January 16, 2009
NOAA’s final guidance on Annual Catch Limits to end overfishing
NOAA has been hard at work making sure fisheries are in compliance with the Fishery Conservation and Management Act requiring we end overfishing by 2010.
As a result, 7 fish stocks were removed from the overfishing list in 2007. Approximately 40 stocks are still experiencing overfishing according to NOAA, but the NOAA Fisheries Service and the fishery management councils are in the process of ending overfishing for all of these as well.
NOAA’s action provides guidance on how to comply with new annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measure (AM) requirements for ending overfishing of those fisheries managed by Federal fishery management plans. Changes to the Act are effective February 17, 2009.
Meanwhile, here’s a one-minute video on overfishing:
“The commercial seafood industry and recreational saltwater fishing provide our nation food, jobs and other incredible benefits…” – Jim Balsiger, acting A.A. for NOAA Fisheries Service.
Finally, here are some common acronyms used in the fishery business:
| ABC | Allowable Biological Catch |
| ACCSP | Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program |
| ACL | Annual Catch Limit |
| AM | Accountability Measure |
| ACT | Annual Catch Target |
| AP | Advisory Panel |
| ASMFC | Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission |
| BRD | Bycatch Reduction Device |
| EEZ | Exclusive Economic Zone |
| EFH | Essential Fish Habitat |
| EFH/HAPC | Essential Fish Habitat / Habitat Area of Particular Concern |
| FMP | Fishery Management Plan |
| HMS | Highly Migratory Species |
| ITQ | Individual Transferable Quota |
| LAPP | Limited Access Privilege Program |
| MSY | Maximum Sustainable Yield |
| MRFSS | Marine Recreational Fishing Statistics Survey |
| NMFS | National Marine Fisheries Service |
| OY | Optimum Yield |
| SEDAR | Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (stock assessment process) |
| SSC | Scientific & Statistical Committee |
| SFA | Sustainable Fisheries Act |
| TAC | Total Allowable Catch |
| VMS | Vessel Monitoring System |
| Courtesy: | South Atlantic Fishery Management Council |
btw: I couldn’t find which 7 species were removed from the overfishing list for the life of me! If you find out, please let me know. TIA! 
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