🎣NMFS Opens Pacific Cod Fishing in Alaska's Bering Sea
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.
Learn More🦭Notice of Marine Mammals Research Permit Application by NOAA
Notice is hereby given that NMFS Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (Responsible Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on pinnipeds.
Learn More🎣NMFS Seeks Comments on Exempted Fishing Permit for Pacific Sardine
The Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an exempted fishing permit (EFP) application warrants further consideration. This application, from the California Wetfish Producers Association (CWPA), requests an exemption from the expected prohibition on primary directed fishing for Pacific sardine during the 2025-2026 fishing year as part of industry-based scientific research. NMFS requests public comment on this application.
Learn More🎣Comments Requested on Exempted Fishing Permits for U.S. West Coast
During the June 2025 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting, the Council reviewed and made recommendations to NMFS regarding applications received in 2025 for exempted fishing permits (EFPs) for U.S. West Coast highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries. All EFP applicants request exemptions from regulatory provisions pertaining to the use of authorized gear types under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP). The applicants propose to test the effects and efficacy of using alternative fishing practices to harvest swordfish and other HMS off of the U.S. West Coast. The applications include requests to fish with a gear configuration including modified standard and linked deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) at night, or night-set buoy gear (NSBG). NMFS has determined that these applications warrant further consideration and is requesting public comment on them.
Learn More🎣Fisheries Regulation
NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea (BS) Greenland turbot, BS "other rockfish," BS Pacific ocean perch, and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) "other flatfish." This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
Learn More🎣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🐟Proposed 2025-2027 Atlantic Herring Fishery Specifications
NMFS proposes new 2025 harvest specifications and river herring and shad catch caps for the Atlantic herring fishery, and projects specifications and catch caps for 2026 and 2027, as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council. This action also proposes to update the target rebuilding date for Atlantic herring. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information from a 2024 management track assessment and to achieve the goals and objectives of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, including preventing overfishing, helping rebuild an overfished stock, and achieving optimum yield on a continuing basis.
Learn More🎣New Retention Limits for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Effective July 2025
NMFS has determined, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments, that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limit that applies to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/ Headboat permitted vessels (when fishing recreationally for BFT) should be adjusted for the remainder of 2025, or until further modified. NMFS is adjusting the Angling category BFT daily retention limit to: one BFT per vessel per day/trip that can measure anywhere from 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL) for private vessels with HMS Angling permits, and two BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) CFL, only one of which can be a large school/small medium-sized fish (47 inches (119 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) CFL), for charter boat vessels and headboat vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally for BFT. If needed, NMFS could take another action later in the year to modify these retention limits or close the fishery. These retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of America, where targeted fishing for BFT is prohibited.
Learn More🎣Summer Flounder Quota Transfer Regulation Impacting NC and VA Fisheries
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2025 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2025 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Virginia.
Learn More🐬Marine Mammal Research Permit Issued by NOAA
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Kaitlin Allen, Ph.D., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, MS No. 50, Woods Hole, MA 02543, to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.
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