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The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service is the federal agency, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. NOAA is a bureau within United States Department of Commerce, responsible for the stewardship of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for the management, conservation and protection of living marine resources within the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone (waters from three to 200 miles offshore). Using the tools provided by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service assesses and predicts the status of fish stocks, ensures compliance with fisheries regulations and works to reduce wasteful fishing practices. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service recovers protected marine species (i.e. whales, turtles) without unnecessarily impeding economic and recreational opportunities. With the help of the six regional offices and science centers, and eight regional fisheries management councils, and three interstate fisheries management commmissions, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is able to work with communities on fishery management issues. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service works to promote sustainable fisheries and to prevent lost economic potential associated with overfishing, declining species and degraded habitats. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service strives to balance competing public needs for the natural resources under its management.

Links to the headquarters offices, the six regional offices and science centers, and the marine laboratories operated by the National Marine Fisheries Service can be found at: NMFS

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