Saving Seafood

Steep decline in landings show imports’ impact, US shrimpers say

September 16, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries landings data for 2024 show sharp declines in U.S. Gulf and South Atlantic catches. That trend is likely an indicator of the impact competition from inexpensive imported shrimp is having on the U.S. domestic market, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

The U.S. landings “confirm the incredible damage caused to the U.S. shrimp industry by the massive influx of cheap, farmed shrimp imported into this country over the last four years,” the alliance said in its analysis issued Sept. 15.

NOAA’s figures show 158.9 million pounds of shrimp were landed in the Gulf and South Atlantic last year with a total value of $257.9 million. “This is by far the lowest amount of shrimp harvested in these regions since 1961,” according to the alliance.

The industry group’s paper includes graphics generated from annual landings totals.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Where the Copepods Are: Prey Data Can Improve Right Whale Models

September 16, 2025 — A new peer-reviewed study in Endangered Species Research finds that incorporating maps of copepod aggregations into North Atlantic right whale density models could improve those models’ predictions. The study used data on aggregations of three copepod species collected 2003–2017 from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to the Scotian Shelf in Canada. Scientists on the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Ecosystem Monitoring Survey collected that data.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries studies marine mammals, including endangered North Atlantic right whales. We find ways to reduce risks posed to them by human activities and environmental change to recover and protect species.

Modeling Right Whale Distribution Supports Proactive Management

There are approximately 370 North Atlantic right whales remaining, including only about 70 reproductively active females. Right whales feed on copepods, a type of zooplankton. They forage off the Northeast coast of the United States and Canada in the winter and spring when copepods are most abundant there. Their foraging grounds overlap with shipping, fishing, and other human activities. This puts them at risk of entanglement and vessel strikes, the two primary causes of right whale deaths. Changes in climate and oceanographic conditions are shifting the availability of copepods and thus the distribution of whales. Modeling right whale distribution allows for effective management to prevent human-caused whale deaths and injuries. Examples of this include Right Whale Slow Zones and Dynamic Management Areas.

Scientists predict the distribution of these whales using density surface models based on visual data collected from aerial and shipboard surveys, along with acoustic data. For this study, scientists used aerial and shipboard survey data, which included 5,196 individual whale sightings by seven institutions from 2003-2017.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries Announces Closure of Commercial Atlantic Mackerel Fishery

September 12, 2025 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has projected that 80 percent of the Atlantic mackerel domestic annual harvest (DAH) has been harvested as of September 4, 2025. Therefore, effective 0001 hr local time on September 16, 2025, limited access mackerel vessels may not take and retain, possess, or land more than 10,000 lb of mackerel per trip at any time, and may only land mackerel once per calendar day, through 24:00 hr local time on December 31, 2025. Additionally, open access mackerel vessels may not take and retain, possess, or land more than 2,500 lb of mackerel per trip at any time, and may only land mackerel once per calendar day, through 24:00 hr local time on December 31, 2025.

Limited access vessels that enter port before 0001 hr local time on September 16, 2025, may land and sell more than 10,000 lb of mackerel from that trip, and open access vessels that enter port before 0001 hr local time on September 16, 2025, may land and sell more than 2,500 lb of mackerel from that trip, consistent with the applicable possession limits. The possession limits for the mackerel fishery will reset to the amounts outlined at §§ 648.26(a)(1)(i) and (ii) on January 1, 2026.

Read our fisheries bulletin for more information.

Supporting Fisheries Research and Restoration in Georgia’s Largest Watershed

September 9, 2025 — The Altamaha River Basin in Georgia drains more than 14,000 square miles—including rivers in Athens, Macon, and parts of southeast Atlanta—into the Atlantic Ocean. Fish species like American eel, shad, blueback herring, and sturgeon use the Ocmulgee and Oconee Rivers and other tributaries in the watershed as they migrate upstream. However, several barriers, including the Juliette and Sinclair Dams, limit access to upstream habitat these fish have historically used for spawning. These dams are also reducing the quality of habitat by converting natural, free-flowing rivers into artificial lakes and interrupting the downstream flow of sediment.

NOAA worked alongside state and federal resource agencies to develop a basin-wide plan to re-establish fish passage above human-made barriers. The plan also addressed restoring the quality and quantity of available spawning habitat. To inform strategic fish passage design and implementation of the plan, we funded two university-led studies in the basin.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

U.S. champions sustainable tuna fisheries in Eastern Pacific, boosting American fishermen and conservation

September 9, 2025 — The following was released by the NOAA Fisheries:

The United States took a bold leadership role last week at the annual Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) meeting, driving innovative measures to sustainably manage tuna fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Under the guidance of NOAA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, Andrew Lawler, the U.S. delegation prioritized American interests by enhancing conservation efforts, strengthening monitoring programs, and expanding opportunities for American fishermen.

The IATTC, comprising 21 member nations, convened to manage highly migratory fish stocks using the best available science and consensus-driven decisions. The U.S. spearheaded critical advancements in tropical tuna management, Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) recovery, and regulatory simplification, reinforcing America’s commitment to both environmental stewardship and economic prosperity for its fishing industry.

Bolstering Tropical Tuna Management

The United States led discussions on managing bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna and secured $1.8 million in funding for the Regional Tuna Tagging Program. This U.S.-backed initiative will enhance understanding of tuna distribution and stock health, ensuring sustainable harvests that support U.S. fishermen. The U.S. also championed the creation of the Integrated Port Sampling Program, merging traditional and enhanced monitoring efforts to deliver precise data on stock health and fleet impacts. By reducing closure days for purse seine vessels—after scientific confirmation of healthy tuna stocks—the U.S. fought to ensure greater access for American fishermen to these stocks without compromising sustainability.

