The National Marine Fisheries Service (also known as NOAA Fisheries or NMFS) in a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NMFS supports the management, conservation, and sustainable development of domestic and international living marine resources. NMFS is involved in the stock assessment of marine fisheries, protecting marine mammals and threatened species, habitat conservation operations, trade and industry assistance, and fishery enforcement activities. Its area of responsibility is within the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone which extends from three miles offshore to two hundred miles offshore.
NMFS has six Regional Offices, which are "responsible for ensuring that those resources are managed conservatively to benefit the nation without jeopardizing options for the future. NMFS also has five Regional Science Centers composed of about 30 laboratory facilities nationwide and over 1500 scientific and support personnel, which conduct a comprehensive, interdisciplinary science program." The Director of NMFS is Dr. William T. Hogarth.
Environmental Laws
NMFS plays a major role in implementing or enforcing many U.S. federal environmental laws, most significantly the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act under which it monitors and makes predictions of the future of important fish stocks in U.S. waters and enforces laws related to commercial fishing. As such, NMFS palys a major role in addressing overfishing and depletion of fisheries.
NMFS is also the lead agency with respect to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (such as whales, dolphins, seals and manatees) and the Endangered Species Act for species in marine waters.
Other laws for which NMFS has important roles are:
- Anadromous Fish Conservation Act
- Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act
- Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act
- Central, Western, and South Pacific Fisheries Development Act
- Driftnet Impact Monitoring, Assessment, and Control Act of 1987
- Fisherman's Protective act of 1967
- Interjuristicional Fisheries Act of 1986
- Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
- Saltonstall-Kennedy Act
The NMFS plays a supportive, consultative or trustee role in the implementation of several other laws including:
- Clean Water Act
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
- Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
- High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act
- Lacey Act
- Merchant Marine Act of 1936
- Mitchell Act
- National Environmental Policy Act
- Oil Pollution Act
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and Amendments
- Safe Drinking Water Act
International Treaties and Agreements
The NMFS implements several international treaties or aggreements to which the United States is a party, including:
- Atlantic Salmon Convention Act of 1982
- Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975
- Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Licensing Act of 1984
- Fur Seal Act of 1966
- North Pacific Anadromous Stocks Convention Act of 1992
- Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982
- Pacific Salmon Treaty Act of 1985
- South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988
- Tunas Convention Act of 1950
- Whaling Convention Act of 1949
History
The NMFS was brought into existance in 1970 as a result of a major governmental reorganization implement by President Richard Nixon. However, NMFS has its origin in the Fish Commission and the Office of the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries created in 1870. In 1903, the Commission became the Bureau of Fisheries with expanded jurisdiction within a newly created Department of Commerce and Labor. In 1939, the Bureau of Fisheries was transfered to the Department of Interior. A year later, the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of Biological Survey were merged into a new Fish and Wildlife Service which remains part of the Department of Interior to this day as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1970, the Fish and Wildlife Service included a Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and a Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries with some addition rsponsibilities was transfered to the Department of Commerce as the new National Marine Fisheries Service.
NMFS Science
NMFS science is guided strongly by several laws, particularly the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Guided by this Act, the NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research defines four areas of research priority:
- Protect restore and manage the use of coastal and oceanic resources through ecosystem-based management
- Understand climate variability and change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond
- Serve society's needs for weather and water information
- Support the nation's commerce with information for save, efficient and environmentally sound transportation.
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