Sustaining, Protecting, and Growing the Domestic Seafood Supply Among Other Goals
Under U.S. law, NOAA Fisheries manages marine fisheries within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Individual states are generally responsible for managing fisheries from their shorelines out to three miles. These measures are designed to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries within the EEZ.
Fisheries management is designed to sustain, protect, and increase the domestic seafood supply. Additionally, it’s to create jobs, support related economic and social benefits, and sustain community resilience as well as protecting ecosystem health/sustainability.
Achieving these goals requires maintaining fish populations above a certain threshold (not overfished) and ensuring harvest rates allow for the maximum sustainable yield (no overfishing).
Overfishing and overfished numbers are near record lows, and 50 fish stocks have been successfully rebuilt since 2000.
Through a science-based fisheries management process, significant progress has been made in ending overfishing and rebuilding fish stocks.
The Commercial Fishing Permits Center emphasizes that these ongoing efforts are critical to preserving the health and productivity of U.S. fisheries for future generations.
We can help with acquiring the permits and licences that you may need.
Use this link to see our list of federal fisheries permits.
Beyond Just State and Federal Fisheries Permit Help
Each form is secured with SSL encryption and built for effortless completion on any device. Additionally, our offerings are not confined to specific states or regions. The Commercial Fishing Permits Center provides access to permits and licenses for fishing operations nationwide.
These laws may be relevant to your fishing endeavors:
- 1361 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION Page 1612 Sec. 1384. Authorization of appropriations. 1385. Dolphin protection. 1386. Stock assessments. 1387. Taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. 1388. Marine mammal cooperative agreements in Alaska. 1389. Pacific Coast Task Force; Gulf of Maine. SUBCHAPTER III—MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION 1401. Establishment. 1402. Duties of Commission. 1403. Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. 1404. Omitted. 1405. Coordination with other Federal agencies. 1406. Administration. 1407. Authorization of appropriations. SUBCHAPTER IV—INTERNATIONAL DOLPHIN CONSERVATION PROGRAM 1411. Findings and policy. 1412. International Dolphin Conservation Program. 1413. Regulatory authority of Secretary. 1414. Repealed. 1414a. Research. 1415. Reports by Secretary. 1416. Permits. 1417. Prohibitions. 1418. Repealed. SUBCHAPTER V—MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND STRANDING RESPONSE 1421. Establishment of Program. 1421a. Determination; data collection and dissemination. 1421b. Stranding response agreements. 1421c. Unusual mortality event response. 1421d. Unusual mortality event activity funding. 1421e. Liability. 1421f. National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank and tissue analysis. 1421f–1. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. 1421g. Authorization of appropriations. 1421h. Definitions. SUBCHAPTER VI—POLAR BEARS 1423. Definitions. 1423a. Prohibitions. 1423b. Administration. 1423c. Cooperative management agreement; authority to delegate enforcement authority. 1423d. Commission appointments; compensation, travel expenses, and claims. 1423e. Votes taken by the United States section on matters before the Commission. 1423f. Implementation of actions taken by the Commission. 1423g. Application with other subchapters of chapter. 1423h. Authorization of appropriations. SUBCHAPTER I—GENERALLY § 1361. Congressional findings and declaration of policy The Congress finds that— (1) certain species and population stocks of marine mammals are, or may be, in danger of extinction or depletion as a result of man’s activities; (2) such species and population stocks should not be permitted to diminish beyond the point at which they cease to be a significant functioning element in the ecosystem of which they are a part, and, consistent with this major objective, they should not be permitted to diminish below their optimum sustainable population. Further measures should be immediately taken to replenish any species or population stock which has already diminished below that population. In particular, efforts should be made to protect essential habitats, including the rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance for each species of marine mammal from the adverse effect of man’s actions; (3) there is inadequate knowledge of the ecology and population dynamics of such marine mammals and of the factors which bear upon their ability to reproduce themselves successfully; (4) negotiations should be undertaken immediately to encourage the development of international arrangements for research on, and conservation of, all marine mammals; (5) marine mammals and marine mammal products either— (A) move in interstate commerce, or (B) affect the balance of marine ecosystems in a manner which is important to other animals and animal products which move in interstate commerce, and that the protection and conservation of marine mammals and their habitats is therefore necessary to insure the continuing availability of those products which move in interstate commerce; and (6) marine mammals have proven themselves to be resources of great international significance, esthetic and recreational as well as economic, and it is the sense of the Congress that they should be protected and encouraged to develop to the greatest extent feasible commensurate with sound policies of resource management and that the primary objective of their management should be to maintain the health and stability of the marine ecosystem. Whenever consistent with this primary objective, it should be the goal to obtain an optimum sustainable population keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat. (Pub. L. 92–522, §2, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1027; Pub. L. 97–58, §1(b)(1), Oct. 9, 1981, 95 Stat. 979; Pub. L. 103–238, §3, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 532.) AMENDMENTS 1994—Par. (2). Pub. L. 103–238, §3(1), inserted ‘‘essential habitats, including’’ after ‘‘made to protect’’. Par. (5). Pub. L. 103–238, §3(2), inserted ‘‘and their habitats’’ before ‘‘is therefore necessary’’ in concluding provisions. 1981—Par. (6). Pub. L. 97–58 substituted ‘‘carrying capacity’’ for ‘‘optimum carrying capacity’’. EFFECTIVE DATE Pub. L. 92–522, §4, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1029, provided that: ‘‘The provisions of this Act [enacting this chapter] shall take effect upon the expiration of the sixtyday period following the date of its enactment [Oct. 21, 1972].’’ SHORT TITLE OF 2007 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 109–479, title IX, §901, Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3660, provided that: ‘‘This title [enacting subchapter VI of this chapter and amending section 1377 of this title] may be cited as the ‘United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Act of 2006’.’’ Page 1613 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 1361 SHORT TITLE OF 2000 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 106–555, §1, Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2765, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting section 1421f–1 of this title, amending sections 1362, 1421g, 1421h, 1433, 1434, 5101 to 5103, 5106, 5107a to 5108, and 5156 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 917a, 1433, 5101, and 5107 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1855 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Striped Bass Conservation, Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Management, and Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 2000’.’’ Pub. L. 106–555, title II, §201, Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2767, provided that: ‘‘This title [enacting section 1421f–1 of this title, amending sections 1362, 1421g, 1421h, 1433, and 1434 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 917a and 1433 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1855 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 2000’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1997 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105–42, §1(a), Aug. 15, 1997, 111 Stat. 1122, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting sections 962, 1412, 1413, 1414a to 1416 of this title, amending sections 952, 953, 1362, 1371, 1374, 1378, 1380, 1385, 1411, and 1417 of this title, repealing sections 1412 to 1416 and 1418 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1362 of this title] may be cited as the ‘International Dolphin Conservation Program Act’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1994 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 103–238, §1, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 532, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting sections 1386 to 1389 of this title, amending this section and sections 1362, 1371, 1372, 1374, 1375, 1379, 1380, 1382 to 1384, 1407, 1421 to 1421h, and 4107 of this title, repealing sections 1384 and 1407 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 1362, 1374, 1538, and 1539 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1992 AMENDMENTS Pub. L. 102–587, title III, §3001, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5059, provided that: ‘‘This title [enacting subchapter V of this chapter, amending sections 1362, 1372, 1379, and 1382 of this title and section 183c of Title 46, Appendix, Shipping, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1421 and 1421a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Act’.’’ Pub. L. 102–523, §1, Oct. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 3425, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting subchapter IV of this chapter and amending sections 952, 953, 973r, and 1362 of this title] may be cited as the ‘International Dolphin Conservation Act of 1992’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 100–711, §1, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4755, provided: ‘‘That this Act [enacting sections 1383a and 1383b of this title, amending sections 1166, 1371, 1372, 1374, 1378 to 1380, 1384, 1402, and 1407 of this title and section 1978 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, enacting provisions set out as a note under this section, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1384 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1988’.’’ SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 92–522, §1, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1027, provided in part that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972’.’’ REGULATIONS Pub. L. 103–238, §15(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 559, provided that: ‘‘Except as provided otherwise in this Act [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note above], or the amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) made by this Act, the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, shall, after notice and opportunity for public comment, promulgate regulations to implement this Act and the amendments made by this Act by January 1, 1995.’’ PURPOSES AND FINDINGS Pub. L. 105–42, §2, Aug. 15, 1997, 111 Stat. 1122, provided that: ‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act [see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note above] are— ‘‘(1) to give effect to the Declaration of Panama, signed October 4, 1995, by the Governments of Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Spain, the United States of America, Vanuatu, and Venezuela, including the establishment of the International Dolphin Conservation Program, relating to the protection of dolphins and other species, and the conservation and management of tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean; ‘‘(2) to recognize that nations fishing for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have achieved significant reductions in dolphin mortality associated with that fishery; and ‘‘(3) to eliminate the ban on imports of tuna from those nations that are in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program. ‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) the nations that fish for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have achieved significant reductions in dolphin mortality associated with the purse seine fishery from hundreds of thousands annually to fewer than 5,000 annually; ‘‘(2) the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.] that impose a ban on imports from nations that fish for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have served as an incentive to reduce dolphin mortalities; ‘‘(3) tuna canners and processors of the United States have led the canning and processing industry in promoting a dolphin-safe tuna market; and ‘‘(4) 12 signatory nations to the Declaration of Panama, including the United States, agreed under that Declaration to require that the total annual dolphin mortality in the purse seine fishery for yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean not exceed 5,000 animals, with the objective of progressively reducing dolphin mortality to a level approaching zero through the setting of annual limits and with the goal of eliminating dolphin mortality.’’ RELATIONSHIP OF MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1994 TO OTHER LAW Pub. L. 103–238, §2(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 532, provided that: ‘‘Except as otherwise expressly provided, nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note above] is intended to amend, repeal, or otherwise affect any other provision of law.’’ INDIAN TREATY RIGHTS; ALASKA NATIVE SUBSISTENCE Pub. L. 103–238, §14, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 558, provided that: ‘‘Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note above], including any amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.] made by this Act— ‘‘(1) alters or is intended to alter any treaty between the United States and one or more Indian tribes; or ‘‘(2) affects or otherwise modifies the provisions of section 101(b) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(b)), except as specifically provided in the amendment made by section 4(b) of this Act [amending section 1371 of this title].’’