The United States, in 2012, will become the first country to impose catch limits for every species it manages. This policy was forged under President George W. Bush and finalized by President Barack Obama.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act, which dates to the mid-1970s and governs all fishing in U.S. waters, was reauthorized five years ago by President Bush. A bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers joined environmental groups, some fishing interests and scientist to insert language in the law requiring each fishery to have annual catch limits in place by the end of 2011 to end overfishing. NOAA is confident that they will have annual catch limits in place by the time the 2012 fishing year begins for all species. Some fish, such as mahi-mahi and wahoo in the southeast Atlantic, will have catch limits for the first time.
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