This page provides an overview of USA federal, regional, and state commercial fishing regulations.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 established a U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between 3 and 200 miles offshore, and created eight regional fishery councils to manage the living marine resources within that area. The bill was amended on October 11, 1996 and re-named the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Code of Federal Regulations
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States of America.
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) programs are a type of limited access privilege program (LAPP), which provide individual fishermen or corporations the exclusive privilege to harvest a certain percentage of the total allowable catch (TAC) of a fishery.
Federal – Regional Commercial Fishing Regulations
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service)
www.nmfs.noaa.gov
NMFS Permit Shop
hmspermits.noaa.gov
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
www.asmfc.org
New England Fisheries Management Council
www.nefmc.org
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
www.mafmc.org
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
www.safmc.net
Caribbean Fishery Management Council
www.caribbeanfmc.com
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
www.gulfcouncil.org
North Pacific Fishery Management Council
www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/
Pacific Fishery Management Council
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
www.wpcouncil.org
State Commercial Fishing Regulations
Maine Department of Marine Resources
http://www.maine.gov/dmr/
Massachusetts Dept. of Marine Fisheries
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/
Connecticut Marine Fisheries Division
http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
http://www.dem.ri.gov/
New York DEC
http://www.dec.ny.gov/
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/
Delaware DNREC
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov
Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC)
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/
North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries
http://www.ncfisheries.net/
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
http://www.state.ak.us/
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
http://www.dfw.state.or.us
California Department of Fish & Game
http://www.dfg.ca.gov
Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dar/
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