Saving Seafood

MAINE: Maine senators highlight lobstermen’s concerns with ropeless gear

April 9, 2026 — In a joint letter to NOAA Fisheries, the senators representing the U.S. state of Maine asked NOAA Fisheries to pay attention to the concerns of lobstermen over ropeless gear implementation.

“Maine lobstermen’s concerns about ropeless gear are well-documented and deserve serious consideration,” the senators said. “It is important to give full and meaningful weight to concerns raised by fishermen regarding ropeless/on-demand fishing gear as NMFS’ core strategy for North Atlantic right whale conservation.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Scientists and the Fishing Industry Join Forces for Better Data and Management (Part 1)

April 7, 2026 — While the Northeast Fisheries Science Center spent more than 300 days-at-sea monitoring and sampling from ships last year, no one spends more time out on the water than fishermen. Fishermen are in tune with the seasons and fish stocks, and contribute significantly to the economy and food supply. That’s why we have a dedicated research team focused on working closely with the fishing community. Together, we collect and analyze data that helps answer big questions about fisheries and ocean ecosystems.

We bring the fishing community and scientists together to answer shared questions and improve management of Northeast fisheries. Cooperative research can take many forms, from outfitting fishing gear with oceanographic sensors to partnering with fishing vessels to design and execute fisheries surveys.

Cooperative research provides opportunities for fishermen to document what they are seeing on the water with data that is useful to them and the scientific community. Working together allows us to better understand the ocean and the fish stocks that fishermen rely upon for their daily catch. It also builds lasting relationships and trust between the scientific and fishing communities. In many cases, the data fishermen collect are used to make stock assessments more accurate, improving fisheries management practices. NOAA Fisheries promotes science-based fisheries management, ensuring both the industry’s economic viability and the long-term health of marine ecosystems.

You may have heard about our Cooperative Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey. It has been collecting data on species that prefer rocky habitats in partnership with two commercial fishing vessels since 2014. Our Study Fleet has been going strong since 2006. It includes nearly 50 commercial fishing vessels whose captain and crew collect detailed data on fishing effort and catch. Fisheries stock assessments rely on data from both the Bottom Longline Survey and the Study Fleet.

Our science center has many other cooperative projects actively engaging with the fishing community, supporting stock assessments, oceanographic models and forecasts, and enhanced understanding of fisheries species.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Genetics Shines New Light on Cod Populations and Distributions in Alaska

April 6, 2026 — A team of researchers from NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and Alaska BioMap, Inc., recently published the most comprehensive population genetic assessment of Pacific cod. Pacific cod is a commercially and ecologically important species in the North Pacific Ocean, and this study identified four distinct genetic stocks. This research provides critical, novel information for setting appropriate stock boundaries for Pacific cod. It shows that our management boundaries generally align with the genetic structure across this region.

Genetic Stock Identification with a New Cost-Effective Tool

“We were interested in using advanced genetic techniques to determine genetic differences among Pacific cod from different regions in Alaska,” said Sara Schaal, lead author of the study. “We collected samples from fish caught in known spawning grounds during the NOAA winter trawl surveys and from our fisheries partners within the Freezer Longline Coalition.”

Schaal and her colleagues first conducted whole-genome sequencing, which identified four genetically distinct stocks of Pacific cod within the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea:

  • Eastern Gulf of Alaska
  • Western Gulf of Alaska/eastern Bering Sea
  • Aleutian Islands
  • Northern Bering Sea

Results highlight significant genetic mixing between Pacific cod spawning in the western Gulf of Alaska and the eastern Bering Sea. This aligns with satellite tag studies that showed high proportions of Pacific cod movement between these two regions outside of spawning season.

The stocks identified using genetics match current management areas, except for the eastern Bering Sea and western Gulf of Alaska, which are currently managed as separate stocks. However, these data show they cannot be distinguished at the genetic level. Additionally, results clearly delineate two distinct stocks within the Gulf of Alaska—with a break between the western and eastern Gulf of Alaska. This had been suggested by previous work, but was clearly shown in this new study.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

ASMFC and NOAA Seek Contractor to Facilitate the 2027 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit Proposals Due May 1, 2026

March 31, 2026 — The following was released by The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and NOAA Fisheries are issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the planning, facilitation, and execution of the 2027 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit. The Summit will be held during the weeks of March 15-19 or March 22-25, 2027 in Alexandria, VA.

 
The Commission and NOAA Fisheries are committed to sustainable and collaborative management of fisheries resources and have jointly hosted four previous National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summits, starting in 2010. Those Summits identified and described commonly held priorities of the saltwater recreational fishing community through guided and interactive discussions. In addition to strengthening dialogue and relationships, Summit findings and outputs subsequently helped to inform Commission and NOAA Fisheries actions and public engagement work.
 