Pioneering Fish Aggregating Device Recovery

FADs are critical to efficient fishing in the Eastern Pacific, but abandoned FADs can harm marine ecosystems. The American Tunaboat Association, showcasing U.S. leadership, spearheaded a multinational industry coalition that committed significant funding to FAD recovery programs. With strong U.S. support, the IATTC adopted an expanded resolution to streamline FAD retrieval, promote biodegradable materials, and deploy tracking devices, in an effort to protect marine environments while supporting fishing communities.

Additional Measures to Support American Interests

Furthermore, the United States drove the adoption of measures to reduce regulatory burdens, ensuring American fishermen greater operational efficiency. In addition to securing several adopted measures, the U.S. also supported the creation of a South Pacific Albacore Joint Working Group with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, extending measures to protect silky sharks, and establishing a Dorado Working Group to assess stock health—initiatives that safeguard America’s long-term fishing interests while promoting global sustainability.

“America’s leadership at the IATTC demonstrates our commitment to sustainable fisheries that protect our oceans and empower our fishermen,” said Andrew Lawler. “These measures strengthen our economy, enhance conservation, and position the U.S. as a global leader in responsible fishery management.”

The United States remains dedicated to advancing science-based, America-first policies that ensure the prosperity of its fishing industry and the health of the Eastern Pacific’s marine ecosystems.

Trump admin opens public comments on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness

August 27, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries has opened a public comment period for feedback on how the agency should implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

“Through our implementation of the President’s Executive Order, NOAA Fisheries is aiming to address the recent decline in fisheries landings and revenues,” NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler said in a release. “We look forward to receiving input from the public.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Recommendations for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness

August 26, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries wants to make sure more American seafood gets on American plates. We’re inviting the public to share input on how to help make that a reality.

On April 17, 2025, the President signed an Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. In response, the Department of Commerce, through NOAA Fisheries, launched a bold, coordinated effort to revitalize the U.S. seafood sector. This call for public comments is a critical step in our efforts to fulfill the President’s vision of making the United States the world’s dominant seafood leader.

In recent years, the seafood industry has faced increasing pressures from global competition, evolving market demands, and impacts from changing ocean conditions. Between 2019 and 2023, domestic landings decreased by approximately 1 billion pounds.

“Through our implementation of the President’s Executive Order, NOAA Fisheries is aiming to address the recent decline in fisheries landings and revenues,” Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, Assistant Administrator of NOAA Fisheries commented. “We look forward to receiving input from the public.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

Improved eDNA Primer Enhances Rockfish Species Identification in Alaska

August 22, 2025 — A groundbreaking new environmental DNA (eDNA) tool is set to transform how scientists monitor rockfish populations. Rockfish are important to both commercial and recreational fisheries in Alaska. By analyzing DNA collected from water samples, this tool provides unprecedented accuracy in identifying a wide range of rockfish species. This- includes those that are closely related and hard to tell apart using previously available genetic methods.

Finding and identifying different species of rockfish in the ocean can be surprisingly tricky. Many of them have patchy distributions and live in rocky habitats making them difficult to survey using nets. While eDNA has become a popular method to sample fish biodiversity, previous methods were unable to tell apart many of the most abundant rockfish species in Alaska waters. But a new genetic tool, the Sebastes D-loop primer set, is changing that.

DNA primers match a target sequence in the eDNA and allow researchers to amplify species of interest. Primers are designed to identify multiple species of fishes, marine mammals, invertebrates, sharks, or any other organisms that might be in a water sample. In a recent study, NOAA Fisheries scientists demonstrate that the primer set can successfully identify nearly all rockfish species in Alaska waters. It offers a more accurate and efficient way to monitor these commercially important fish. A few closely related species still require extra effort to distinguish. But, this new approach marks a big step forward in monitoring rockfish populations and protecting their habitats.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

A rare glimpse of a quieter ocean

August 22, 2025 — The dramatic disruption of commerce and trade caused by the COVID-19 pandemic presented scientists with an unanticipated opportunity to study the decrease of human-generated noise and its impact on ocean soundscapes.

An analysis of passive acoustic data from four sites across the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans by NOAA and Oregon State University scientists demonstrated that ocean noise levels were significantly diminished during the COVID pandemic due to the abrupt slowdown of commercial ship traffic. In a new paper published in the Nature journal npj Acoustics, scientists report that ocean noise levels decreased by as much as 2 decibels (dB), or about 30%, as compared to pre- and post-pandemic years.

“The tragic COVID pandemic provided an unexpected view of the effects of reduced shipping traffic on underwater noise,” said Robert Dziak, Acoustics Program Manager for NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory(PMEL). “Our findings can help provide a scientific basis for creating quieter marine habitats, particularly in areas important for vulnerable species.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

NFSC used uncrewed vessel to bolster New England fisheries survey

August 20, 2025 — The Northeast Fisheries Science Center used a DriX uncrewed vessel to complement its survey of southern New England fisheries this spring, with the small drone collecting data that would be difficult for traditional research vessels to gather.

NOAA Fisheries has promoted the use of uncrewed systems as an emerging technology that can be used to overcome several challenges to federal government fisheries surveys. Advocates say the autonomous vessels can navigate in areas where larger vessels can’t operate, such as in and around the increasing number of offshore wind developments. While those installations have threatened to disrupt NOAA Fisheries long-term data collection efforts, researchers believe drones can help fill the gaps in data collection.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource