Overview

Personnel& Partners

NMFS Offices & Regions

Linksto States & Fisheries Orgs

AnglerInformation

Ethical Angling

Legislation,Laws, and Policy

Fishing Regulations in the EEZ

Fishery Statistics

Federal Register Notices
 

Who We Are

Office of Constituent Services strives to improve the National Marine Fisheries Service's ability to build cooperative partner ships with other fisheries management agencies at the interregional and national level. Our goal is to strengthen the management and conservation of interjurisdictional marine and anadromous resources. We also provide a forum at the national level for interaction with the marine recreational fishing community and other agencies involved in marine recreational fisheries issues, working to provide for increased marine recreational fishing opportunities.

What We Do

1. Communicate with the public to determine the needs of all interested parties concerning intergovernmental and marine recreational fisheries issues. 
2. Develop and implement cooperative State/Federal fisheries regulations for the Atlantic coast. 
3. Serve as the Department of Commerce representative co-chair on the National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council. 
4. Serve as the Agency's focal point for coordinating intergovernmental and recreational fisheries programs and responsibilities among the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and its various partners. 
5. Provide support for implementing Presidential Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries which requires federal agencies to:  
1. Strengthen efforts to improve fisheries conservation and provide for more and better recreational fishing opportunities, and  
2. To develop a new policy to promote compatibility between the protection of endangered species and recreational fisheries, and to develop a comprehensive Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan.  
6. Implement the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act)including the development and implementation of a program to support the interstate fishery management efforts of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 
7. IRF's Atlantic Coastal Act activities include 
1. Support and enhance state cooperation in collection, management, and analysis of fishing data; law enforcement; habitat conservation; fishery research, including biological and socioeconomic research; and fishery management planning.  
2. Develop regulations in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the absence of an approved and implemented fishery management plan under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) after consultation with the appropriate Councils.  
3. Develop the necessary documentation to determine if a state is out of compliance with the Commission's fishery management plan (FMP)  
4. Develop procedures on implementing a moratorium if NMFS determines that a state is out of compliance with a Commission FMP, and  
5. Determine a fair and equitable allocation of funds appropriated for the Atlantic Coastal Act to State and Federal entities involved in carrying out its responsibilities.  
6. Develop and, in some cases, implement policy and legislative initiatives relevant to the over all mission of the office.