Saving Seafood

Conflicting Ocean Indicators Suggest Moderate Returns of Pacific Salmon

December 30, 2025 — Juvenile salmon encountered a mixed bag of ocean conditions off the West Coast in 2025, based on an annual analysis by NOAA Fisheries and Oregon State University researchers.

The researchers examine 16 ocean indicators, from temperature and salinity to the quantity and quality of food available to juvenile salmon during their first months in the ocean. That is a crucial period for young fish as they search for prey to grow big and fast enough to stay ahead of predators.

Researchers refined the indicators through years of monitoring. They help fish managers anticipate how many juvenile salmon will survive to grow large enough to be caught in fisheries or return to rivers as adults in the next few years. The insight can help shape fisheries worth millions of dollars to the coastal economy and ensure that recreational, commercial, and tribal fisheries continue at sustainable levels.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

2026 Marine Mammal Authorization Program Certificate Updated and Available Online

December 29, 2025 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) is a mandatory commercial fishermen’s registration program that provides annual exemptions for accidentally killing or injuring marine mammals (referred to as incidental take), during commercial fishing activities. If your fishery is classified as either Category I or II, on the List of Fisheries (LOF), you must obtain and retain an MMAP certificate.  You can find your category on the List of Fisheries website. This list is reviewed and revised annually. Please refer to the 2024 LOF, until further updates are published.

The MMAP requires that you:

  1. Retain an authorization certificate during fishing activities
  2. Carry an observer, as requested
  3. Comply with applicable Take Reduction Plans
  4. Report any marine mammal serious injury/mortality caused by fishing operations, within 48 hours of returning from the trip where the interaction occurred. Reports can be submitted online or mailed (visit the MMAP website for more information).

The MMAP certificate has now been updated for 2026. Please view and download the 2026 MMAP certificate HERE. You must retain and make available upon request, a PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC copy (on a device). 

If you are unable to access this online, printed copies:

  1. Are available at NOAA fisheries: 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA (contact us for an appointment)
  2. May be available at your local state permitting office
  3. Can be requested via email or phone at: nmfs.gar.mmapcert@noaa.gov or 978-281-9120

Please contact us with any inquiries. Thank you for your cooperation.

Senate confirms new head of NOAA Fisheries

December 23, 2025 — The U.S. Senate has confirmed a new leader to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries division, the agency responsible for managing the nation’s marine fisheries and conserving protected ocean species.

The Senate approved Timothy Petty as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, the top position overseeing NOAA Fisheries, on Dec. 19, 2025. The confirmation follows Petty’s nomination by the White House and a Senate hearing in October where lawmakers questioned him on fisheries management issues, including stock assessments and disaster relief funding.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Top Marine Stories and Posts You Loved in 2025

December 22, 2025 — This year proved, once again, that the ocean is truly a fascinating place. In 2025, our features ran the gamut from creatures of the deep and newly discovered species to killer whales and restoring American seafood competitiveness. Check out the list below and see if your favorite made the list!

Top Features

Stories on how ocean health is affecting marine life, how we’re working to enforce laws to protect marine mammals, and how our scientists discover brand new species were among the most widely read.

Early Bloom of Toxic Algae off Southern California Sickens Hundreds of Sea Lions and Dolphins

Rescue teams face hard decisions over which animals to save.

Responders received more than 100 calls a day reporting sick sea lions and dolphins

New Kids on the Block: Species Discovered by Our Scientists

Over the years, NOAA Fisheries scientists have discovered dozens of species. Learn more about these species and what we’ve learned about them.

We’ve discovered fish, marine mammals, and invertebrates

Diving into Creatures of the Deep

Dive in and learn about creatures of the deep. These mysterious species live way below the surface of the ocean.

Creatures that live in the deep ocean—from corals, to jellyfish, to octopus, and more

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries head says science is his priority

December 19, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Pineiro Soler said his top priority at the U.S. agency is improving science.

“My priorities when I took this job was number one science,” Soler said. “We have to have better science. We have to improve the science. We have to improve not our effort but our products, our results. And that’s number one priority of this administration.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NEW YORK: Operation Riptide: Highly Migratory Species Enforcement Levels the Playing Field for Law-Abiding Fishermen

December 18, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement led “Operation Riptide,” a 2-day multi-state operation targeting highly migratory species enforcement in July 2025. Agents and officers from NOAA, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation worked together to help protect marine life and law-abiding U.S. fishermen. We conducted this operation to help improve compliance with highly migratory species regulations in the state and federal waters off of New York and New Jersey.

Each day of the operation began with virtual briefings before participating agents and officers hit the water. These briefings provided crucial information on historic fishing patterns to help them effectively assess potential violations. They included details such as:

  • Target species at that time of year
  • Up-to-date weather and tide information
  • Real-time species-specific migration and population density information in the operation area

Collectively, we conducted patrols covering the majority of navigable coastal inlets between Cape May, New Jersey to Montauk, New York. Eight NOAA Fisheries agents and officers participated in the operation along with several officers from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Our mobilization of state-owned patrol vessels was key to the operation’s success. A total of nine patrol vessels participated in the operation; five from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and four from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Participating agents and officers conducted a total of 87 boardings during the operation:

  • 63 federal HMS-focused boardings in the Exclusive Economic Zone
  • 24 state-waters boardings, which included both state-licensed and federally permitted vessels.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Seeks Comment on Bering Sea Chum Salmon Bycatch Proposals

December 17, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a new draft environmental impact statement for four potential strategies to reduce chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Comments are due Jan. 5.

The document responds to a request from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to evaluate management options ahead of its February meeting in Anchorage.

Chum salmon, including fish from Western Alaska river systems, are unintentionally caught in the Bering Sea pollock trawl fleet.

Scientists and fishery managers attribute declines in Western Alaska chum to a mix of stressors, including changing marine conditions, competition with large numbers of hatchery-origin fish from Asia, commercial harvest, and bycatch in other fisheries.

For many Alaska Native communities, the downturn has caused repeated subsistence fishing restrictions, threatening food security and creating economic, social, and cultural strain.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

Seafood Tips from the People Bringing You America’s Seafood (Part 2)

December 12, 2025 — Across the country, fishermen, farmers, chefs, and educators are working to keep fishing heritage alive while inspiring new generations to value the bounties of our coastal waters. Here, experts from the Pacific coast share their stories and tips for making seafood a bigger part of your life—no matter where you live.

Jenna Keeton, Washington Sea Grant

To celebrate Seafood Month, fisheries staff from Washington, Oregon, and California Sea Grants developed and launched Discover West Coast Seafood. The website features information about the species caught and farmed on the West Coast, along with harvester profiles, recipes, and where to find local seafood, all designed to help consumers explore their local seafood options and make informed choices.

For Jenna Keeton, one of the lead authors of the Discover West Coast Seafood website, working with seafood blends science, sustainability, and her love of food. She began her career in fisheries as an undergraduate with the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. While there, she also studied with the Alaska Salmon Program in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Her interest in connecting science to sustainable food sources led to her current role as fisheries specialist at Washington Sea Grant, one of NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Programs. As part of Jenna’s work, she provides consumer education resources on seafood, sustainable commercial fisheries, and shellfish harvest activities. Washington Sea Grant also offers technical assistance and training to the seafood sector to ensure safe harvest and processing, while helping expand consumer access to U.S. seafood.

We are so excited to share this comprehensive educational resource highlighting the West Coast’s variety of seafood. I particularly like learning about the types of gear harvesters use.” — Jenna Keeton, Discover West Coast Seafood/Washington Sea Grant

The Discover West Coast Seafood Team’s Seafood Tips

  • Find dishes you already enjoy and incorporate local seafood for the protein in those recipes. For example, use a mild, flakey fish like rockfish or sole for taco night.
  • Explore new seafood and preparations methods gradually; small changes can help you expand your seafood repertoire. For example, try pan-searing your salmon to develop a caramelized flavor.
  • Support sustainable U.S. fishers and shellfish growers to ensure healthy oceans and thriving coastal economies.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

U.S. Fights for American Fishing in the Pacific, Leads Electronic Monitoring of International Fleets

December 12, 2025 — Tuna and technology took top priority—and top wins—for the United States at the 22nd Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting. It was held December 1–5, 2025, in the Philippines.

Led by Andrew Lawler, NOAA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, the U.S. delegation:

  • Protected American Samoa and U.S. troll interests in the South Pacific albacore fishery
  • Fought for the economic viability of Hawaiʻi’s long line fleet targeting bigeye tuna
  • Secured the lead to develop an electronic monitoring measure for adoption at next year’s meeting

“The U.S. delegation worked very hard together to achieve these wins and, quite frankly, knocked it out of the park,” Lawler said. “We ensured a robust opportunity for our commercial fishing interests while enhancing conservation of our shared fishing resources.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries