Marine, Fisheries, and Science Acronyms

This post lists popular acronyms that are related to oceans, estuaries, marine life, commercial and recreational fisheries, biology, government regulations, and other subjects.

Science - Research

ESA - Endangered Species Act
GMRI - Gulf of Maine Research Institute
MMSN - Marine Mammal Stranding Network
NRDA - Natural Resource Damage Assessment
ONC - Ocean Networks Canada
UME - Unusual Mortality Event

Fishing - Fisheries - Seafood

IFR - integrated fisheries reporting AOTTP - Atlantic Ocean Tropical Tuna Tagging Program
ACCSP - Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program
APAIS - Access Point Angler Intercept Survey
AFS - American Fisheries Society
BAYS - Atlantic bigeye, northern albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas
FIS - Fisheries Information System
GLFC - Great Lakes Fishery Commission
HMS - Highly migratory species
IFQ - Individual Fishery Quota
ICCAT - International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
IATTC - Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
IPHC - International Pacific Halibut Commission
IUU (fishing) - illegal, unregulated, and unreported
MRIP - Marine Recreational Information Program
NEAFC - North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
NAFO - Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
PAFC - North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
RFMO - Regional Fisheries Management Organisation
SAFIS - Standard Atlantic Fisheries Information System
WCPFC - Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
WPacFIN - Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network

U.S Regional Fishing Councils

ASMFC - Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
NEFMC - New England Fisheries Management Council
MAFMC - Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
SAFMC - South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
CFMC - Caribbean Fishery Management Council
GMFMC - Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
NPFMC - North Pacific Fishery Management Council
PFMC - Pacific Fishery Management Council
WPFMC - Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

Organizations (other)

AMCC - Alaska Marine Conservation Council
IWC - International Whaling Commission
SWIFT - Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow

Government Agencies

DFO - Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)
BOF -  Board of Fisheries (Alaska USA)
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS - National Marine Fisheries Service
NPFMC - North Pacific Fishery Management Council
USCG - United States Coast Guard
USFWS - United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Laws and Regulations

MSA - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (USA)

Related Information

Commercial Fishing Associations - Organizations (USA)

International Associations - Organizations