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

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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.

The Coast Guard urges commercial fishing vessel owners and operators to take advantage of voluntary dockside safety examinations prior to the enforcement of a new requirement Tuesday.  The new requirement mandates that all commercial fishing, fish tender and fish processing vessels that operate or transit more than three nautical miles offshore  demonstrate full compliance with all existing commercial fishing vessel safety regulations during a dockside safety examination.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a public meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council). The meeting will be held at the Texas A & M University--Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute; 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869

Meeting Agenda

The Council will hold a meeting to consider:

• Read more: Rigs to Reefs and Other Issues To Be Discussed at Sport Fishing & Boating Partnership Council...

This notice announces a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. The ANS Task Force's purpose is to develop and implement a program for U.S. waters to prevent introduction and dispersal of aquatic nuisance species; to monitor, control, and study such species; and to disseminate related information. The meeting is open to the public.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) and three of its subcommittees will meet on November 9-11, 2012, in Watsonville, CA, to discuss issues relating to recreational boating safety. The meetings will be open to the public.