The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has drafted a document outlining a new policy regarding fishing zone closures in emergency situations, including situations during which there is a risk of seafood contamination. Though drafted on May 28, 2013, NMFS posted the policy draft in the Federal Register yesterday,  Monday, June 3, 2013. NMFS is asking for public input regarding the policy in the form of written comments. NMFS will accept comments until July 3, 2013.

Motivated by the British Petroleum Deep Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, the policy is designed to allow the NMFS the ability to enact emergency closures in cases of public health risks or other rapidly escalating situations, such as an oil spill.

The policy also explains the authority to enact emergency closures would fall to the Secretary of Commerce working with NMFS,  In the case of a public health emergency, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must would need to agree with the Secretary of Commerce’s action.

Should such an event take place, NFMS would implement the closure by publishing an emergency rule in the Federal Register. Likewise, NFMS would announce coordinates of the closed zone through NOAA Weather Radio, fishery bulletins, news and press releases, NOAA web site updates, telephone hotlines, email lists, and Twitter and text alerts.

You can read the entire proposed policy here.

FISH ON!

 

 

Fishing, NMFS, NOAA, Regulations

By Sid

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