Press Releases Articles

California’s Anglers Claim Another Legal Victory

Sacramento, CA – June 6, 2011 – A San Diego Superior Court judge has ordered that the Natural Resources Defense Council and Ocean Conservancy have no legal right to intervene in a lawsuit that seeks to preserve ocean sportfishing in California.

Commerce and NOAA Release National Aquaculture Policies

The Department of Commerce and NOAA today released national sustainable marine aquaculture policies to meet the growing demand for healthy seafood, to create jobs in coastal communities, and restore vital ecosystems. Foreign aquaculture accounts for about half of the 84 percent of seafood imported by the U.S., contributing to the $9 billion trade deficit in seafood.

Dangerous Toxin Discovered in Critically Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

Researchers from NOAA have discovered a potent and highly-debilitating toxin in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a first-of-its-kind chemical finding that is now prompting investigations of other marine mammals in the state.

RFA-NJ Submits Official Comments on DEP Access Plan

The Recreational Fishing Alliance's New Jersey chapter (RFA-NJ) today submitted official comments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in response to the agency's new public access rules.

Commerce Announces 2011 Regional Fishery Council Appointments

The Commerce Department today announced the appointment of 21 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils – important partners with NOAA’s Fisheries Service in determining how ocean fisheries are managed.

NOAA Says Bluefin Not Endangered

Prior to the Memorial Day Weekend, NOAA announced that Atlantic bluefin tuna do not warrant species protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency did say however they are committed to revisiting their decision by early 2013, when more information is available on the effects of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill, as well as a new stock assessment from the scientific arm of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). NOAA is formally designating both the western Atlantic and eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks of bluefin tuna as "species of concern" under ESA, which officially places the species on a watch list for concerns about its status and threats to the species.

Atlantic Salmon Return To Lake Ontario

More than a hundred and fifty years ago, Atlantic Salmon lived in the Humber River and many other tributaries of Lake Ontario. Sadly, they were one of the first fish species to be extirpated from the lake. Today, more than 40 partners are working together through the Bring Back the Salmon program to restore a wild, self-sustaining population of Atlantic Salmon to Lake Ontario and its tributaries. Five years into this historic undertaking, the signs are good that the program is working.

Scary Decline In Striper Stocks

A drastic decline in striped bass stocks has state and federal officials scrambling to protect the fish, but many recreational fishermen say the government isn’t moving fast enough.

RFA Board Member Responds to "Inflexible" Management

While the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is continuing to pressure federal legislators to help fix a fatally flawed federal fisheries law, coastal fishermen in every state have been taking to message boards, club meetings and newspaper columns to blast away at fisheries managers for not listening to the angling community with regard to flawed science.

NOAA Issues Emergency Action to Prevent Opening of Scallop Area to Protect Resource

NOAA today announced that, at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council and members of the scallop industry, it will not reopen the Nantucket Lightship Access Area to scallop fishing, as had been scheduled for June 15.