www.Mels-Place.com - Directory of Federal and State Government Saltwater Fishing-Related Sites

	Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) - Formed by the fifteen Atlantic coast states more than fifty years ago to assist in managing and conserving their shared coastal fishery resources. The states have found that their mutual interest in sustaining healthy coastal fishery resources is best achieved by working together cooperatively, in collaboration with the federal government. Through this approach, the states uphold their collective fisheries management responsibilities in a cost effective, timely, and responsive fashion. FDA Regulatory Fish Encyclopedia FDA/CFSAN Seafood Information and Resources Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Federal Fishery Management Councils: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council - The GMFMC manages fishery resources in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and includes representation from Alabama, West Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council - The MAFMC is responsible for the management of fisheries in federal waters which occur predominantly off the mid-Atlantic coast. States with voting representation on the Council include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina New England Fishery Management Council - The NEFMC manages the fishery resources in the federal waters off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut North Pacific Fishery Management Council - The NPFMC has jurisdiction over the 900,000 square mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska (including the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.) The Council manages cod, pollack, flatfish, mackerel, sablefish, and rockfish species, and also makes allocative and limited entry decisions for Pacific halibut Pacific Fishery Management Council - The PFMC manages salmon, groundfish and coastal pelagic species in federal waters Washington, Oregon and California, and recommends Pacific halibut harvest regulations to the International Pacific Halibut Commission South Atlantic Fishery Management Council - The SAFMC is responsible for managing the fisheries in federal waters off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and East Florida Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council - The WPRFMC is responsible for the fisheries in federal waters around the Territory of American Samoa, Territory of Guam, State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and US Pacific island possessions Federal Register (1994 to present) - The official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents. (Try the search engine with "Tuna", "Bass" or "Flounder") Fisheries and Oceans Canada * Pêches et Océans Canada - The lead federal government department responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ICCAT International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas: Fisheries research and management Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO) - IOC Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act - Public Law 94-265 as amended through October 11, 1996 National Estuarine Research Reserve National Fisheries Institute National Imaging and Mapping Agency (NIMA) Digital Navigation Publications NOAA Fisheries - National Marine Fisheries Service Sites: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Home Page - Silver Spring, MD NMFS - News Releases (updated daily) NMFS - Northeast Fisheries Regulations (648 Regs) NMFS - Permit Shop - Get your Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit here. Starting March 1, 2003 you'll need this $27 federal permit for your boat if you want to land Yellowfin, Bluefin, Bigeye, Albacore and Skipjack tunas. Also required for Swordfish, Sailfish, Blue Marlin, White Marlin and certain Sharks NMFS - Fisheries Statistics & Economics Division - This Division collects data and coordinates information and research programs to support stewardship (regulations) of the nations' marine resources NMFS - Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) - Good, bad or indifferent, the MRFSS data is used by our bureaucrats in formulating recreational fishing regulations NMFS - Commercial Fishery Landings Data - Contains automated data summary programs that anyone can use to rapidly and easily summarize US. commercial fisheries landings NMFS - Alaska Regional Office - Juneau, AK NMFS - Alaska Fisheries Science Center - Seattle, WA NMFS - Northeast Regional Office - Gloucester, MA NMFS - Northeast Fisheries Science Center - The Center plans, develops, and manages a multidisciplinary program of basic and applied research of our Northeast marine resources, habitat quality, conservation, utilization, maintenance and restoration - Woods Hole, MA NMFS - Northeast Fisheries Science Center - James J. Howard Marines Sciences Laboratory, Sandy Hook, NJ NMFS - Northeast Fisheries Science Center - Milford, CT Laboratory NMFS - Northeast Fisheries Science Center - Narragansett, RI Laboratory NMFS - Northeast Fisheries Science Center - Woods Hole, MA Laboratory NMFS - Northwest Regional Office - Seattle, WA NMFS - Northwest Fisheries Science Center - Seattle, WA NMFS - Southeast Regional Office - St. Petersburg, FL NMFS - Southeast Fisheries Science Center - Miami, FL NMFS - Southwest Regional Office - Long Beach, CA NMFS - Southwest Fisheries Science Center - La Jolla, CA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sites: NOAA - Daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, climate monitoring, coastal restoration and lest we forget, fisheries management - Washington, DC NOAA - Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) Home page NOAA - List of Oceanography Resources NOAA - National Ocean Service MapFinder - This service provides "one stop shopping" for images and data from a number of National Ocean Service (NOS) offices - Products include coastal aerial photography, low resolution nautical charts, coastal survey maps, environmental sensitivity index atlases, hydrographic survey outlines, historical maps, water level station data, geodetic control points, and estuarine bathymetry data - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - National Marine Sanctuaries - Information about our nation's marine sanctuaries -- their history and current management and their scientific and educational programs - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) NOAA - National Weather Service NOAA - National Weather Radio - These are the fine folks that produce those robotic-voiced coastal and offshore weather forecasts you listen to on your marine VHF radio or little battery-powered weather radio. NOAA - Office of Coast Survey - Provides useful and necessary navigational products which are required for the safe and efficient maritime commerce in and out of our Nation's ports. Products include the National Survey Plan, Electronic Navigational Charts, Historical Charts, Coast Pilot, and Bathy/Topo/Shoreline Charts - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - Office of Coast Survey AWOIS - Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System (AWOIS) contains information on approximately 10,000 submerged wrecks and obstructions in the coastal waters of the United States. Information includes latitude and longitude of each feature along with brief historic and descriptive details. NOAA - Office of Coast Survey CoastWatch Program - The CoastWatch Program makes data and imagery available from a variety of sensors and satellites. A wide variety of sea surface temperature, ocean surface wind and ocean color images