A Marine Fisheries Ethical Angler Program

There are many ways to achieve sustainable fisheries, including appropriate fishery regulations (quotas, bycatch reduction, gear restrictions, etc.), habitat protection and pollution control.  Additionally, there are non-regulatory approaches for achieving sustainable fisheries that can complement regulations and/or negate the need for more restrictive regulatory approaches.

 The United Nations adopted a code for responsible fishing in 1995, and in 1996, NOAA published a plan for implementing the code in U.S waters.  Additional details for implementing the code in the U.S., with a focus on recreational fishing, were published by NOAA in 1999.  The 1999 code of angling ethics has evolved into the NOAA Ethical Angler Program with an updated more user friendly code.

 The focus of the NOAA Ethical Angling Program is to educate anglers to be better conservationists.  The program encourages anglers to practice stewardship, pollution prevention, bycatch reduction, and good resource management.  The ethical angler code also addresses the importance of preventing the spread of non-native species, following regulations, and respecting property rights. 

The cornerstone of the code is centered on bycatch reduction using appropriate catch-and-release techniques, fishing gear, taking only what you plan to eat, and minimizing interactions with seabirds, turtles, and marine mammals.  The reward for the ethical angler is a better fishing experience.

Copies of the code of ethical angling and related material are located on the NOAA Fisheries Service web site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov.