February 20, 2026 — President Donald Trump signed a federal spending package in January that includes two-point-five million dollars for menhaden research, ending a two-year wait for state funding. Businesses, scientists, and anglers support the study, saying solid data is needed before imposing limits. Some environmental advocates however, argue reductions should happen now, but regulators are holding off pending the research. We reached out to Omega Protein for comment, and they told us that “Ocean Harvesters, headquartered locally in Reedville, has a long track record of supporting rigorous, independent science to better understand Atlantic menhaden and the broader Bay ecosystem. The Company believes that any funding for menhaden projects at NOAA-Fisheries is in good hands.”
NOAA claims steady progress was made on US aquaculture in 2025
February 18, 2026 — Following directives from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, NOAA’s Aquaculture Program said it made steady progress in 2025 on exploring new aquaculture projects in the U.S., inching closer to helping the country close its farmed seafood import gap.
“Currently, the U.S. imports USD 15 billion [EUR 12.7 billion] worth of farmed seafood. That’s billion with a ‘b.’ It is by far more than we produce here at home, which is less than USD 2 billion [EUR 1.7 billion], and that has the eyes of a lot of people across the government, not just people who focus on aquaculture,” NOAA Office of Aquaculture Director Danielle Blacklock said on 17 February during the 2026 Aquaculture America conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
States could net control of red snapper season
February 17, 2026 — The Trump administration is taking steps toward shifting regulatory authority over red snapper in Atlantic Ocean federal waters to states, a move that some state leaders have argued is necessary to sustain their sportfishing economies.
NOAA Fisheries announced Wednesday it would open a 25-day comment period on “exempted fishing permits” for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The permits would allow the states to “test new data collection methods and strategies for state-led management of the recreational red snapper fishery,” the agency said.
Debate grows over NOAA plan to expand snapper access
February 13, 2026 — Today, NOAA Fisheries announced that they are accepting public comments on applications for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
These permits propose to extend recreational fishing seasons for vulnerable red snapper in the South Atlantic. Overfishing drove the red snapper population to just 11 percent of its historical abundance; in response, seasons were reduced as part of a rebuilding plan set to last through 2044.
FAO study estimates 20 percent of seafood is subject to fraud
February 13, 2026 — A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report estimates that up to 20 percent of seafood may be subject to fraud, but other studies estimate that number could be as high as 30 percent.
The report, “Food fraud in the fisheries and aquaculture sector,” surmises that one-fifth of the global fisheries and aquaculture sector is subject to some type of fraud – far higher than the levels of fraud believed to take place in other food categories.
NOAA Fisheries opens public comments on state-led recreational red snapper management, renewing concerns of overfishing
February 13, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries has opened a 25-day public comment period on four new state-led pilots for managing recreational red snapper, reigniting debate over how abundant the stock is in the South Atlantic.
“As an avid fisherman, I understand the adventure and thrill of the catch,” NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler said in a release. “The EFPs [Exempted Fishing Permits] propose to open up more opportunities for our recreational fishermen, while supporting sustainable red snapper population levels. NOAA Fisheries is committed to improving our partnerships and collecting better recreational data to bolster science-based fisheries management.”
Falling in Love with Farmed Seafood
February 13, 2026 — Is there a better Valentine’s Day date than cozying up with a warm bowl of hearty, local seafood with the ones you love? Choosing domestically produced seafood, wild and farmed, helps show your affection for working waterfronts.
We have a special place in our hearts for farm-fresh seafood. It’s hard not to fall for savory mussels, steaming salmon, and succulent seaweeds at first sight!
Here are some of the ways NOAA experts show their love for American-grown seafood.
Developing a Love of Mussels Early
Michael Murphy, Communications Director, NOAA Fisheries
“I have been feeding our two children seafood since they were toddlers. They both have generally preferred mild fish throughout their childhood such as West Coast rockfish (preferably caught by dad). Now that we live on the East Coast, I usually buy (or catch) striped bass, cod, and blue catfish. You can imagine my delight a few years ago when our oldest asked to try the mussels my wife and I were enjoying at our favorite French bistro. Our mouths dropped when she proceeded to inhale almost the entire bowl!
Since many wild-caught fish can only be purchased fresh at certain times of the year, the good news is fresh mussels are readily available throughout the year in most major supermarkets across the country. They are also really easy and quick to make! The mussels we enjoyed recently (pictured here) were from a Rhode Island farm and we prepared them using a classic French recipe. I am now smart enough to know to buy enough for the parents and our 15-year-old to enjoy. Our 11-year-old is still not on board with the rest of her mussel-loving family but we know it is only a matter of time!”
Messaging Mariners in Real Time to Reduce North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strikes
February 12, 2026 — Endangered North Atlantic right whales live in heavily trafficked waters along the U.S. East Coast. Their habitat often overlaps with shipping lanes and port and harbor entrances, which puts them at high risk for vessel strikes—a primary threat to the species. Collisions with large whales can also result in significant and costly damage to boats and injury to passengers. Now, NOAA and partners are using an existing maritime safety technology in a new way to reduce the risk of vessel strikes.
The Automatic Identification System transmits the location, speed, and other characteristics of vessels in real time for navigation safety purposes. All commercial vessels 65 feet or longer are required to carry AIS devices onboard. Together with our partners, we are building a speed limit alert network powered by AIS technology that delivers timely text messages to vessels traveling within important right whale habitats.
Most vessels 65 feet or longer are required by federal law to travel at 10 knots or less in designated locations—called Seasonal Management Areas—at certain times of the year. With this real-time messaging network, shore-based AIS transceiver stations can detect vessel speeds within Seasonal Management Areas. If a regulated vessel is traveling faster than 10 knots, it will receive an alert.
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Input on Groundfish Rules Proposed to Reduce Entanglements
February 12, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries is inviting public comment on proposed changes in the West Coast groundfish fishery. The proposal would allow bottom-fishing gear to use only one vertical line to the surface and require the lines to be clearly marked. The actions would give fishing crews more leeway to adjust their gear to conditions and reduce the risk of lines entangling marine life.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council sought the changes to help reduce the number of whales and other marine life that get entangled in fishing gear along the West Coast. The changes would also lay groundwork for reducing regulations to give groundfish vessels more flexibility in how and when they pursue groundfish.
Marking the lines according to their fishery and owner would also help collect better data on entanglements, providing more clarity for fisheries and managers.
NOAA leaps forward on collaborative approach for red snapper
February 11, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries announced today a major collaborative step toward boosting red snapper recreational fishing opportunities in the South Atlantic. The agency invites public comments on applications for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The EFPs are designed to test new data collection methods and strategies for state-led management of the recreational red snapper fishery.
This 25-day public comment period marks an important step in NOAA’s review and consideration of management strategies for the recreational harvest of red snapper, which will balance sustainability and economic benefits. These actions are also expected to increase opportunities for American recreational fishermen.
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