are available for both viewing and downloading. NOAA - Office of Coast Survey - Historical Maps and Charts - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - Office of Coast Survey - Marine Chart Division - The MCD produces nautical charts and related publications for navigation in the coastal areas of the United States and the Great Lakes - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - Office of Coast Survey - Print on Demand Agent Information - The Most Up-to-date Nautical Charts - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - Office of Coast Survey - United States Coast Pilot - Consists of a series of nautical books that cover a variety of information important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters. NEW - Electronic Coast Pilots are available for download - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - Office of Habitat Conservation - Our goal is to manage, conserve and enhance habitats for fishery resources, protected species and other living marine resources - Silver Spring, MD NOAA - Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory NOAA - PORTS (Physical Oceanographic Real-time Systems) for New York / New Jersey NOAA - SARSAT - 406 EPIRB Information - The SARSAT system uses NOAA satellites in low-earth and geostationary orbits to detect and locate mariners in distress. The satellites relay distress signals from emergency beacons to a network of ground stations and ultimately to the US. Mission Control Center. The USMCC processes the data and alerts the appropriate search and rescue authorities - Suitland, MD NOAA - Tides Online - Storm Surge Information Northeast Multispecies Charter / Party and Recreational Fishing Regulations Sustainable Fisheries Act - On October 11, 1996 the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) became law. The SFA amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. SFA amendments and changes include numerous provisions requiring science, management and conservation action by the NMFS THOMAS -- US Congress on the Internet US Army Corps of Engineers Information Network Home Page US Coast Guard (USCG) Sites: USCG - Home Page USCG Atlantic Area - Headquartered in Portsmouth, VA, the LantArea Command Center coordinates homeland security, law enforcement, and rescue missions that occur on the high seas across and outside district boundaries. USCG First District - Headquartered in Boston, MA, the First District has jurisdiction in the waters of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont (Lake Champlain), Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, to the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey. USCG - Activities New York USCG - Detachment Sandy Hook USCG - Group / MSO Long Island Sound USCG - Group Moriches, Long Island USCG Fifth District - Headquartered in Portsmouth, VA, the Fifth District has jurisdiction in the waters of the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey to Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and North Carolina. USCG - Group-Air Station Atlantic City USCG - Activities Baltimore USCG - Group Cape Hatteras USCG - Group Eastern Shore (Chincoteague, VA) USCG - Group Hampton Roads USCG - Group Philadelphia USCG Seventh District - Headquartered in Miami, FL, the Seventh District has jurisdiction in the waters of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida to 83°50'W, and Puerto Rico and adjacent islands of the United States. USCG Eighth District - Headquartered in New Orleans, LA, the Eighth District has jurisdiction in the waters of Florida westward from 83°50'W, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, the Mississippi River System except that portion of the Illinois River north of Joliet, Illinois. USCG Ninth District - Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, the Ninth District has jurisdiction in the waters of Great Lakes and St .Lawrence River above St. Regis River. USCG Eleventh District - Headquartered in Alameda, CA, the Eleventh District has jurisdiction in the waters of California. USCG Thirteenth District - Headquartered in Seattle, WA, the Thirteenth District has jurisdiction in the waters of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. USCG Fourteenth District - Headquartered in New Orleans, LA, the Eighth District has jurisdiction in the waters of Hawaiian, American Samoa, Marshall, Marianas and Caroline Islands. USCG Seventeenth District - Headquartered in Juneau, AK, the Seventeenth District has jurisdiction in the waters of Alaska. USCG Navigation Center - Whether you navigate using GPS, DGPS, LORAN-C, or good-old-fashioned paper charts and a sextant, we want to provide you with information that will help you fix your position! - Alexandria, VA Local Notice to Mariners (LMNs) for the First District - Monthly edition and weekly supplements for the coastal waters from Eastport, ME southward to Shrewsbury, NJ - USCG Navigation Center Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs) for the Fifth District - Monthly edition and weekly supplements for the coastal waters from Shrewsbury, NJ southward to Little River SC - USCG Navigation Center Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs) for the Seventh District - Monthly edition and weekly supplements for the coastal waters of the USCG Seventh District - USCG Navigation Center USCG Navigation Rules Online - A combined list of the International and Inland Navigation Rules and Regulations also known as the Rules of the Road or the Nav Rules. US Coast Guard Auxiliary - The uniformed, volunteer civilian component of the Coast Guard, established by Congress in 1939 to assist in promoting boating safety. It boasts nearly 38,000 members from all walks of life who receive special training so that they may be an integral part of Team Coast Guard. Auxiliarists assist the Coast Guard in non-law enforcement programs such as public boating education, Vessel Safety Checks, on-water safety patrols, search and rescue and marine environmental protection. Auxiliarists donate more than 2 million hours annually to benefit other boaters and their families. That’s why they’re called America's Volunteer Lifesavers. US Coast Guard Auxiliary Float Plan Central - Complete a float plan before you go boating and leave it with a reliable person who you can depend upon to notify the Coast Guard should you not return or check-in as scheduled. The float plan is a lifesaving device on paper and you can download a copy of their "Millennium Edition" Float Plan™. Organized for a logical and convenient flow of information, this one-page document is extremely easy to prepare and use. US Coast Guard Auxiliary First District Southern Region - Flotillas in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Vermont US Coast Guard Auxiliary First District Southern Region Division 2 - Sandy Hook, NJ US Customs and Border Protection - Know before you go on that fishing trip to a foreign country! The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will soon require all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted form of documentation to enter or reenter the United States. December 31, 2006: Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. December 31, 2007: Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel. US Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds US Environmental Protection Agency - River Corridor and Wetland Restoration - Excellent resource for information about wetlands restoration, creation and enhancement US Fish & Wildlife Service US Geological Survey - Non indigenous Aquatic Species US GLOBEC Georges Bank Information US Naval Observatory