Contact: Connie Barclay For Immediate Release 301-713-2370 Jan. 15, 2009

Noaa Issues Final Guidance On Annual Catch Limits To End Overfishing

Noaa’S Fisheries Service Today Issued Final Guidance On Annual Catch Limits Designed To Help Restore Federally Managed Marine Fish Stocks And End Overfishing.

Annual Catch Limits Are Amounts Of Fish Allowed To Be Caught In A Year. The 2007 Amendments To The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation And Management Act Required Fishery Management Plans To Establish Mechanisms For Specifying Annual Catch Limits At Such Levels That Overfishing Does Not Occur. Additionally, The Act Calls For Measures To Ensure Accountability With These Limits, And That The Limits Do Not Exceed The Scientific Recommendations Made By The Regional Fishery Management Councils’ Scientific Committees.

“The Magnuson-Stevens Act Requires That We End Overfishing By 2010,” Said Jim Balsiger, Acting Noaa Assistant Administrator For Noaa’S Fisheries Service. “The Commercial Seafood Industry And Recreational Saltwater Fishing Provide Our Nation Food, Jobs And Other Incredible Benefits That We Want To Continue For Future Generations When We End Overfishing. “

Noaa’S Fisheries Service, The Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils, And Fishing Communities Themselves Have Taken Significant Steps Toward Ending Overfishing And Rebuilding Stocks In Recent Years. In 2007, Seven Fish Stocks Were Removed From The Overfishing List. Approximately 40 Stocks Are Still Experiencing Overfishing, However, Noaa’S Fisheries Service And The Fishery Management Councils Are In The Process Of Ending Overfishing For These Stocks. Annual Catch Limits Are Required For U.S. Commercial And Recreational Fisheries Subject To Overfishing By 2010, And For All Other Stocks By 2011. The Final Guidance Published In The Federal Register Today Outlines A System Of Catch Limits, Reference Points And Targets That Can Be Used For Each Stock To Prevent Overfishing. The System Accounts For Scientific Uncertainty In Estimating Catch Limits For A Stock, And Calls For Strong Accountability Measures To Prevent Annual Catch Limits From Being Exceeded, And To Address Such A Situation Quickly If It Does Occur.

“We Believe That These Guidelines Lay A Strong Yet Flexible Foundation For Ending Overfishing Around The Country, And We Will Work Closely With The Councils To Ensure Success,” Balsiger Said. “The Economic, Recreational And Ecological Stakes Are High, And These Guidelines Are A Critical Step As We Move Forward.” U.S. Commercial And Recreational Fisheries Generated More Than $185 Billion In Sales And Supported More Than Two Million Jobs Nationwide In 2006, The Latest Data Available. The Commercial Fishing Industry — Harvesters, Seafood Processors And Dealers, Seafood Wholesalers And Seafood Retailers — Accounted For $103 Billion In Sales, And Supported 1.5 Million Jobs In 2006. Recreational Saltwater Fishing Generated $82 Billion In Sales And Supported 534,000 Jobs In 2006. Noaa’S Fisheries Service Is Dedicated To Protecting And Preserving Our Nation’S Living Marine Resources And Their Habitat Through Scientific Research, Management And Enforcement. Noaa’S Fisheries Service Provides Effective Stewardship Of These Resources For The Benefit Of The Nation, Supporting Coastal Communities That Depend Upon Them, And Helping To Provide Safe And Healthy Seafood To Consumers And Recreational Opportunities For The American Public. To Learn More About Noaa’S Fisheries Service, Please Visit Http://Www.Nmfs.Noaa.Gov.

Noaa Understands And Predicts Changes In The Earth's Environment, From The Depths Of The Ocean To The Surface Of The Sun, And Conserves And Manages Our Coastal And Marine Resources. Visit Http://Www.Noaa.Gov. On The Web: Noaa’S Fisheries Service: Http://Www.Nmfs.Noaa.Gov

Contact: Monica Allen For Immediate Release 301-713-2370 Jan. 12, 2009

Saltwater Recreational Fishermen Boon For Economy, Says Noaa Recreational Saltwater Anglers Pumped More Than $31 Billion Into The U.S. Economy In 2006, With Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana And North Carolina Receiving The Largest Share According To A New Study Issued By Noaa’S Fisheries Service.

