Fisheries Management Info

In 2009, NOAA Fisheries amended the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan based on a review of Atlantic HMS Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The document examines alternatives for updating HMS EFH, considers habitat areas of particular concern, and analyzes fishing...

In the draft of Amendment 5, NOAA Fisheries proposed measures designed to reduce fishing mortality and rebuild various overfished Atlantic shark species, including dusky sharks. The measures would also ensure that a limited sustainable shark fishery could be maintained for certain species. After...

On December 13, 2017, NOAA Fisheries determined that North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks are overfished with overfishing occurring. As required by Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NOAA Fisheries must take action to end overfishing immediately and to implement conservation...

In 2012, NOAA Fisheries finalized changes to the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan related to the U.S. Caribbean territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In 2010 NOAA Fisheries published a final rule implementing Amendment 3 to the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The rule implements conservation and management measures for blacknose sharks, shortfin mako sharks, and smooth dogfish.

The final rule to implement Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan is now available.  This Amendment implements management measures in the shark fisheries and could affect fishermen who fish for smoothhound sharks (smooth dogfish, Florida smoothhound,...

The final rule for Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) implements new and modified commercial vessel permits to retain and sell a limited number of swordfish caught on rod and reel, handline, harpoon gear, green-stick, or bandit gear....

The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as part of the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. If you have any problems accessing these documents, please contact nmfs.sf.webmaster@noaa.gov.

NOAA Fisheries proposed Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to address bluefin tuna management concerns due to recent trends and characteristics of the bluefin fisheries. The final rule and related documents are available below. If...

The purpose of Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fishery management plan (FMP) is to end overfishing on, and rebuild the dusky shark stock. Draft Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (77 FR 73029) proposed measures were designed to reduce fishing mortality...