Courtesy of NAA:
On September 24, 2024, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published its proposed List of Fisheries for 2025, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The original comment period closed on October 24, 2024.
In response to requests to extend the public comment period from the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, Maine Aquaculture Association and National Aquaculture Association, NMFS is reopening the comment period through December 1, 2024. You can comment by clicking on Regulations.gov or by using regulations.gov as a search term and entering “NOAA-NMFS-2024-0037” in the search box.
The List of Fisheries identifies commercial fishing activities that pose a risk to marine mammals and requires certain protections based upon categorizing fisheries as highest risk (Category I) to lowest risk (Category III). Certain marine aquaculture production practices have been categorized as a fishery since 1989.
The current List of Fisheries includes:
- Hawaii Offshore Pen Culture
- California Marine Shellfish Aquaculture
- California Salmon Enhancement Rearing Pen
- California White Seabass Enhancement Pet Pens
- Washington Salmon Net Pens
- Washington and Oregon Shellfish Aquaculture
- Finfish Aquaculture prior designated as Gulf of Maine Atlantic Salmon
- Shellfish Aquaculture
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