Government Fishery Legislations

Marine Mammal Protection Act

• 1972

• Whales, dolphins, sea lions, etc. were declining and needed protection

• Moratorium on take and import of marine animals

• Establishes national policy to prevent marine mammal species and population stocks from declining

Endangered species act

• 1973

• Designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction

• Requires development of recovery plan for listed species

• Prohibits “take”

• Prohibits destruction of critical habitat

Magnuson-Stevens Act

• 1976

• Extended US jurisdiction to 200 nautical miles offshore

• Established 8 regional fishery management councils

• Increased transparency of fisheries management

• Mostly focused on national security— stocks didn’t rebound

Sustainable Fisheries Act

• 1996

• Overhauled approach to federal fisheries management and focused on conservation

• Required each fishery to establish a management plan for rebuilding overfished stocks, and identify essential fish habitat

Magnuson-Stevens Reinforcement

2006

Further strengthened MSA by adding science based management measures

• annual catch limits— regional councils set ACL for nearly all stocks, cannot exceed scientific recommendations or allow overfishing

• accountibility meansures and enforcement of ASL

Marine Fisheries Commisions

Formed by Congress in 1940s under insterstate compacts; no regulatory or managment authority