Saving Seafood

The Council Responds to Executive Order 14276; Pauses the Gear Marking Framework and Approves a Management Flexibility Amendment

September 30, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council met in Gloucester, MA from September 23 – 25, 2025.

Notable outcomes are summarized below.

COUNCIL FINALIZES RESPONSE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14276 ON SEAFOOD COMPETITIVENESS

At its September meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council finalized its response to Executive Order (EO) 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.” The letter, developed in coordination with NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO), lays out a work plan to reduce regulatory burdens, increase fishery production, improve economic returns, and help prevent unnecessary closures. The Council submitted its recommendations to NOAA Fisheries on September 30, 2025.

To shape its response, the Council sought broad input from all Advisory Panel members and Plan Development Teams. Based on this input, the Executive Committee drafted a list of recommendations for new and ongoing actions and submitted this to the Council for approval. The list contains four key areas:

  1. Council Actions in the NOAA Fisheries Rulemaking Process: urged timely implementation of Northeast Multispecies Framework Adjustment 69 and the Atlantic Herring 2025–2027 specifications.

  2. Council Actions Currently Under Development: continue work currently underway related to increases in management flexibility, specifications for monkfish and skates, reduced burdens in the dogfish fishery, and a scallop strategic plan.

  3. Possible New Council Actions: the Council will consider updates to vessel baseline restrictions, herring slippage rules, monkfish management, accountability measures, gillnet exemption areas, and outdated regulations.

  4. Non-Council Actions: that call on federal agencies to expand seafood marketing, strengthen science and monitoring, support recreational management tools, invest in climate-ready fisheries, and streamline NEPA reviews.

The full list of recommended actions is available here.

NOAA council reels in proposal to encourage ‘ropeless’ fishing gear

September 29, 2025 — The New England Fishery Management Council tabled a proposal last week to encourage the use of “on-demand” and “ropeless” fishing gear in the Atlantic Ocean to protect right whales after industry groups and a Maine lawmaker argued the plan would unduly burden lobster fishermen.

At a Thursday council meeting in Gloucester, Massachusetts, fishermen and industry representatives decried the framework proposal, saying the new fishing gear remains unproven and would further disrupt an industry already facing heavy regulation in a difficult economy.

Earlier in the week, Rep. Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, had also written a letter to NEFMC Executive Director Cate O’Keefe charging that the framework intended to protect endangered right whales from fishing gear entanglements was “premature and unnecessary.” Golden said it runs counter to a congressional mandate that the federal government should suspend any regulations targeting fishing gear until 2028.

Read the full article at E&E News

Council Elects Daniel Salerno and Melanie Griffin as Chair and Vice Chair for 2025-2026; Welcomes Andrew Dangelo

September 24, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council opened its September 2025 meeting in Gloucester, Massachusetts with its annual election of officers. The Council elected the current acting chair, Daniel Salerno of New Hampshire as Chair and Melanie Griffin of Massachusetts as Vice Chair. Both Dan and Melanie were nominated and approved by acclamation.

Dan Salerno is a familiar face at the Council having served as the Vice Chair and then Acting Chair. He currently manages two Northeast groundfish sectors and brings over 30 years of industry and research experience. He co-chairs the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel and the U.S. side of the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee. Read his full bio here.

Melanie Griffin is a policy analyst with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. She represents the state in Council deliberations. Melanie has served on the Council’s Executive Committee for several years and Chairs the Scallop Committee. Read her full bio here.

NEFMC: In Case You Missed It – Sep. 2025

September 10, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

In case you missed the news, here’s a recap of what’s happening around the region in September, 2025

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) is accepting applications for its Greater Atlantic Fisheries Science and Management Workshop, January 12-16, 2026, in Falmouth, MA. Space is limited; preference will be given to applications received by November 10, 2025. Attendance is free, and travel, lodging, and meals are covered for accepted participants.
NOAA’s Milford Lab Open House will be held on September 20, 2025, in Milford, CT. This is an opportunity for the public to tour a fisheries lab, view research projects and learn how NOAA serves the shellfish aquaculture industry and the community.

 

State and Federal Commercial Landings Sampling Workshop will be held September 22-23, 2025, at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA. The workshop will focus on sampling commercial landings and identifying best practices and efficiencies.

 

Fishing Effort Survey Virtual Workshop: NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology will host a two-day virtual workshop on September 23 & 24, 2025. This livestreamed meeting will give an overview of the independent peer review of the proposed Fishing Effort Survey (FES) calibration model that proposes to update the historical recreational fishing estimates, there will be the opportunity for public comment.

 

 

STOCK ASSESSMENTS

NRCC Peer Review of September Management Track Assessments for multiple groundfish stocks will take place September 15-18, 2025. This will be a hybrid meeting, held in person at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA and remotely via Google Meet.

