🎣Temporary Closure of Recreational Fishing for Chinook Salmon in Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting recreational fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary for the conservation of Cook Inlet Chinook salmon stocks that continue to be in a low state of abundance as assessed in the NMFS 2025 stock assessment and fisheries evaluation (SAFE) report and the 2025 State of Alaska forecasts of very low run strength.
Learn More🎣Reopening of Nominations for Fisheries Advisory Committee
NMFS is reopening the solicitation announced on January 21, 2025, in the Federal Register, for nominations (which may include self- nominations) to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) as established under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC) Implementation Act (Act). The PAC, composed of individuals from groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (Convention), provides recommendations to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission.
Learn More🦈NOAA Initiates 5-Year Reviews for Endangered Elasmobranch Species
NMFS announces the initiation of 5-year reviews of six foreign elasmobranch species: Argentine angelshark (Squatina argentina), spiny angelshark (S. guggenheim), narrownose smoothhound shark (Mustelus schmitti), striped smoothhound shark (M. fasciatus), common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos), and blackchin guitarfish (R. cemciculus). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered species to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified from a threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted). The determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request relevant data (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) that have become available since the previous reviews of these species.
Learn More🎣Notice on SEDAR 90 South Atlantic Red Snapper Assessment Webinar
The SEDAR 90 assessment process of South Atlantic Red Snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Learn More🎣Regulatory Changes for Pacific Coast Groundfish Fisheries Management
This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial and recreational groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial and recreational fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
Learn More🦪Closure of Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Area
NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. After reviewing final harvest information, the area may be reopened by Framework 39, if approved, for Limited Access General Category vessels. Subject to specific enumerated exceptions, possession, retention, or landing of scallops is prohibited in the NGOM Scallop Management Area once the Regional Administrator publishes a notification in the Federal Register that the NGOM Set-Aside has been reached. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2025 NGOM Set-Aside.
Learn More🐟NOAA Meeting on Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management
NMFS will hold a 3-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting via webinar in May 2025. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. The meeting is open to the public.
Learn More🐬Permit Application for Marine Mammal Photography – NOAA Notice
Notice is hereby given that Jacob Steinberg, CosmoVision Media Group, 64 Kenilworth Drive East, Stamford, CT 06902, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial and educational photography on marine mammals.
Learn More🎣Proposed Regulation on Pacific Whiting Tribal Allocation for 2025
NMFS issues this proposed rule to establish the 2025 Tribal allocation of Pacific whiting and set-aside of Pacific whiting for research and incidental mortality in non-groundfish fisheries. The proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available, and provide for the implementation of Tribal treaty fishing rights.
Learn More🐟Cost Recovery Fee Notice for Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program
NMFS publishes the standard ex-vessel prices and fee percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program). This action is intended to provide participants in a rockfish cooperative with the standard prices and fee percentage for the 2024 fishing year, which was authorized from May 1 through November 15. The fee percentage is 3.00 percent. The fee payments were due from each rockfish cooperative on or before February 15, 2025.
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