Recently, NOAA Fisheries finalized alterations to National Standard 1, the rule under MSA that guides our nation's eight regional fisheries management councils in setting catch limits, assessing the health and abundance of fish stocks, regulating bycatch, and other issues. Under MSA we have had strong, science-based rules that established catch limits by conducting annual assessments and reviews. The new rule opens the door to delaying the trigger for taking action to ensure sustainable management as well as putting off actually addressing problems in our fisheries. Additionally, the MSA requires the secretary of commerce to review all stock rebuilding plans to determine if they were making progress. Under the new rule, the secretary is only required to determine if the plan is being implemented as intended regardless of whether the fish stock is improving.