Saving Seafood

5 ways aquaculture is boosting coastal economies

March 10, 2026 — On land and in the water, aquaculture offers new opportunities to meet the rising demand for seafood and boost local economies.

From training new workers and navigating regulations to connecting seafood producers with buyers, here are 5 ways Sea Grant’s aquaculture initiatives are helping to bring farm-fresh U.S. seafood to consumers’ plates and ensure a healthy future for our waters.

1. Supporting disaster recovery for Louisiana’s crawfish industry

In 2023, record-setting drought and extreme heat devastated Louisiana’s crawfish industry, a critical aquaculture sector that supports thousands of jobs and significantly contributes to the state’s economy. Louisiana Sea Grant worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to document the harm to crawfish from the excessively dry and hot conditions. The resulting scientific report was instrumental in securing more than $100 million in disaster relief for the state’s crawfish farmers. In addition to providing economic relief to growers, the disaster funds prevented long-term declines in production and preserved the economic vitality of an industry that holds great cultural and economic value in Louisiana.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Framework finally implemented as Gulf of Maine haddock quota increase takes effect

March 9, 2026 — After weeks of frustration from New England groundfish sector managers and stop-fishing notices for some vessels, Framework 69 has finally been approved and implemented by federal regulators.

According to a March 5 notice from NOAA Fisheries, the agency approved Framework Adjustment 69 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and announced final catch limits for fishing year 2025. The action officially went into effect March 9.

Framework 69 establishes annual catch limits and management measures for multiple groundfish stocks, including a significant increase to the Gulf of Maine haddock quota– an increase fishermen have been waiting on for months.

The approval comes after mounting pressure from industry leaders who argued the delay was forcing boats to tie up during one of the most productive fishing periods of the year. Just days before NOAA issues its final notice, six New England groundfish sector managers formally petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service for relief, calling the delay in approving the framework “frankly ridiculous.”

At the time, several sectors had already begun issuing stop-fishing notices after vessels exhausted their Gulf of Maine haddock allocations under the interim limits.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

NOAA Fisheries Sets Management Measures for Northeast Multispecies Fishery

March 5, 2026 — The following was released by the NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries is approving updated management measures for the Northeast multispecies fishery (Framework 69). These measures, developed by the New England Fishery Management Council, establish catch limits for several multispecies stocks for fishing years 2025–2027, modify the accountability measure implementation catch threshold for the scallop fishery and several flatfish stocks, and remove certain reporting requirements for sectors. Allocations for two stocks of Atlantic cod were established in an emergency rule that went into effect on May 1, 2025, and are not changed by this action. Framework 69 also approves sector provisions and catch allocations for 2025 and 2026 fishing years, sets recreational measures for haddock, updates common pool possession limits, and clarifies and corrects regulations.

Read the final rule and the permit holder bulletin available at our website.

Dutch Harbor top port for seafood landings; New Bedford #1 for value

March 5, 2026 — The reports that give annual snapshots of the US fishing industry were belatedly released by a diminished NOAA Fisheries staff last month and attracted little fan fare.

Titled “2023 Fisheries of the United States” and “2023 Fisheries Economics of the United States” —they present easy to read data and trends from across the US for both commercial and recreational fishing.  

Here are some key takeaways —  

For the 26th consecutive year, Dutch Harbor led the nation as the port with the highest volume of seafood landed (780.1 million pounds valued at $224.5 million). Landings in Dutch Harbor increased in 2023 from 613.5 million pounds from the previous year 

For the 23rd consecutive year, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was the port with the highest valued catch in the nation (76.9 million pounds valued at $363.3 million).

In all, nine Alaska ports ranked among the top 20 for volume of seafood landings and seven were on the list for value. Sea scallops have historically made up the majority of the value landed in New Bedford. 

Read the full article at Alaskafish.news

Trump administration moves to loosen rules around North Atlantic right whale speed limits

March 5, 2026 — Following the U.S. government’s promise to take “deregulatory-focused action” on a vessel speed limit rule designed to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, NOAA Fisheries has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to gather feedback.

