US Regional Fishery Management Councils



Managing our Nation's Fisheries:  Past, Present, and Future

Proceedings of the Conference on Fisheries Management in the Untied States, held by the Regional Fishery Management Councils

2005
2003

FishNews
Featured Stories

Welcome to the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Council’s webpage. The Regional Council system was designed to allow regional, participatory governance by knowledgeable people with a stake in fishery management. The eight Regional Councils develop management plans for marine fisheries in waters seaward of state waters of their individual regions. Plans and specific management measures (such as fishing seasons, quotas, and closed areas) are developed based on sound scientific advice, and are initiated, evaluated, and ultimately are adopted in a fully transparent and public process.  These plans and measures are implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Please visit individual regional council websites for more information about specific programs:  NPFMC; PFMC; WPFMC; NEFMC; MAFMC; SAFMC;  CFMC; GMFMC.

Council News

2012 Council Coordination Committee (CCC) will meet on the Big Island of Hawaii in during the week of Monday April 30th to Friday May 4th at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Resort.
  • FR Notice ( Note: the order in which the agenda items appear may change. )
  • Meeting Agenda (pdf)
  • Meeting Documents (not yet available)
  • WebEx Meeting Broadcast information:
    WPRFMC WebEx Link
    Meeting name: CCC 2012 Hawaii
    Meeting Password: Fishnow2
    Conference Line Only:
    Dial: 1-408-792-6300
    May 2nd Access Code: 574 291 251 #
    May 3rd Access Code: 577 119 978 #

2011 National SSC Workshop, Williamsburg, VA October 4, 5 and 6 Draft Agenda

Spatial Planning Flyer

May's CCC Meeting in Anchorage

The Regional Councils recently prepared a new brochure that summarizes the vast knowledge and experience the councils have with Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. Councils have established over 1,500 individual spatial management areas through a deliberative and public process, in close coordination with other federal and state agencies with jurisdiction over marine activities. The Councils firmly believe that for coastal and marine spatial planning to be effective, the Councils must have a seat on each of the National Ocean Council’s regional planning bodies.

The Council Coordination Committee will meet in Charleston South Carolina, May 3-5 2011. The CCC, which consists of the Chairs, Vice Chairs and Executive Directors of the 8 regional fishery management councils, meets with NMFS leadership twice per year to discuss issues of joint concern, such as budgets, annual catch limits, ecosystem-based management, catch shares, marine spatial planning and MPAs, outreach activities, and other issues.

May 2011 CCC Meeting AGENDA
CCC Terms of Reference
May 2010 meeting summary: here.  
June 2009 meeting summary here.

Correspondence:
February 7, 2011 To Schwaab re: Managing Our Nation's Fisheries Conference
February 3, 2011 To National Ocean Council re: participation in Marine Spatial Planning
February 2, 2011 To Schwaab re: Regional Fishery Management Council Funding
August 12, 2010 To Schwaab re: Regional Fishery Management Council Funding
January 25, 2010 To Lubchenco re: Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Framework

Links
NMFS Headquarters Magnuson-Stevens Act


SSC Workshop 2010

SSC Workshop 2009

SSC Workshop 2008

Cover of the USRFMC brochure

US Regional Fishery Management Councils:  Opportunities and Challenges



Current: The Journal of Marine Education Full Print Journal.