Healthy oceans and productive fisheries are crucial for the future of our planet, the survival of our species, and the prosperity of our country. Learn why effective management of U.S. federal fisheries is critical for the long-term conservation of our oceans.
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April 1976 found me at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, finishing up my senior year. I was wandering around campus, drinking too much beer, sleeping too late and, when time allowed, prepping for final exams. It was warm, at least for spring in central New England, so I often wore my […]
This article was originally published on March 27, 2026 on the Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) blog and is reprinted with permission. Top photo: Historic fishing communities are part of the lifeblood of New England. Credit: EcoPhotography. Fifty Years Later, We Look at the Complicated Legacy of this Groundbreaking Fishing Law By the 1970s, the U.S. […]
This article was first published on April 24, 2026 on the Alaska Marine Community Coalition’s Changing Tides Blog and is reprinted with permission. Top photo: Kodiak Harbor Waterfront, Alaska. This month, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) marks its 50th anniversary. In Alaska, it is more than a policy framework. It is the […]
This article was originally published on the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) website and is republished with permission. Top photo: Wild Pacific salmon reef net fishing boats off Lummi Island, Washington. Credit: Edmund Lowe/Getty Images. A half century of progress has been made toward abundant fisheries and thriving coastal communities, but there is still much […]
Top photo by John McMurray On April 13, 2026 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a press release announcing its newest version of the National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy (Policy), which stated that “The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for NOAA Fisheries’ consideration in its deliberations pertaining to development and maintenance […]
The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, sustainable seafood suppliers, and marine science organizations dedicated to sustaining abundant fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and thriving fishing communities through defending and strengthening U.S. ocean conservation policy, including our primary federal fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Learn more.
