North Pacific Fishery Management Plan Amendments Upheld in Court

An environmental group failed to strike down amendments to five fishery management plans after a federal judge ruled conservation measures included in the North Pacific economic zones were reasonably considered.

The National Marine Fisheries Service didn’t have to consider Oceana Inc.'s proposals to enhance fish habitat protections, the US District Court for the District of Alaska said Tuesday while dismissing the case.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act doesn’t dictate how many conservation proposals must be considered before approving fishery plans, the opinion said.

The ocean conservation group argued the agency didn’t offer a reasonable range of alternatives when approving the trawling fishing ...