NOSB Marine Policy

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

1918 Under the act, taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds is unlawful.

Migratory Bird Conservation Act

1929 Approve areas of land or water recommended by the Secretary of the Interior for acquisition as reservations for migratory birds.

Great Lakes Critical Programs Act

1948 Authorized the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish and implement a fishery resources restoration, development, and conservation program including hatchery production at a specified minimum level and to conduct a wildlife species and habitat assessment survey in the lake's basin, including threatened and endangered species, migratory non-game species, migratory bird populations, and related habitat needs. The Fish and Wildlife Service is also authorized to conduct general activities to control sea lampreys and other non-indigenous aquatic animal nuisances, improve the health of fishery resources, and update surveys of fishery resources.

Soil and Water Conservation Act

1977 Provides for a continuing appraisal of US soil, water, and related resources, including fish and wildlife habitats, and a soil and water conservation program to assist landowners.

Federal Water Pollution Control Acts

1948 Authorized the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, in cooperation with other federal, state, and local entities, to prepare comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. Authorizes additional water quality programs, standards, and procedures to govern allowable discharges and funding for construction grants or general programs.

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

1953 Authorized the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to lease the Luther continental shelf to prevent waste and conserve natural resources and to issue leases through competitive bidding. The 1978 amendments provide for cancellation of leases or permits if continued activity is likely to cause serious harm to life.

Fish and Wildlife Act

1956 Established a comprehensive national fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources policy with emphasis on the commercial fishing industry but also with a direction to administer the act with regard to the inherent right of every citizen and resident to fish for pleasure, enjoyment, and betterment and to maintaining increase public opportunities for recreational use of fish and wildlife resources.

Anadromous Fish Conservation Act

1965 Allows Secretary of Interior and Commerce to make agreements with states and no federal interests to help anadromous fish Allows investigation, surveys, research, construction, maintenance and operations of hatcheries and improvement of feeding and spawning conditions Also allows recommendations to EPA to help fish and wildlife in interstate

Water Quality Act

1965 Established he first clear water purity standards, a reform Congress hoped would prevent pollution before it became a problem. Created the Water Pollution Control Administration under the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. States retained initial responsibility for water purity in their interstate bodies of water, but if HEW determined that a state had not taken proper precautions, the federal government would assume jurisdiction and set new standards.

Land and Water Conservation Act

1965 Provides for congress to appropriate for planning, acquiring land and water areas for outdoor recreational use, and constructing outdoor recreational facilities. Allows connections of user fees at recreation areas. Designed to assist state and federal agencies in meeting present and future outdoor recreational demands, primarily in planning; acquisition of land, water, or interests in land or waters; or development.

Water Resources Planning Act

1965 The act provides for a plan to formulate and evaluate water and related land resources projects. Establishes a Water Resources Council, establishes a River Basins Commissions, and maintains a continuing assessment of the adequacy of water supplies in each region of the United States. Establishes principles and standards for federal participants in the preparation of river basin plans and in evaluating federal water projects. The council reviews these plans with respect to agricultural, urban, energy, industrial, recreational, and fish and wildlife needs. Establishes a grant program to assist states in developing related comprehensive water and land use plans.

Species Conservation Act

1966 In the opening provision of the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, congress declared protection of endangered species it's official policy. The bill then directed the Secretary of the Interior to compile a list of endangered species and allocated $15 million to acquire lands and waters for preserving and restoring the species identified. In addition, it combined Federal lands already maintained for this purpose into the National Wildlife Refuge system. It also addressed the growing problem of international extinction. With this legislation, congress banned the importation of any fish or wildlife on a new list of species in danger of worldwide extinction.

Fur Seal Act

1966 Prohibits the taking of fur seals except Indians who live on the North Pacific Ocean.

National Wildlife Refuge System Act

1966 Provides for the administration and management of the National Wildlife Refuge System, including wildlife refuges, areas for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife threatened with extinction, wildlife ranges, game ranges, wildlife management areas, and waterfowl production areas.

Marine Mammal Protection Act

1972 Conserve marine mammals. Department of the Interior is responsible for all other marine mammals including sea otter, walrus, polar bear, dugong, and manatee.