Proposals must be submitted as an electronic proposal by email no later than 11:59 PM on May 1, 2026, to Alex DiJohnson. Please see the RFP for more details, qualifying requirements, and submission instructions. The RFP is available at https://asmfc.org/resources/2027-national-saltwater-recreational-fisheries-summit-request-for-proposals/.
 
For more information, please contact Alex DiJohnson at alex.dijohnson@accsp.org.

50 Years of Environmental Data Can Predict Health and Strandings of Sea Lions Pups in California

March 30, 2025 — For more than 50 years, NOAA Fisheries has conducted vital research on seal and sea lion populations at a remote research station on San Miguel Island, California. The long-term data set provides clues to help us understand what environmental conditions lead to malnourished California sea lion pups and increased stranding levels. This information is important for managing their populations and helping rehabilitation centers prepare for periods when sea lion pup strandings may be elevated.

Our research began on San Miguel Island in 1969 after scientists discovered a colony of northern fur seals breeding on Point Bennett the year before. This amazing uninhabited island lies 26 miles offshore of the California coast. It’s part of the Channel Islands National Park and is home to some of the largest populations of land-breeding pinnipeds in the world. Prior to this discovery, northern fur seals were last documented in California during the early 1800s—before their population was wiped out by seal hunters. Researchers began studying the new colony of fur seals along with California sea lions that also breed on the island.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Court finds Gulf of Mexico fishery council appointments unconstitutional

March 30, 2026 — A federal appeals court in Louisiana has found that members of a Gulf of Mexico fishery council were unconstitutionally selected for their positions, but the judges stopped short of striking down a council plan to curtail the catch of a large saltwater fish.

The ruling issued Friday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a partial win for a group of commercial fishers of the greater amberjack who had challenged the legality of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and, by extension, sought to block the catch limits.

Because the council’s unconstitutional powers were not used in making its recommendation, the court need not toss out a NOAA Fisheries rule that implemented the catch limits, the panel of 5th Circuit judges found.

Read the full article at E&E News

Canada announces North Atlantic right whale protections for 2026

March 27, 2026 — Canada’s government has announced several measures to help protect highly endangered North Atlantic right whales in upcoming commercial fishing seasons, keeping some protections in place and adding a few new actions to help reduce entanglements and vessel strikes.

“The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered animals on the planet, and we have a responsibility to act. Canada’s protocols are in place, and our whale-safe fishing gear pilots are showing real results. We can protect this whale and support our harvesters,” Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a release.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Upwelling saved the West Coast in 2025, NOAA reports

March 26, 2026 —  Despite a massive marine heatwave that gripped the eastern Pacific through much of 2025, the West Coast marine ecosystem held its own — thanks largely to strong wind-driven upwelling, according to NOAA Fisheries’ annual California Current Ecosystem Status Report.

“Warming continues to be an inescapable reality off the West Coast, but upwelling saved the day,” said Andrew Leising, a research oceanographer at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center. The cold, nutrient-rich water pushed to the surface helped keep the ecosystem productive and held heatwave warmth offshore.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

NOAA issues USD 222,902 in penalties over mislabeling tuna imports

March 26, 2026 — Following two years-long investigations, NOAA Fisheries has levied a total of USD 222,902 (EUR 193,328) in civil penalties against two seafood importers accused of mislabeling tuna cans as “dolphin safe.”

In conducting retail market spot check audits, NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce’s Tuna Tracking and Verification Program identified two suspect seafood import firms that were importing yellowfin tuna from Mexican purse seiners that were improperly labeled as “dolphin safe.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Endangered Killer Whales Known for Isolation May Depend on Their Interaction with Other Populations

March 25, 2026 — Endangered Southern Resident killer whales are known for the tight-knit family structure that isolates them from other killer whale populations. In 2005, NOAA Fisheries listed the whales as a Distinct Population Segment under the Endangered Species Act due to their unique genetic legacy and endangered status. The 74 whales remain at risk from insufficient prey, environmental contaminants, disturbance and inbreeding.

In a recent study, scientists report that a fifth factor—interactions with other killer whale populations—may determine their future. They say such interactions may take three forms: competition for prey, sharing habitat, and interbreeding.

We asked lead author Michael Ford about the findings.

How can killer whales, known for their isolation from other killer whale populations, depend on interactions with them?

If you look back over multiple decades, we’ve known for a long time that there are genetic differences between the Southern Residents and other populations, reflecting  cultural differences, behavioral differences, and so forth. All those things showed they had become genetically distinct, and contributed to their listing under the Endangered Species Act.

On the other hand, I do think that over time, there’s been a tendency to treat them as more isolated than they really are. And some of the scientific results that have come about over the last several decades indicate that maybe they are not quite as isolated as we once thought they were.

One question is, are they becoming less isolated than they used to be? There is some evidence this might be occurring, particularly based on some of the observed range changes different killer whale populations have exhibited.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries