Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in U.S. federal waters. It has since been amended by several statutes, including the "Sustainable Fisheries Act" in 1996 and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, in 2007. The original 1976 Act extended U.S. fisheries jurisdiction to 200 miles. The 1976 Act aided in the development of the domestic fishing industry by providing for the phase-out of foreign fishing. To manage the fisheries and promote conservation, the 1976 Act created eight regional fishery management councils. The 1996 Act focused on rebuilding overfished fisheries, protecting fish habitat, and reducing bycatch. The 2006 amendments mandated the use of annual catch limits and accountability measures to end overfishing, provided for limited access privilege programs, and called for increased international cooperation. Source: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/details.html and http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/ Date Enacted: April 13, 1976 Codification: 16 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq. Authority: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration When investigating geo-regulatory boundaries near the boundary edges, users should consult the most up to date applicable jurisdictional boundaries available on MarineCadastre.gov. These geo-regulatory boundaries have not been updated in more than 13 years.