The 1996 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act that imposed new requirements for US federal fishery managers to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, reduce bycatch, and protect essential fish habitats. It was once hailed as “the hallmark of conservation of fisheries throughout the world.” However, while regional councils have designated fish habitats essential to fish reproduction and survival, the lack of protections afforded to these habitats prevents proper implementation in certain areas. To this day, for instance, some fishermen still practice bottom trawling.