similar to river herring, shad spend their adult lives at sea, returning to their native rivers in the spring to breed, are found from Newfoundland to Florida, and populations are at or near historic lows. In 2013, states had to demonstrate sustainable harvest plans otherwise their shad fisheries (both recreational and commercial) closed. They are [..]

The federal agency in charge of the management, conservation and protection of living marine resources within the U.S. EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone from three to 200 miles offshore). It is responsible for creating sustainable fisheries following the guidelines in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, assessing and predicting the status of fish stocks, and ensu [..]

A method of ocean fishing in which a vessel tows a large net through the water between the surface and the seafloor. These nets can reach 300 feet in length and use a small mesh width at the back (codend) of the net. Midwater trawl vessels are the largest fishing vessels on the East Coast, up to 165 feet long with a single net capable of capturing [..]

Atlantic menhaden play a vital role in the marine ecosystem from Maine to Florida.  By weight, more menhaden are caught than any other fish on the East Coast. One company, Omega Protein, operates a fleet that each year scoops up about three-quarters of the entire East Coast menhaden catch—more than 410 million pounds. The oily fish are typically gr [..]

The Magnuson-Stevens Act is the law that governs fishing in federal ocean waters. In 2006, new requirements were passed to end overfishing in U.S. waters by 2011 through the use of annual catch limits. The United States federal government has jurisdiction over the waters from three to 200 miles off its shores. Beyond 200 miles are international wat [..]

Five year-round commercial fishing closures (Georges Bank Closed Area I, Georges Bank Closed Area II, Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, Cashes Ledge Closed Area and Western Gulf of Maine Closed Area) located off of New England’s coast to protect spawning and juvenile groundfish, such as cod, haddock and flounder, from excessive fishing pressure.

Bottom-dwelling, or demersal, fish species such as Atlantic cod, haddock, flounders, hake and pollock. These species often share the same habitat and are managed together as a stock complex. Though groundfish spend much of their lives near the bottom of the ocean, the eggs and larval fish live near the water surface and even adults move up into the [..]

Species that play a vital role in the ocean food web as prey for larger fish, seabirds and marine mammals. On the Atlantic coast, this includes small, schooling species such as Atlantic herring, river herring, shad, mackerel, menhaden, smelt, sand lance and squid. Forage fish are also characterized by wide population swings and are vulnerable to fi [..]

A geographic management unit for a portion of a fish population usually defined by a particular migration pattern, specific spawning grounds or because it is fished in a specific area. Single species are sometimes managed as several stocks based on biology, fishery activities, management practicalities or some combination of these. For example, Atl [..]

An area of the ocean where certain fishing gear is prohibited or an area that is entirely closed to fishing during specific times of the year. Fishery closures protect fish habitat to reduce fishing-induced mortality and to allow fish reproduce and grow. Federal fishery observer: Field technicians or biologists, trained by the NOAA Fisheries Servic [..]