Chapter 3 North Carolina’s Species
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the management, conservation, and protection of living marine resources within the US Exclusive Economic Zone (three to 200 miles offshore), including sea turtles, marine and anadromous fish, plants and invertebrates, cetaceans, and pinnipeds. The NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction also extends into state waters for protected marine species. Central to that mission are the objectives to protect ocean, coast, and Great Lakes resources, to recover protected species, and to rebuild and maintain sustainable fisheries. The NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is charged with the implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 for marine and anadromous species. The OPR develops, implements, and administers programs for the protection, conservation, and recovery of species protected under the ESA. This office also develops and implements policies, procedures, and regulations for permits to take (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect) listed species according to the ESA. NOAA Fisheries has developed and is responsible for implementation of recovery plans for threatened and endangered marine species.
• Recovery plans are available for several species from this webpage: NOAA Fisheries ESA Recovery Plans
• In addition to these plans, marine mammal stock assessment reports for all Atlantic species are available from the following webpage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal- stock-assessment-reports. NOAA Fisheries, Highly Migratory Species Division manages Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), including tunas, sharks, swordfish, and billfish, and implements the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks. Management of HMS requires international cooperation, and rebuilding programs must reflect traditional participation in the fisheries by United States fishermen, relative to foreign fleets. Along with the Magnuson–Stevens Act, United States fisheries management must be consistent with the requirements of other laws, including the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and several other federal laws. 3.12.2.2 State Regulations North Carolina is a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The ASMFC represents the 15 Atlantic coast states as a deliberative body, coordinating the conservation and management of shared nearshore (within state waters) fishery resources (marine, shell, and anadromous species) for sustainable use. The ASMFC promotes interstate fisheries management, law enforcement, research and statistics, fisheries, science, and habitat conservation.
3 - 169
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator