Press Releases Articles

Cape Cod’s Newest Tourist Attraction: Great White Sharks

Three great white sharks were spotted in recent days off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, generating understandable concern among swimmers, boaters, and lifeguards. But the season’s first arrival of the notorious predators has not caused panic or distress in area communities. On the contrary, the summertime presence of the great whites has increasingly become a tourist attraction, luring shark-seeking visitors from far-off destinations and providing a boost to local economies.

Cuomo Says NY Coastal Anglers to Get Refunds

Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that anglers and boat captains who plunked down money for a saltwater fishing license in 2011 prior to the license repeal in March will be refunded in full.

Louisiana's Yellowfin Tuna Tagging Program

This fall, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) plans to launch a Yellowfin Tuna Tagging Program, an initiative unique to the Gulf of Mexico. The program promotes a culture of catch, tag and release in the recreational fishing community and contributes to the scientific data necessary to further understand the behaviors of yellowfin tuna.

Louisiana To Modify Tuna Regulations

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed a motion to modify existing rules for the recreational harvest of bluefin tuna, in an effort to remain consistent with federal regulations currently in place.

NOAA-Supported Scientists Find Large Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico

NOAA-supported scientists found the size of this year’s Gulf of Mexico dead zone to be 6,765 square miles. Researchers had predicted the potential for a record sized dead zone between 8,500 and 9,421 square miles due to the spring flooding of the Mississippi River and the associated large loads of nutrients running off into the Gulf, but strong winds and waves associated with Tropical Storm Don disrupted the western portion of the dead zone.

Build It And Fish Will Come

Reefing operations began in Port Mansfield last week in a joint project between the Coastal Conservation Association, Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

House and Senate Bills Are Huge Step to Conserve Billfish

On July 29, 2011 Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL) teamed up with 11 additional Members of Congress to introduce bi-partisan legislation in the Senate and House—The Billfish Conservation Act of 2011—that will help restore billfish populations that are badly depleted by commercial overfishing. By protecting these magnificent fish from overfishing, this legislation will lead to the long-overdue recovery of billfish.

RFA Says Bunker Could Take Bite Out of Shark Week

While many Americans are enjoying Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, fisheries managers and corporate entities along the Atlantic Coast are busy preparing for a week of heavy bunker discussion!

NOAA, Bermuda Partner to Protect Humpback Whales in the North Atlantic

NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Government of Bermuda have pledged cooperation on scientific and educational programs to better protect the endangered North Atlantic humpback whale population.

Major Expansion of Port Mansfield Reef Underway

Recreational fishermen in the nearshore waters off the coast of Port Mansfield will have almost five times the amount of habitat to fish within eight miles of the Port Mansfield Jetties after a major infusion of hard structure this week. CCA Texas’s habitat program, Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) teamed up with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Artificial Reef Program and Alamo Concrete Products to further enhance the existing Port Mansfield nearshore reef with more than 4,000 concrete culverts.