“This reckless decision threatens the future of North Atlantic right whales,” Conservation Law Foundation Senior Counsel Erica Fuller said in a statement. “The species can’t afford to lose a single whale. Eliminating one of their strongest protections would imperil right whales’ already challenging recovery. At a time when we need stronger, not weaker, protections, this would be another shortsighted move by this administration to help special interest groups.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

West Coast Waters Experiencing Another Large Marine Heatwave

March 4, 2026 — A massive marine heatwave has dominated waters off the West Coast since last summer. This marks only the third time on record that such a large section of the coastal ocean has remained so warm for so long—particularly into winter months—without it being an El Niño, NOAA scientists report. NOAA Fisheries and our partners are tracking possible heatwave impacts, which can include harmful algal blooms that can sicken marine mammals and close shellfish fisheries.

Third Time as Warm

At one point last September, the current marine heatwave rivaled the enormous 2013–2016 marine heatwave known as “The Blob” in terms of size and surface temperatures. The current heatwave has raised the temperature of waters along the West Coast roughly 3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. On September 9, 2025, the northeast Pacific reached its highest ever average temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius, or about 69 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s almost a half-degree warmer than ever before. Past marine heatwaves shook up marine ecosystems that drove shifts of species, die-offs, and other disruptions of ecosystems in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.

“We have forecast tools that provide some insight, but we are also watching carefully for implications on the marine ecosystem,” said Andrew Leising, a research oceanographer at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. He runs the California Current Marine Heatwave Tracker. The tracker has been documenting marine heatwaves off the West Coast through NOAA data from satellites, ships, and buoys since 2019.

The North Pacific has repeatedly hit record or near-record temperatures since The Blob. Like others before it, the current marine heatwave weakened and receded from the coast in October and November 2025. Unlike others, it has since strengthened and returned. “We’re in La Niña, but water temperatures along our coast look much different,” Leising said. “The conditions are hard to reconcile. We want to be cautious in our interpretation, but at the same time this is not a situation that we have seen before.”

Heatwaves Shift Species

The current heatwave has brought news of species in unusual areas, such as tunas caught in large numbers in Alaska last fall. The Blob and other marine heatwaves have been shown to reduce the survival of salmon in the ocean, leaving fewer fish to catch and to return to rivers to spawn. “We know these marine heatwaves alter ecosystem conditions, which affects fish and other marine life,” Leising said. “We’re very interested in what the fishing fleet and others who are out on the water are seeing and are looking into new ways to collect this information. Are there species in unusual places, or what might be changing?”

In addition, the unusual warmth could begin to set the stage for a repeat of last year’s harmful algal bloom off Southern California. It hit unusually early in 2025 and killed hundreds of California sea lions, dolphins, and seabirds. Harmful algal blooms can also close fisheries, especially recreational fisheries involving shellfish that concentrate the toxins, affecting the coastal economy.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA seeks information to support improvements to vessel speed regulations

March 4, 2026 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking requesting information that could help modernize regulations designed to reduce the risk of lethal vessel strikes with endangered North Atlantic right whales. NOAA is seeking information from industry experts, coastal communities, and other relevant stakeholders on ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens while ensuring responsible conservation practices for endangered North Atlantic right whales.

Through this action, the agency invites public comment to inform potential revisions to the 2008 vessel speed rule. Under existing regulations, most vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in Seasonal Management Areas along the U.S. East Coast at certain times of the year. Lower vessel speeds are one of the ways to reduce the likelihood of serious injury or death to North Atlantic right whales in the event of a vessel collision.

“NOAA encourages economic prosperity in our oceans, and advancements in technology are increasingly allowing maritime commerce to coexist with endangered species,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “This action is an important step in implementing the President’s vision of adopting modern technologies, supporting American industry, and promoting efficient and effective regulations.”

NOAA continues to focus on developing new technologies, engineering approaches, and other advanced tools to reduce the risk of vessel strikes with endangered North Atlantic right whales. Technology has the potential to provide transformational tools to prevent species extinction while allowing marine industries, including fisheries, boating, and shipping, to continue to flourish.

“NOAA Fisheries remains committed to a thorough review of the best available science and public comments to ensure regulations that consider both the needs of industry and endangered species,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “We will continue to explore creative solutions that support economic activity while carrying out responsible management practices for endangered species.”

