NOAA Issues Final Guidance on Annual Catch Limits to End Over-fishing

SOUTHAMPTON, NY, January 21, 2009 (The Boating Channel) - NOAA’s Fisheries Service yesterday issued final guidance on annual catch limits designed to help restore federally managed marine fish stocks and end overfishing.

Annual catch limits are amounts of fish allowed to be caught in a year. The 2007 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act required fishery management plans to establish mechanisms for specifying annual catch limits at such levels that overfishing does not occur. Additionally, the act calls for measures to ensure accountability with these limits, and that the limits do not exceed the scientific recommendations made by the regional fishery management councils’ scientific committees.

“The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that we end over-fishing by 2010,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “The commercial seafood industry and recreational saltwater fishing provide our nation food, jobs and other incredible benefits that we want to continue for future generations when we end over-fishing.“ [More]

Coast Guard Reports Hazardous Spill in Richmond, California

RICHMOND, CA, May 6, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

A spill of toluenediamine, a flammable substance that can cause irritation by inhalation, at the Reaction Products facility in Richmond, California, has brought out the U.S. Coast Guard along with the California Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Fish and Game and Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Team.

The chemical spill occurred at an unconfirmed time this past weekend. The spill has been fully contained by booms and absorbent pads. The spilled chemical is not believed to have reached the San Francisco Bay. A safety zone was established and enforced by the Coast Guard Monday afternoon and has since been lifted. [More...]