National Marine Fisheries Service Law and Legal Definition
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is the U.S. federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the U.S. living marine resources and their habitat. It is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Commerce. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the management, conservation and protection of living marine resources within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
With the supporting provisions of Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS assesses and predicts the status of fish stocks. It also works to reduce wasteful fishing practices. Pursuant to the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, the agency is also tasked with recovering protected marine species such as wild salmon, whales and sea turtles. Working closely with state enforcement agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard, and foreign enforcement authorities, the NMFS also serves as a federal law enforcement agency.
NMFS aims to provide maximum benefits of living marine resources to the country through sound science and management. The ecosystem, protected species and status of fish stocks are affected by both natural and human-related events. Although the NMFS cannot control these events, it tries to influence them with the help of available scientific and management tools.
Legal Definition list
- National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act
- National Lawyers Guild
- National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System
- National Labor-Management Panel
- National Labor Relations Board
- National Marine Fisheries Service
- National Maximum Speed Law
- National Mediation Board [NMB]
- National Member Bank
- National Member Banks
- National Methamphetamine Information Clearinghouse Act
Related Legal Terms
- Absent Uniformed Services Voter
- Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding [USIP]
- Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual
- Acceptable Quality Level [Agricultural Marketing Service]
- Acceptance [Agricultural Marketing Service]
- Acceptance of Service Agreement
- Access Control List [National Security]
- Access Control Mechanism [National Security]
- Accessible Space [National Security]
- Action for the Loss of Services