There are approximately 380 North Atlantic right whales in existence—an increase of approximately 20 individuals since 2020. The latest estimate in 2025 marks the third consecutive year that the population has shown signs of increasing. NOAA Fisheries estimates there to be only about 70 reproductively active females. The agency declared an Unusual Mortality Event in 2017 due to elevated deaths. Human impacts continue to threaten the survival of North Atlantic right whales, and the population will need to increase significantly in order to recover.

The public is encouraged to submit comments via the Federal Register during the comment period through June 2, 2026

Recreational Anglers Help Boost Bluefin Tuna Research

March 2, 2026 — Imagine standing at the stern of a 50-foot fishing vessel. Your legs are pressed up against the gunwale for balance as you rock in the waves and face the churning waters of the boat’s wake. All of a sudden, the reel next to you starts screaming as the mate yells, “Fish on!” Heart racing, you grab the rod and start cranking. It could be a quick 20-minute fight or an intense 5-hour battle to reveal a sleek fish built with more than 80 pounds of muscle. This is what it’s like to be on a trip with the Bacon brothers.

For Brian and Peter Bacon, brothers and seasoned charter captains, the thrill of reeling in bluefin tuna off the Atlantic coast isn’t just about the catch. It’s also about contributing to vital scientific research. Through NOAA’s Cooperative Tagging Center, recreational anglers like the Bacons are providing important data that helps scientists understand the health and movements of bluefin tuna populations. Even when seasons are closed, tagging provides a rewarding mechanism for charter businesses to continue providing a positive experience for paying customers.

What Tuna Tagging Reveals

NOAA’s Cooperative Tagging Center collects crucial information about highly migratory species including bluefin tuna. We work with recreational anglers, charter captains, and commercial fishers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts—and across the Atlantic Ocean. We tag various species of fish that are difficult to study with other methods. We also provide free tagging kits for anglers to tag fish on their own. When anglers tag a fish, we collect information on fish size, location of capture, and release condition. When a tagged fish is recaptured—days, months, or years later—scientists gain insights into migration patterns, growth rates, and how long these fish live. For instance, some tagged bluefin have been recaptured over a decade after their initial tagging. One of legendary angler Al Anderson‘s fish was caught an astounding 16 years later! These long-term data are critical for assessing geographic range shifts and migratory trends of these important species.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Northeast Aquaculture Conference Celebrates Innovation, Growth, and Community

February 26, 2026 — The snow and cold temperatures in Portland, Maine, were no match for the energy of nearly 700 people who gathered this year for the joint 26th Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Expo and 45th Milford Aquaculture Seminar. With its record-breaking turnout, the conference highlighted the Northeast’s growing aquaculture sector. In Maine alone, aquaculture has nearly tripled in economic impact since 2007. The meeting was co-hosted by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center and NOAA Fisheries Milford Lab from January 7–9, 2026.

Attendees learned from more than 100 presenters during 45 sessions over 3 days. Science presentations covered the latest research on shellfish, seaweed, sea urchin, and finfish aquaculture. A record 38 aquaculture vendors demonstrated the latest innovations in aquaculture gear technology during the largest-ever trade show. In addition, 78 students received support to attend and present their work. The meeting brought industry leaders, scientific researchers, resource managers, extension specialists and students into the same room to discuss the future of sustainable farmed seafood production in the Northeast.

The conference kicked off with a welcome address by Danielle Blacklock, director of the NOAA Office of Aquaculture. She highlighted the growing tailwinds toward expanding U.S. aquaculture production. This was followed by updates from U.S. states and Canadian provinces from Prince Edward Island, Canada, to Virginia. The Maine Aquaculture Association then presented Dr. Chris Davis, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center’s Innovator-in-Residence and co-founder of the meeting, with its inaugural lifetime achievement award.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Conference Program revealed for 2026 Seafood Expo North America

February 26, 2026 —  Diversified, the producer of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, has revealed the conference program for the 2026 edition of the event.

The conference program, running from 15 to 17 March, will feature more than 40 sessions and more than 125 industry speakers from major companies and organizations like Whole Foods Market, Ahold Delhaize USA, NOAA Fisheries, Circana, and more. During the three-day event, the conference program will cover a range of topics including consumer insights and trends, traceability, sustainability, and business strategies.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource