Who sets the fishing regulations?

Fishing regulations are established by fishery management organizations (FMOs). FMOs are international organizations that develop and implement management measures for shared fish stocks. These organizations make decisions based on scientific and technical advice, economic considerations, and stakeholder consultation.

Some well-known FMOs include:

1. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES): This organization provides scientific advice on various fishing matters to regional fisheries management bodies and FMOs in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas.

2. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM): This organization manages fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

3. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC): This organization's main focus is managing tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

4. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC): This organization provides management advice for the sustainable use of fishery resources in the western and central Pacific Ocean.

5. Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA): This international agreement ensures the proper conservation and management of fishery resources in the southern Indian Ocean.

In the United States, fishing regulations for federal waters (typically beyond three miles from the shoreline) are typically set by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), an agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Additionally, states have sovereignty over the waters within their jurisdiction and establish their own fishing regulations specific to their territorial waters. These regulations often cover aspects such as species that can be caught, fishing seasons, fishing gear restrictions, and bag limits.