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Legislation

What Marine Resources Laws does NOAA Fisheries Follow?

NOAA Fisheries receives its ocean stewardship responsibilities under many federal laws, in addition to the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Most important are the Endangered Species Act, which protects species determined to be threatened or endangered; the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which regulates interactions with marine mammals; the Lacey Act, which prohibits fish or wildlife transactions and activities that violate state, federal, native American tribal, or foreign laws; the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, which authorizes NOAA Fisheries to collect fisheries data on environmental decisions which affect living marine resources; and the Federal Power Act, which allows NOAA Fisheries to minimize effects of dam operations on anadromous fish, such as prescribing fish passageways that bypass dams. Many other statutes, international conventions, and treaties also guide NOAA Fisheries activities.

Some of the Resource Laws That Guide NOAA Fisheries

• Sustainable Fisheries Act
• Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act
• Endangered Species Act
• Congressional Research Service Reports
• Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994 (from CNIE)
• Fishermen's Protective Act (Pelly Amendment)
• Lacey Act
• Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
• Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act
• A summary of Major Laws Implemented by NOAA Fisheries

For additional information see the NOAA Office of Legislative Affairs