apr 21, 2008) (PDF)
- Advance notice of proposed rulemaking -- Bycatch of Protected Living Marine Resources and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing on the High Seas (PDF)
Related Documents
Draft Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Proposed Rule to establish identification and certification procedures for nations under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, as amended by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act.
- Appendices to the EA/RIR/RFA: National Plan of Action of the United States of America to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing
NMFS Releases Progress Report on Implementation of International Provisions Under MSRA (PDF)
NMFS Provides Guidance to Heads of U.S. Delegations (PDF)
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