Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Extends Emergency Measures for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery, Ensuring the Fishery Continues Uninterrupted Through April 30, 2026

October 3, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

Today, NOAA Fisheries signed a temporary rule that extends the emergency measures necessary for the Northeast Multispecies to continue operating in fishing year 2025. This action ensures the fishery can continue without interruption in the absence of approved specifications and other measures for the full fishing year 2025. The extended emergency measures would remain in place through April 30, 2026, unless replaced by other measures. With this emergency rule extension, all emergency measures remain in place. Sector and common pool allocations are updated in this extension to reflect the final rosters that were not available when the emergency rule was originally implemented. Additionally, errors in table formatting in the original emergency rule are corrected.

The emergency rule set interim specifications for 2 stocks of cod (Gulf of Maine cod and Georges Bank cod) and for Georges Bank haddock, and affirmed specifications for other Northeast Multispecies stocks previously set in Frameworks 65 and 66. The action also approved groundfish sector operations plans and allocated annual catch entitlements to sectors, set trimester total allowable catches and possession limits for commercial vessels fishing in the common pool, and prohibited commercial common pool vessels and recreational vessels from possessing Georges Bank cod. For all details see the Federal Register Notice.

Background: On May 2, 2025, NMFS published an emergency rule to implement fishing year 2025 management measures for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The emergency rule ensured that the fishery could operate at the start of the fishing year on May 1, 2025, mitigating the adverse economic impact to the groundfish fishery if measures were not put in place. The emergency rule is in effect for 180 days, from May 1, 2025, through October 28, 2025. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, an emergency rule can be extended for an additional 186 days if necessary. Framework 69 to the FMP, which recommends the annual specifications necessary to authorize the fishery to operate in the 2025 fishing year beginning on May 1, 2025, and projected specifications for fishing years 2026 and 2027, remains under consideration by NMFS.

This Announcement is also available HERE.

NEFMC tables ropeless gear proposal following pushback

October 2, 2025 — The New England Fishery Management Council has tabled an alternative gear marking proposal that could enable more Maine lobster fishers to use ropeless gear in closed areas following public opposition from commercial fishing groups and a Maine legislator.

“A packed house of fishermen – with NEFSA members making up the strong majority – made their concerns loud and clear both in person and through the flood of public comments leading up to the vote. This is another major win for American commercial fisheries,” New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) said in a social media post.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Management council votes to postpone rope-less lobster gear rule in Maine

October 2, 2025 — At its meeting on September 25 in Gloucester, Mass., the New England Fishery Management Council voted to postpone its decision allowing lobstermen fishing in federal waters to use alternative, rope-less gear.

The decision was welcome news to the lobster industry and to congressman Jared Golden, who urged NEFMC to abandon the proposal in a letter dated September 23.

“Maine’s lobstermen are facing tremendous uncertainty, with various agencies operating in parallel considering new regulations that would fundamentally alter what it looks like to haul traps off the coast of Maine,” Golden said. “Congress enacted a moratorium on requiring this kind of gear, and that moratorium is still in effect while more data is gathered and studied. This framework, if adopted, would muddy the waters about what is required of Maine’s harvesters, and there’s no need for it.”

The moratorium Golden referred to was adopted in the U.S. congressional budget for 2023 with the unanimous support of Maine’s senators and representatives. The moratorium at the federal level paused the development of new lobster gear requirements until 2028.

Read the full article at Penobscot Bay Press

NEFMC seeks Scientific and Statistical Committee Nominees to Serve 2026-2028

October 1, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

Request for Nominations
New England Fishery Management Council Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC)

The Council is seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee.

  • SSC appointments are for three years with a limit of three consecutive terms. The term under this request for nominations will begin in January 2026 and end December 2028.
  • SSC members receive a daily stipend for meetings and are reimbursed for travel expenses.
  • Nominees must submit:
    • A brief letter of interest describing reasons for wanting to join the SSC
    • A resume or CV, including the length and type of relevant experience; and
    • A completed Statement of Financial Interest Form.
  • All materials must be received by December 19, 2025 and should be sent via email or mail to Sherie Goutier, Executive Assistant at:
    • sgoutier@nefmc.org;
    • New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950

SSC nominees should have expertise in stock assessment methods, population dynamics, statistics, fisheries biology, marine ecology, economics, or other social sciences as they apply to fisheries management. SSC members are expected to provide independent, scientific advice to the Council.

The purpose of the SSC is to assist the Council in the development, collection, evaluation, and peer review of statistical, biological, economic, social, and other scientific information relevant to the development of fishery management plans. The committee may:

  • Provide guidance to ensure that fishery management plans are based on the best scientific information available.
  • Provide the Council with scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including recommendations for acceptable biological catch, overfishing limits, and achieving rebuilding targets, as well as social and economic impacts of management measures.
  • Provide peer reviews of regional scientific work, and methods and analyses prepared by the Council’s Plan Development Teams. Individuals may be appointed to serve on regional peer review panels, including for stock assessments.
  • Advise the Council on the preparation of comments on scientific issues.

More information is available in the Council’s Operations Handbook. If you have questions or need further details, please contact Rachel Feeney: rfeeney@nefmc.org; (978) 465-0492 ext. 110.

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