🎣2025 Management Measures for Pacific Halibut Commercial Fishery
NMFS is implementing annual management measures for the 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery that operates south of Point Chehalis, WA, (lat. 46[deg]53.30' N) in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. Annual management measures include fishing periods and fishing period limits. NMFS is also implementing modified permit deadlines for all Area 2A non-Tribal commercial fisheries and is modifying inseason action announcement procedures for the Area 2A non-Tribal directed commercial fishery. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide fishing opportunity where available.
Learn More🎣2025 Regulatory Changes for West Coast Salmon Fisheries
NMFS announces one inseason action for the 2025 portion of the 2024-2025 ocean salmon fisheries. This inseason action modifies the commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon.
Learn More⚓Vacancies on National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee
The Coast Guard is requesting applications to fill eighteen (18) vacancies on the National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to national commercial fishing safety. Please read the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for a description of the 18 Committee positions we are seeking to fill.
Learn More🎣Notice of MAFMC Public Meeting on Fishery Management Regulations
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel.
Learn More🎣New Regulations on Red Snapper Fishing Impact Businesses
NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (Snapper-Grouper FMP) (Amendment 59). For South Atlantic red snapper, this final rule revises the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs). Amendment 59 also revises the fishing mortality (F) at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) proxy for determining overfishing, overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), and total ACL and sector ACLs for red snapper. For the 2025 fishing year, this final rule also announces the red snapper commercial and recreational fishing season dates in the South Atlantic. For red snapper, this final rule is intended to end and prevent overfishing and revise the catch limits consistent with the most recent stock assessment.
Learn More🎣Amendment 125 Enhances Small Boat Access to Pacific Cod in Alaska
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted amendment 125 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, amendment 125 would modify the BSAI Pacific cod jig sector to allow catch from catcher vessels (CV) using hook-and-line or pot gear that are less than or equal to 55 feet (ft) (16.8 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) harvesting Pacific cod in the BSAI during the jig gear A season to accrue to the jig sector allocation. Amendment 125 would promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), BSAI FMP, and other applicable laws.
Learn More🐟Amendment 23 to Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan
On May 30, 2025, the Regional Administrator of the West Coast Region, NMFS, with the concurrence of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, approved Amendment 23 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 23 implements a revised rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine in response to a court order.
Learn More🐟Proposed Exempted Fishing Permits for Skate Wing Fishing
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
Learn More🎣2025 Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Fishery Specifications and Impacts
NMFS is implementing specifications for the 2025 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels for the Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery to prevent overfishing while enabling optimum yield, using the best scientific information available.
Learn More🎣Commercial Fishing Regulations for Pacific Bluefin Tuna (2025-2026)
NMFS is issuing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution C-24-02 (Measures for the Conservation and Management of Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean) adopted by the IATTC in September 2024. This rule implements annual catch and trip limits on United States commercial catch of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis; PBF) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) for 2025- 2026. This action is necessary to conserve PBF and for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC. NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for this action.
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