Territory and Species

In the United States, the oceans, coastlines, fisheries, and sanctuaries are managed and conserved through a government agency called the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It uses the best scientific information available to keep our marine fishery resources in check, with the main objective being to maintain fish stocks important to commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries for the long haul.

In this book, we’re focusing on species native to the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region, which includes some of the best fishing spots in the country and encompasses fisheries in three areas: the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South Atlantic. These territories comprise federal waters from North Carolina to Texas along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.