At The National Level, Saltwater Anglers Are Estimated To Have Spent $5.8 Billion On Trip-Based Expenses, Such As Ice, Bait, And Fuel, And Another $25.6 Billion On Fishing Equipment And Durable Goods Like Fishing Rods, Fishing Tackle, And Boats. The Top Five Coastal Recreational Fishing States Are: Florida ($16.7 Billion), Texas ($3.2 Billion), California ($3.0 Billion), Louisiana ($2.9 Billion), And North Carolina ($2.0 Billion).

In Addition To Quantifying Angler Expenditures, This Study Examines How These Expenditures Circulated Through Each State’S Economy And The National Economy Using A Regional Assessment. The $31.4 Billion In Total U.S. Expenditures In 2006 Contributed $82.3 Billion In Total Sales, $39.1 Billion To Gross National Product, $24 Billion In Personal Income, And Supported Nearly 534,000 Jobs. The Economic Contribution Of Marine Angler Expenditures In The United States 2006 Is Available Online At: Http://Www.St.Nmfs.Noaa.Gov/St5/Index.Html A Hardcopy Of This Report May Be Obtained By Contacting Scott Steinback Via Email At Scott.Steinback@Noaa.Gov Or By Mail At The Address Below:

Noaa’S Fisheries Service

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

166 Water Street

Woods Hole, Ma 02543-1026

Noaa Understands And Predicts Changes In The Earth's Environment, From The Depths Of The Ocean To The Surface Of The Sun, And Conserves And Manages Our Coastal And Marine Resources. Visit Http://Www.Noaa.Gov For More Information.

Potential Disaster Assistance Comments

In Accordance With The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation And Management Act (Msa), As Amended, And The Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act (Ifa), Nmfs (On Behalf Of The Secretary Of Commerce) Proposes Regulations To Govern The Requests For Determinations Of Fishery Resource Disasters As A Basis For Acquiring Potential Disaster Assistance. The Regulations Would Establish Definitions, And Characteristics Of Commercial Fishery Failures, Fishery Resource Disasters, Serious Disruptions Affecting Future Production, And Harm Incurred By Fishermen, As Well As Requirements For Initiating A Review By Nmfs, And The Administrative Process It Will Follow In Processing Such Applications. The Intended Result Of These Procedures And Requirements Is To Clarify And Interpret The Fishery Disaster Assistance Provisions Of The Msa And The Ifa Through Rulemaking Andthereby Ensure Consistency And Facilitate The Processing Of Requests.

Dates: Comments Must Be Submitted In Writing On Or Before February 17, 2009.

Addresses: You May Submit Comments, Identified By 0648-Aw38, By Any One Of The Following Methods:

Electronic Submissions: Submit All Electronic Public Comments Via The Federal Erulemaking Portal: Http://Www.Regulations.Gov;

Fax: 301-713-1193, Attn: Robert Gorrell;

Mail: Alan Risenhoover, Director, Nmfs Office Of Sustainable Fisheries,

Attn: Disaster Assistance Program Guidance And Procedures, 1315 East- West Highway, Ssmc3, Silver Spring, Md 20910.

Written Comments Regarding The Burden-Hour Estimates Or Other Aspects Of The Collection-Of-Information Requirements Contained In This Proposed Rule May Be Submitted To Alan Risenhoover At The Above Address And By E-Mail To David-Rostker@Omb.Eop.Gov, Or By Fax To (202) 395-7285.

Instructions: All Comments Received Are A Part Of The Public Record And Will Generally Be Posted To Http://Www.Regulations.Gov Without Change. All Personal Identifying Information (For Example, Name, Address, Etc.) Voluntarily Submitted By The Commenter May Be Publicly Accessible. Do Not Submit Confidential Business Information Or

Otherwise Sensitive Or Protected Information.

Nmfs Will Accept Anonymous Comments. Attachments To Electronic Comments Will Be Accepted In Microsoft Word, Excel, Wordperfect, Oradobe Pdf File Formats Only.

For Further Information Contact: Robert Gorrell, At 301-713-2341 Or Viae-Mail At Robert.Gorrell@Noaa.Gov.