The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, aka NOAA Fisheries) is taking public comment through September 22, 2008 on new guidelines for managing fisheries under the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Proposed Rule revises the National Standard 1 Guidelines, which provide the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils with guidance on how to set catch limits in order to prevent overfishing and achieve the optimum yield for all federally-managed fisheries.

At the request of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (NCMC) and the Marine Fish Conservation Network, the NMFS proposal includes guidance on setting catch limits in order to protect predator-prey interactions, with emphasis on “maintaining adequate forage for all components of the ecosystem.” The councils are asked to consider managing forage species such as herring, mackerel, squid and sardine at a population level higher than the biomass associated with achieving the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) “to enhance and protect the marine ecosystem.”

The NCMC commends NMFS for making these additions to the NS1 Guidelines, which for the first time give the councils specific advice on how to consider ecological factors in setting allowable catches. NCMC began pushing for such changes shortly after the MSA was reauthorized in January 2007.

Please write to NMFS and express your strong support for establishing a higher standard of conservation for forage fish in the National Standard 1 Guidelines. In addition, urge the agency to strengthen the guidelines by:

* Calling on the councils to set population targets for forage fish significantly higher than the MSY level.

* Recommending fishery managers disperse catches of forage fish by area and season in order to prevent localized depletion of prey and make sure adequate forage is available to predators at key times and in sensitive areas.

HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS:
All comments must include the identifier RIN: 0648-AV60 in the subject line and can be submitted electronically or by fax.
Electronically:   All electronic public comments must be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Under “Search Documents” type in 0648-AV60 (identifier number) as your keyword. Then under “Magnuson Act, Annual Catch Limits,” “send a comment or submission.”   Attachments are accepted.

Fax to: 301-713-1193,  Attention Mark Milliken/NMFS.
Comments must be received by received by September 22, 2008.

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Read more about the Forage First! campaign.

Be sure to check out:  Taking the Bait — Are America’s Fisheries Out-Competing Predators for their Prey?

Download a Forage First! Fish File, an educational fact sheet.

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