Coastal Zone Management Act

1972 Provided funds for state planning and management of coastal areas. Established an extensive federal grant program within the Department of Commerce to encourage coastal states to develop and implement coastal zone management programs. Activities that affect coastal zones must be consistent with approved state programs. The act also establishes a national estuarine reserve system.

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act

1972 Regulate dumping of waste into oceans and coastal waters. Designated marine sanctuaries.

National Coastal Zone Management Act

1972 Responsible for advancing national coastal management objectives and maintaining and strengthening state and territorial coastal management capabilities. It supports states through financial assistance (58 million in 2000), mediation, technical services and information, and participation in priority state, regional, and local forums.

Clean Water Act

1972 Set national water quality goals and created pollutant discharge permits. The Santa Barbara, California, oil spill of 1969, which was the first major televised environmental disaster, helped to pass this act.

Endangered Species Act

1973 Provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

1976 Comprehensive management of nonhazardous and hazardous solid waste disposal facilities and for hazardous wastes. Regulates treatment, storage, and transport.

Fishery Conservation and Management Act

1976 Established a US exclusive economic zone, created 8 regional fishery council.

Fish and Wildlife Improvements Act

1978 Authorized Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to assist in training state fish and wildlife enforcement personnel to cooperate with other federal or state agencies for enforcement - pay for rewards and undercover operations.

Antarctic Conservation Act

1978 Protects native mammals, birds, and plants and their ecosystems. He law applies to all US citizens and to all expeditions to Antarctica that originate from the United States. The act makes it unlawful, unless authorized by permit, to take native mammals or birds, enter especially designated areas, introduce species to Antarctica, introduce substances designated as pollutants, or import certain Antarctic items into the US.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

1980 Encourages states to develop conservation plans.

Salmon and Steelhead conservation and Enhancement Act

1980 Established a salmon and steelhead enhancement program to be jointly administered by the departments of Commerce and Interior and established a Washington State and Columbia River conservation area.

Coastal Barrier Act

1982 Eliminated federal development incentives on undeveloped coastal barriers, thereby preventing the loss of human life and property from storms, minimizing federal expenditures, and protecting habitat for fish and wildlife. Coastal barriers are landscape features that protect the mainland, lagoons, wetlands, and salt marshes from the full force of wind, wave, and tidal energy. The major types of coastal barriers include fringing mangroves, tombloos, barrier islands, barrier spits, and bay barriers. Composed of sand and other loose sediments, these elongated, narrow landforms are dynamic ecosystems and are vulnerable to hurricane damage and shoreline recession. Coastal barriers also provide important habitat for a variety of wildlife and are an important recreational resource.

Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act

1984 Recognized the commercial and recreational importance as well as interjurisdictional nature of striped bass and established a unique state-based, federally-backed management scheme.

Emergency Wetlands Resources Act

1986 Authorized the purchase of wetlands, established a National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan, requires states to include wetlands in outdoor recreational plans.

Water Resources Development Act

1986 Provides money to establish and maintain dam safety programs.

Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act

1987 Discharge of plastics (synthetic ropes, nets, bags, and biodegradable plastics) into water is prohibited. Food waste, paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles, and crockery cannot be discharged in navigable water or in waters offshore inside 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.

National Estuary Program (NEP)

1987 To identify nationally significant estuaries that are threatened by pollution, land development, or overuse, and to award grants that support the development of comprehensive management plans to restore and protect them.

Ocean Dumping Ban Act

1988 Makes it unlawful for any person to dump or transport for the purpose of dumping sewage, sludge, or industrial waste into ocean waters.

Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act

1990 Established a brand new federal program to prevent and control the introduction of aquatic nuisance species and the brown tree snake.

Coastal Development Act

1990 Opened Florida coastal areas for development.

Waste Reduction Act

1990 Requires the EPA to establish an office of Pollution Prevention, develop and coordinate a pollution prevention strategy, and develop source reduction models. In addition to authorizing data collection on pollution prevention, the act requires owners and operators of manufacturing facilities to report annually on source reduction and recycling activities.

Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act

1990 Strengthened the EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by a tax on oil is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is unwilling and unable to do so.

Source Water Protection Program (SWPP)

1996 After completing a SWAP, states are encouraged to participate in a complete SWPP, which is a proactive, community-based approach aimed at preventing pollution of groundwater, lakes, rivers, and streams that serve as sources for drinking water.

Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP)

1996 Requires states to identify the areas that are sources of public drinking water, assess water systems' susceptibility to contamination, and inform the public of the results.

Kyoto Protocol

1997 Agreement among 150 nations requiring greenhouse gas emission reduction. Developing nation's reductions are voluntary.

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act

1998 Established goals for the US fish and wildlife service programs in the great lakes and requires the service to undertake a number of activities specifically related to fishery resources.

Animal Welfare Act (1966)

A piece of legislation that originally focused on how animals were acquired. Created regulations and guidelines for the protections of animals. One of the first steps taken to protect animals used for experimentation and gave them rights.

National Invasive Species Act of 1996

Amended NANPCA to mandate regulations to prevent introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species into Great Lakes through ballast water. Authorized funding for research on aquatic nuisance species prevention and control (Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Coast, Atlantic Coast, San Francisco Bay- Delta Estuary). Required ballast water management program to demonstrate technologies and practices to prevent nonindigenous species from being introduced.

The Kyoto Protocol (or treaty)

An international agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases was negotiated in Japan in 1997; it was later ratified by many countries, but not by the US. The name of this agreement is

Stellwagen Bank

An undersea area about 100 miles off the coast of Boston that is a National Marine Sanctuary.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans, atmosphere, space and sun.

Billfish Conservation Act

Congress recognized the conservation challenges facing billfish populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Section 4(a) of the act prohibits any person from offering billfish or billfish products for sale, selling them, or having custody, control, or possession of them for purposes of offering them for sale.

Oil Pollution Act of 1990

Enacted a year after the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound, this law streamlines federal response to oil spills by requiring oil storage facilities and vessels to prepare spill-response plans and provide for their rapid implementation. The law also increases polluters' liability for cleanup costs and damage to natural resources and imposes measures -- including a phaseout of single-hulled tankers -- designed to improve tanker safety and prevent spills.

2007 MSA Reauthorization Act:

Established annual catch limits and accountability measures. Promoted market-based management strategies, including limited access privilege programs, such as catch shares. Strengthened the role of science through peer review, the scientific and statistical committees, and the Marine Recreational Information Program. Enhanced international cooperation by addressing illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing and bycatch. Under the MSA, we are ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, which strengthens the value of fisheries to the economy, communities, and marine ecosystems.

1993

In what year did the North American Pacific herring fishery collapse?

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through programs that invest money in research and education projects in science and engineering.

Sustainable Fisheries Act

Made in 1996 that required federal fisheries managers to develop management plants to prevent overfishing, restore depleted stocks, and reduce by-catch. Strengthened requirements to prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished fisheries. Set standards for fishery management plans to specify objective and measureable criteria for determining stock status. Added three new national standards to address fishing vessel safety, fishing communities, and bycatch. Introduced fish habitat as a key component in fisheries management.

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

Mandates the coordination of water resources projects such as dams, power plants, and flood control must coordinate with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enact wildlife conservation measures

Coastal Zone Management Act (1972)

Provides a partnership structure allowing states and the federal government to work together for the protection of U.S. coastal zones from environmentally harmful overdevelopment. The program provides federal funding to participating coastal states and territories for the implementation of measures that conserve coastal areas.

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters, and manage water and mineral resources.

Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Policy

Resilient, productive ocean fisheries are critical to our economy and way of life. Managing these fisheries over the long-term means taking into account more than just one species at a time. It requires a holistic, science-based approach that looks at the entire ecosystem. This approach is known as ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act - 1984

The Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984 provides the legislative authority to establish the U.S. AMLR Program, implementing the United States' strategic goal of managing Southern Ocean resources using an ecosystem approach.

Lacey Act (1900)

The Lacey Act protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations. It prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, transported or sold.

Magnuson-Stevens Act (1976)

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in U.S. federal waters. First passed in 1976, the MSA fosters long-term biological and economic sustainability of our nation's marine fisheries. Key objectives of the MSA are to: Prevent overfishing. Rebuild overfished stocks. Increase long-term economic and social benefits. Ensure a safe and sustainable supply of seafood.

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

What United Nations conference, also known as the Earth Summit, led to the agreement to protect the biodiversity on Earth?

Ocean Noise Policy

The Ocean Noise Policy codifies our commitment to working to reduce the impacts of human-made noise on marine organisms,

Channel Islands

This national marine sanctuary, sometimes called The Galapagos of California, is home to kelp forests, sea lions and blue whales.

National Saltwater Recreational Fishing Policy

This national policy aims to better serve millions of our nation's recreational saltwater fishermen and their coastal communities. The policy reflects fishermen's voices on existing and emerging concerns, including public access, resource stewardship, regulatory education, science innovation, and better lines of communication between state and federal rulemakers and the community.

Patagonian toothfish or Chilean sea bass

Though commercial exploitation of this long-living, popular restaurant fish began in the late 1980s, stocks are already exhausted off the coasts of Argentina and South Africa

Fish and Wildlife Service

To conserve, protect, and enhance the nation's fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of people.

International Provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act 2006

directs the United States to strengthen international fisheries management organizations and to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and bycatch of protected living marine resources.

Bureau of Land Management

To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Treaty that requires that regulations managing all Southern Ocean fisheries consider potential effects om the entire Antarctic ecosystem.

National Aquaculture Act of 1980

U.S. federal law that is intended to promote and support the development of aquaculture. The act aims to encourage development of aquaculture in the United States because aquaculture has the potential to reduce the U.S. trade deficit in fisheries products, augment existing commercial and recreational fisheries, and produce other renewable resources.

Ocean Dumping Act

What 1979 Act gave the EPA the power to monitor and regulate the disposal of sewage sludge, industrial waste, radioactive waste and biohazardous materials into the nation's territorial waters?

Shark Conservation Act of 2010

allows for sustainably managed shark fisheries while eliminating the harmful practice of finning—a process of removing shark fins at sea and discarding the rest of the shark. The act requires that all sharks in the United States, with one exception, be brought to shore with their fins naturally attached.

Atlantic Tunas Convention Act 1975

authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to administer and enforce all provisions of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to which the United States is a party. ICCAT conducts stock assessments on species of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and billfish. Based on these stock assessments, member nations negotiate quotas and other management recommendations for these species.

Whaling Convention Act

implements the United States' obligations under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, which provides for the conservation of whale stocks and the management of whaling. Among other things, the act prohibits whaling in violation of the Convention. And under the act, we co-manage subsistence whale hunts regulated by the International Whaling Commission.

Northern Pacific Halibut Act

is the implementing legislation for the Convention between the United States and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. The act was created to conserve, manage, and rebuild the halibut stocks in the Convention Area to those levels that would achieve and maintain the maximum sustainable yield from the fishery.

Fur Seal Act of 1966

prohibits taking of fur seals or use of U.S. ports and harbors for vessels illegally taking fur seals; allows for subsistence hunting by native people; manage fur seal rookeries in the Pribilof Islands

High Seas Fishing Compliance Act

requires that all commercial fishing vessels registered in the United States have a permit to fish on the high seas. The high seas are those waters extending beyond the exclusive economic zone, or seaward of 200 miles.

American Fisheries Act 1988

the purpose of the act was to tighten U.S. ownership standards that had been exploited under the Anti-Reflagging Act, and to provide the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pollock fleet the opportunity to conduct their fishery in a more rational manner while protecting non-AFA participants in other fisheries.

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act - 2015

to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud internationally. . Combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud is critical to sustaining the resilience of our global ocean fisheries, to leveling the playing field for the U.S. fishing and seafood industries, and to protecting the United States' reputation as a leader in sustainable seafood.

National Marine Sanctuaries Act

to protect marine resources, such as coral reefs, sunken historical vessels, or unique habitats. The act authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to designate and protect areas of the marine environment with special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archeological, educational or esthetic qualities as national marine sanctuaries.