🐟Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Public Meetings Announcement
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Social Science Planning Committee (SSPC), American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP), Mariana Archipelago FEP Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) AP, Hawaii Archipelago and Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) FEP AP, Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP, and Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
Learn More🐟Proposed Fishing Regulations for Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
NMFS proposes 2025-2026 specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This action proposes new 2025 and projected 2026 butterfish fishery specifications, and reaffirmed 2025 chub mackerel, Illex squid, longfin squid, and Atlantic mackerel fishery specifications. The proposed specifications are intended to establish allowable harvest levels that will prevent overfishing, consistent with the most recent scientific information. This action would also adjust the minimum square mesh size for directed butterfish trawl trips; account for a 2024 Atlantic mackerel annual catch limit overage (if applicable); and correct existing regulations.
Learn More🎣2025 Gulf Red Snapper Recreational Fishing Season Regulation
NMFS announces the 2025 recreational fishing season for the Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf through this temporary rule. The red snapper recreational for-hire component in the Gulf EEZ opens on June 1, 2025, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 16, 2025. This closure is necessary to prevent the Federal for-hire component from exceeding its quota and to prevent overfishing of the Gulf red snapper resource.
Learn More🎣Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Retention Limit Adjustments for 2025
NMFS is adjusting the daily retention limits for the bluefin tuna (BFT) General and Harpoon categories. Specific to the General category, NMFS is adjusting the daily retention limit for the month of June from the default of three large medium or giant BFT to one large medium or giant BFT. This daily retention limit applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. This daily retention limit will be effective for the month of June or until further modified. Specific to the Harpoon category, NMFS is modifying the daily retention limit from the default of no more than 10 large medium and giant BFT to 5 large medium or giant BFT. The incidental catch limit of two large medium BFT per vessel per day/trip remains unchanged. These retention limits apply to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels for the remainder of the 2025 Harpoon category fishing season, which concludes on November 15, 2025, or until further modified.
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.
Learn More🦞Notice for Exempted Fishing Permit Opportunities for Businesses
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) renewal application from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department 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 applicant. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
Learn More🐟Emergency Regulations for Northeast Multispecies Fishery 2025
This temporary rule implements emergency measures under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to revise portions of the fishing year 2025 provisions in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action is necessary to address an emergency presented by a gap of approved specifications and other measures for fishing year 2025, based on the most recent fisheries data and scientific information, during consideration of two actions to the amend the FMP that would transition conservation and management of Atlantic cod from two biological stock units to four biological stock units. This temporary rule is intended to mitigate economic harm to the Northeast multispecies fishery participants by establishing fish stock quotas and related measures that allow the fishery to operate while preventing overfishing.
Learn More🐟Overfishing Notice Impacts on Fishing Industry Compliance
This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has found that witch flounder and Saint Matthew Island blue king crab continue to be overfished; Gulf of America lane snapper, Southern Atlantic snowy grouper and Southern Atlantic gag continue to be subject to overfishing; and Southern Atlantic blueline tilefish is now subject to overfishing. NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, is required to provide this notice whenever it determines that a stock or stock complex is subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.
Learn More🐟Proclamation 10918
Proclamation 10918 rescinds previous prohibitions on commercial fishing in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, emphasizing that appropriately managed fishing poses no risk to the area's biodiversity. It outlines new responsibilities for the Secretary of Commerce regarding fisheries management and highlights the importance of balancing ecological protection with economic opportunities for U.S. fishermen.
Learn More🦐Executive Order 14276
Executive Order 14276 focuses on revitalizing American seafood competitiveness through reduced regulatory burdens, addressing unfair trade practices, and promoting sustainable fishing practices. It aims to modernize fishery management and bolster the domestic seafood supply chain, while also protecting against illegal fishing practices and ensuring healthier seafood options for consumers.
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