The Magnuson-Stevens Act 50th Anniversary Briefing Series - The Past 50 Years
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The Magnuson-Stevens Act 50th Anniversary Briefing Series - The Past 50 Years
The Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) is the primary law that governs marine fisheries management in U.S. federal waters. First passed in 1976, the MSA fosters the long-term biological and economic sustainability of marine fisheries. Under the MSA, U.S. fisheries management is a transparent and public process of science, management, innovation, and collaboration with the fishing industry. Its objectives include:
- Preventing overfishing
- Rebuilding overfished stocks
- Increasing long-term economic and social benefits
- Ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of seafood
- Protecting habitat that fish need to spawn, breed, feed, and grow to maturity
Event Details
When
12PM-1PM
Wednesday, March 18th, 2026
Where
Russell Senate Office Building
Room 188
2 Constitution Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Event Information
| Event Date | Wednesday, March 18th at 12:00 pm |
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Over the past 50 years, our fisheries have become regarded globally as some of the most well managed, thanks to our science-based management system and stakeholder engagement process. In this briefing, panelists with extensive experience in fishery management will share their perspectives on the Magnuson-Stevens Act— why it was created in the first place, what makes it work, and what’s ahead.
Panel
- Dr. Olaf Jensen, Fisheries Ecologist and Professor at the Center for Limnology and Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Jamie Goen, Executive Director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers and Member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
- Capt. Scott Hickman, Owner and Operator of Circle H Charters, Galveston, TX
- Laura Grimm, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere for NOAA
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