 

Revised 2026 Assessment Scheule has been released and includes assessments for Atlantic herring, haddock (Georges Bank), haddock (Gulf of Maine) among others stocks. The revised 2026 schedule replaces the five year schedule, as the NRCC presently lacks the needed certainty to provide an assessment schedule beyond 2027.

 

 

COUNCIL MEETINGS

NEFMC September Council Meeting will be held from September 23-25, 2025 in Gloucester, MA. Final Council recommendations are expected on multiple items:
  • Executive Order 14276 on “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness”
  • Omnibus Management Flexibility Action
  • Groundfish Amendment 25 for Atlantic cod stock units and management measures
  • Monkfish Framework 17 for Fishing Year (FY) 2026-2030 specifications
  • Skate Specifications for Fishing Year (FY) 2026-2030 specifications
  • Alternative Gear Marking Framework
  • Essential Fish Habitat designations framework for herring, cod, monkfish, and skate
 
NEFMC Committees, Plan Development Teams (PDT) and Advisory Panels (AP) will be meeting in advance of the September Council Meeting. Visit our Calendar for more information.

 

 

OPPURTUNITIES

NEFMC Advisory Panels: The NEFMC is seeking commercial and recreational fishermen, and other interested public to serve on all its Advisory Panels (AP). AP members support the Council by providing guidance during the development of federal Fishery Management Plans, actions, and measures. Terms run for three years, from January 2026 through December 2028, and individuals may serve on more than one panel and/or for more than one term. To apply, download and submit this application form by October 3, 2025.

 

Supervising Fisheries Biologist: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is hiring a Supervising Fisheries Biologist to oversee trawl and near shore surveys, tributary resources and the R/V John Dempsey. The position closes on September 19, 2025.

 

Offshore Wind – Fisheries Compensation Program will offset potential losses and/or costs incurred by the fishing industry across eleven states from Maine to North Carolina. The project is being overseen by BrownGreer in partnership with the Carbon Trust. Visit therfainfo.com for more information.

 

 

SCIENCE NEWS

LOC-NESS Project successfully completed the first ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) field trial in U.S. federal waters on August 13, 2025. The lead team of scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) dispersed and monitored the release of 16,500 gallons of highly alkaline sodium hydroxide into surface waters of the Gulf of Maine. The goal of OAE is to “enhance the ocean’s natural ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere, which is a critical part of Earth’s carbon cycle and a moderating influence on climate change.” (LOC-NESS). The trial was observed by members of the fishing industry along with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and marks the culmination of three years of planning. Details on outcomes and next steps are availablehere.

 

2025 State of the Ecosystem Report highlighted “colder, fresher waters in the Northwest Atlantic likely linked to species redistribution, delayed migrations” and included a section of “first-hand on-the-water observations from the fishing community that noted shifting distributions of species like pollock and bluefin tuna, and a delay in the timing of catch for species such as longfin squid and black sea bass.” NOAA’s Northeast Integrated Ecosystem Assessment.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New England council seeks fishermen for advisory panels

August 15, 2025 — The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking commercial and recreational fishermen to serve on all its advisory panels, starting in January 2026 for three-year terms through December 2028.

The council relies on fishermen, along with other stakeholders like coastal communities and conservation groups, to help the regional council with guidance as its members develop federal fishery management plans, actions and measures to keep Northeast fisheries healthy.

“The council seeks a diverse mix of members,” according to an announcement Aug. 15. The council seeks advisors who:

  • Represent both commercial and recreational sectors
  • Offer expertise across different fisheries
  • Fish with a variety of gear types
  • Come from across the geographic range of the fishery
  • Bring a range of social and economic perspectives

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Council Seeks Fishermen and Stakeholders for 2026–2028 Advisory Panels

August 15, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as other stakeholders, to serve on all its advisory panels. The deadline to apply is October 3, 2025.

ABOUT ADVISORY PANELS Advisory panels (APs) support the Council’s Fishery Management Plans. APs provide guidance during the development of federal fishery management plans, actions, and measures. Terms run for three years, from January 2026 through December 2028, and individuals may serve on more than one panel.

Existing AP members who wish to continue must reapply for consideration for the 2026–2028 term.

WHO WE’RE SEEKING

The Council seeks a diverse mix of members who: • Represent both commercial and recreational sectors • Offer expertise across different fisheries • Fish with a variety of gear types • Come from across the geographic range of the fishery • Bring a range of social and economic perspectives

HOW TO APPLY

Download and complete this application form and submit it to Sherie Goutier via email (sgoutier@nefmc.org) or by mail: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Paper copies are available by calling the Council office at (978) 465-0492. The deadline is October 3, 2025.

SELECTION PROCESS

Council committees will review all applications, with final selections made by the Executive Committee. Nominees are also subject to review by NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and may be declined for marine resource violations.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Alex Dunn at adunn@nefmc.org or 978-465-0492 ext. 112

MASSACHUSETTS: Scallopers push to open northern edge of Georges Bank

July 31, 2025 — Coastal lawmakers and scallopers railed Wednesday against a decision fishing regulators made last year to keep closed the northern edge of Georges Bank, a thriving scallop ground that has been shuttered to commercial fishing since 1994.

“It’s singularly my most frustrating experience, as someone who thinks of the environment every day, but also worries about the economy minute to minute in my own district. It’s stunning to me how long — decades — this has been closed,” said Sen. Mark Montigny of New Bedford.

Montigny chaired a Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight hearing on Wednesday which explored the state of commercial sea scallop fisheries and regulations impacting the industry.

New Bedford is the largest port in the United States for sea scallop landings and revenue. Other ports in Massachusetts are important for smaller scallop vessels, including Gloucester, Provincetown, Barnstable and Chatham.

Last year, the New England Fishery Management Council voted against reopening the fishing grounds on the northern edge of George’s Bank, a shallow underwater plateau between Cape Cod and Nova Scotia that is rich in biodiversity and a known spawning ground for Atlantic cod and habitat for scallops. The Light reported that Mayor Jon Mitchell was among those asking the council to reconsider opening it, citing headwinds for the region’s top fishery, including falling prices and fewer days at sea for fishermen.

The council voted not to continue discussions on reopening the area, as they said the high density of scallops there helps spawn other nearby scalloping grounds.

Read the full article at the New Bedford Light

NEFMC to repackage new cod regulations, delay other priorities

July 11, 2025 — Frustrated members of the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) have voted to delay work on three priority groundfish projects in order to repackage and resubmit new cod fishery regulations, which were rejected at the last minute by the U.S. federal government on procedural grounds.

“Obviously, this is very frustrating, especially to everyone who put so much work into this effort,” Council Member Alan Tracey said at a June meeting. “It’s another example of where we’re put in a position where we really have no choice.”

The NEFMC has been working on a major change to New England’s commercial cod fishery, transitioning from a two-stock management plan to a four-stock management plan. The new plan would set separate catch limits for each stock – the Eastern Gulf of Maine, Western Gulf of Maine, Southern New England, and Georges Bank stocks – allowing regulators to more precisely manage the sustainability of the fishery.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

June 2025 Council Meeting Recap

July 11, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

June Council Meeting Recap

The New England Fishery Management Council met in Freeport, ME, from June 24-26, 2025. Notable outcomes are summarized below.

Sea Scallop

Research Track Stock Assessment:

The Council received a presentation on the Scallop Research Track Stock Assessment, which underwent peer review in April 2025. Several Council members expressed concerns with the assessment’s findings, particularly regarding the fishing mortality reference points (FMSY). The Scallop Plan Development Team will develop methods to determine catch advice that consider a range of options. These will be reviewed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) in August.

2025 Scallop Surveys:

Council staff provided an overview of the 2025 Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) survey efforts, including coverage areas and progress. The 2025 survey used towed camera, drop camera, dredge, and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) gear, covering all scallop resource areas from the Gulf of Maine to the Delmarva region of the Mid-Atlantic Bight.

The Council also received an update on the status of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) HabCam survey. On June 9, while conducting transit lines on Georges Bank aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, the HabCam system struck an uncharted shipwreck. Recovery efforts have been hampered by strong currents and potential hazards near the wreck. A private salvage company has been contracted to attempt recovery of the HabCam unit. NEFSC HabCam operations are suspended for the remainder of the 2025 survey season. The NEFSC’s long-range AUV survey completed partial coverage of the planned area, and RSA survey partners are collaborating to provide coverage of the areas missed due to the HabCam incident.

Framework Adjustment 40 (FW 40):

The Council initiated FW 40, which will set specifications for the 2026 fishing year (FY) and default measures for FY 2027. Final action is scheduled for December 2025.

Limited Access General Category (LAGC) IFQ Program Review:

The Council received an update on the LAGC Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program review, which covers the period from 2016 to 2023. The review includes analyses of fleet characteristics, quota and leasing activity, fishing effort, economic performance, crew income, and other metrics. The draft report is currently in progress, with additional analyses to be completed over the summer. The Council is scheduled to approve the final report in September.

New England council tries again on Northeast groundfish plan

July 8, 2025 — The New England Fishery Management Council will resubmit Amendment 25 to  its Northeast groundfish plan, after U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik disapproved the regional council’s original December 2024 proposal.

The National Marine Fisheries said May 28 “that Amendment 25 and its supporting analyses do not adequately demonstrate how the proposed action is consistent with National Standard 1 or other required provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.”

After a lengthy deliberation at the council’s Junemeeting, its members voted to resubmit Amendment 25, “which would replace the current Atlantic cod stocks in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank with the newly identified cod stocks in Eastern Gulf of Maine, Western Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England,” council officials announced July 3.

The plan was protested by New England fishermen after the council’s initial approval last December. Despite Lutnik’s disapproval, NMFS still assessed that a new four-stock Atlantic cod structure “and the resulting management track stock assessments have been determined to be the best scientific information available.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman