July 2, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler today issued a statement outlining the agency’s priorities for reducing regulatory burdens on domestic fishermen and increasing U.S. seafood production. The statement was released in response to President Trump’s Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness and followed input from 787 individuals and organizations, along with action plans submitted by regional fishery management councils. Piñeiro Soler said NOAA Fisheries is prioritizing actions intended to reduce burdens on domestic fishing, increase production, stabilize markets, improve access, and improve the economic profitability of U.S. fishing businesses.
The statement includes highlights by region, with priority actions identified for New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of America, the Pacific, the North Pacific, the Western Pacific, and Highly Migratory Species. In New England, the priorities include implementing rotational access for the Northern Edge scallop fishery, implementing scallop permit stacking, rescinding industry-funded monitoring requirements, deprioritizing ropeless-gear requirements, evaluating vessel baseline restrictions with the Mid-Atlantic Council, and considering reopening the Great South Channel habitat management area to surf clam operations.
In the Mid-Atlantic, NOAA Fisheries said it will evaluate vessel baseline restrictions with the New England Council, consider joint council management for squid, mackerel, and butterfish, and deprioritize ropeless-gear requirements. South Atlantic priorities include revising Snapper Grouper permit policies, supporting state agency-led exempted fishing permits for red snapper, and addressing shark and dolphin depredation. For the Caribbean, NOAA identified actions involving territorial management of spiny lobster and queen conch, accountability measures for pelagic stocks and spiny lobster, review of certain marine protected areas, and state-federal regulatory compatibility.
In the Gulf of America, the agency identified refinements to Individual Fishing Quota participation requirements and rulemaking to extend provisions of the DESCEND Act. Pacific priorities include reconsidering redundant shoreside catch monitors and revising Pacific sardine stock definitions. In the North Pacific, NOAA identified review of Steller sea lion closure boundaries, elimination of the 2 percent IFQ deduction for bled sablefish, and rulemaking related to small sablefish voluntary release and maximum retainable amount calculations. Western Pacific priorities include changes to longline turtle measures and swordfish retention limits. For Highly Migratory Species, NOAA said it will review weak hook requirements in the Gulf and retention rules for dead bluefin tuna under 73 inches, and reconsider upgrading restrictions for swordfish handgear limited access permits.
The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, NOAA announced regional priorities to revitalize the U.S. seafood sector focused on reducing burdens on domestic fishing, increasing production, improving access, and enhancing economic profitability. This bold, coordinated effort by the Department of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries is in direct response to the President’s Executive Order Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness to increase the sustainable harvest of seafood resources and boost American fishermen.
The United States is a global leader in fisheries excellence, and NOAA’s regional priorties will increase opportunities for American fishermen and women. (Image credit: Shutterstock via NOAA Fisheries)
“These regional priorities are a critical step in our efforts to fulfill the President’s vision of making the United States the world’s dominant seafood leader,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “We look forward to partnering with the councils to advance seafood competitiveness and support our American fishermen.”
In August 2025, NOAA Fisheries requested input from all interested stakeholders, including the regional fishery management councils, on ways to improve fisheries management and science in an effort to stabilize markets, improve access, enhance economic profitability, and prevent closures. NOAA received comments from more than 700 individuals and organizations, and each council submitted a detailed action plan in response to the request.
After considering all input from councils, fishing industry, and the public, NOAA has prioritized a number of actions for each council region, many of which re-enforce council priorities.
- In the New England region, NOAA’s priorities are to alleviate industry-funded monitoring burdens, modernize fleet capacity, and re-evaluate static area closures to restore yield and economic viability.
- In the Mid-Atlantic region, NOAA’s priorities are to modernize fleet capacity and improve quota distribution.
- In the South Atlantic region, NOAA’s priorities are to improve access and flexibility and advance state-led data partnerships.
- In the Caribbean region, NOAA’s priorities are to review the effectiveness of marine protected areas, evaluate the role of the territories in management of spiny lobster and queen conch, and significantly increase economic returns to the islands.
- In the Gulf of America region, NOAA’s priorities are to defend the domestic shrimp fleet from trade imbalances and optimize Individual Fishing Quota accessibility.
- In the Pacific region, NOAA’s priorities are to review trawl observer redundancies and review Pacific sardine science and management.
- In the North Pacific region, NOAA’s priorities are to review Stellar sea lion closure boundaries, prioritize efforts to remove unnecessary requirements, and increase flexibility.
- In the Western Pacific region, NOAA’s priorities are to enable commercial fishing, previously prohibited by punitive monument closures, and further consider additional management changes to improve access and flexibility, consistent with the Endangered Species Act.
- NOAA’s priorities for Highly Migratory Species are to implement international quota increases and maximize target catch retention.
The complete list of priority actions is available on the NOAA Fisheries website.