The National Maritime Center is responsible for issuing Merchant Mariner Credentials under the authority of the U.S. Coast Guard. All changes and updated information regarding STCW guide can be found on our website.

The Reauthorization of the Coast Guard Act of 2010 has implications for commercial fishing vessels. Please click to read through a presentation by Bob Perkins that outlines the new regulations. 

Sarver Heart Center’s newest video makes it easy to learn Continuous Chest Compression CPR. Every three days, more Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest than the number who died in the 9-11 attacks. You can lessen this recurring loss by learning this hands-only CPR method that doubles a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.  Watch physician researchers Gordon A. Ewy, MD, and Karl Kern, MD, demonstrate the easy, life-saving method that they developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Watch a new video to find out how NOAA scientists recover whales in Alaska. See how they use photo identification to identify individual humpback whales and learn more about their population abundance. Also see how we study what and how much they eat. This research is made possible by the success of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

New online project listing allows for easier searching if you are interested in tracking recreational harvest

Curious about what MRIP is working on?

Stock Assessment 101 Series: Part 1—Data Required for Assessing U.S. Fish Stocks (originally published May 23, 2012 - www.fishsmart.com)

Why Do We Conduct Fish Stock Assessments?

NOAA Fisheries’ scientific stock assessments are key to fisheries management. They examine the effects of fishing and other factors to describe the past and current status of a fish stock, answer questions about the size of a fish stock, and make predictions about how a fish stock will respond to current and future management measures (Marine Fisheries Stock Assessment Improvement Plan). Fish stock assessments support sustainable fisheries by providing fisheries managers with the information necessary to make sound decisions.

Why Are Fish Stock Assessments Important?

The Coast Guard announces the availability of three policy letters providing guidance to vessels and mariners subject to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW).

These letters provide guidance on: The hours of rest requirements of the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention and Code; issuance of endorsements and approval of training for Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties (VPDSD) and vessel personnelrequiring security awareness training; and issuance of other endorsements and approval of other training to meet the 2010 amendments.

NMMA filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to request a review of its August ruling on E15 that dismissed NMMA's challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency's waiver allowing E15 to be sold.

As the election nears we thought you might like to read some answers from two interviews with the presidential candidates that relate to our industry. 

Dr. Richard D. (Rick) Methot was named NOAA's first-ever Science Advisor for Stock Assessments. In this new role, he will be the agency's senior-most authority in the field of stock assessment science.