Saving Seafood

Groundfish Gut Check: Partnering with the Fishing Industry to Update Groundfish Data

April 17, 2026 — Blood, guts, and gore! Those words sound like a review for a horror movie, but it’s actually the basis of my field work. I’ve been looking at and evaluating a lot of fish guts for the Cooperative Research Branch Conversion Factor Project.

Giving Groundfish Conversion Factors a Refresh

Many fish are gutted at sea, which means the internal organs are removed to prevent spoiling. Once these fish are offloaded from a commercial trip, scientists apply a conversion factor to the gutted weight to convert it to a whole weight which they use to evaluate the abundance of a fish stock. As the ocean changes, fluctuations in temperature and shifting prey availability impact fish metabolism and physiology. That can cause changes in average fish size and weight.

The conversion factors used for cod, haddock, and pollock haven’t been updated since the 1960s, so they’re in need of a little refresh. That’s where I come in. I’ve been sailing on commercial groundfish vessels all over the region. The goal? Collect data that represents the landings of the commercial groundfish fleet from different ports, gear types, and gutting methods.

My mobile office changes from vessel to vessel as I bring everything I need to do my job back and forth each time. Sailing aboard commercial fishing vessels is not a 9–5 job. Sometimes we leave in the middle of the day, sometimes we leave in the middle of the night. In fact, the only consistency is that when the lines get thrown, everyone is quite literally in the same boat. I work with the captain and crew on each trip to find a space and establish a work flow that fits their deck space and fishing operations.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Scientists and the Fishing Industry Join Forces for Better Data and Management (Part 2)

April 15, 2026 — Our cooperative research team works with industry partners across New England and the Mid-Atlantic to collect fish and invertebrate samples to better understand age, growth, reproduction, and bioenergetics. These samples fill data gaps during times of year and areas without surveys or other ways of collecting fish samples.

For example, we have collected herring samples to evaluate skipped spawning events. We have also collected haddock samples to study reproductive dynamics in the Gulf of Maine, where extreme fluctuations occur. We recently collected critical data from weekly samples of longfin squid to advance the understanding of longfin squid life history. This will provide data to support the 2026 longfin research track stock assessment. Since the program began in 2009, we have collected samples from more than 35 species from over 70 fishing vessels.

“I’ve been a fisherman for a long time, but doing cooperative research has been great for learning even more about the biology of squid,” shared commercial fisherman and industry partner Mark Philips. “It’s a breath of fresh air to work with the staff. Their excitement for science motivates me to continue to collaborate and it’s clear they have our back.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

MAFMC Warns of Consequences for 2026 Recreational Black Sea Bass and Summer Flounder Fisheries Due to Federal Rulemaking Delay

April 15, 2026 — The following was released by The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has expressed serious concern to the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries regarding significant delays in the rulemaking process for the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework. Despite the final framework being submitted over eight months ago, a proposed rule has yet to be published.

In a letter to Secretary Howard Lutnick and Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, the Council expressed serious concern that the delay threatens the implementation of the 2026 recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for black sea bass and summer flounder.

Impacts on the 2026 Season

Without the framework in place, NOAA Fisheries has indicated it intends to enforce “non-preferred coastwide measures” instead of the state-tailored measures developed by the Council, Commission, and individual states. This would have several immediate consequences for the fishing community:

  • The highly anticipated 20% liberalization for black sea bass will not be realized. The black sea bass stock has been increasing for many years and is currently more than double the target level. In December, the Council and Commission agreed to allow states to liberalize measures to achieve a 20% increase in expected harvest—the first such increase since 2012. This change would have expanded angler access, reduced regulatory discards, and supported for-hire businesses. However, these benefits will not be realized if the non-preferred coastwide measures are implemented.

  • Measures in some states will be severely restricted. The non-preferred coastwide measures for both summer flounder and black sea bass are not tailored to individual state needs or regional differences. As such, the non-preferred measures for both species are much more restrictive than the recommended 2026 measures for multiple states.

  • There will be widespread confusion among the recreational fishing public and increased non-compliance. Non-preferred coastwide measures have never been implemented for these species and are therefore largely unknown to the recreational fishing public. With the fishing season opening in less than three weeks in some states, imposing these measures will generate confusion, frustration, and non-compliance.

Proposed Solutions

The Council’s letter urges the Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries to approve the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework and the 2026 recreational measures adopted through the Council, Commission, and state process as soon as possible. To avoid disrupting the upcoming season, the Council also requests that the agency consider expedited implementation methods, such as an interim final rule or emergency rulemaking.

The Council remains committed to working with its partners to resolve this delay and provide stability for the recreational fishing public.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Trump administration holds up NOAA grant funding

April 14, 2026 — The Trump administration is holding up some National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant funding.

Earlier this month, the University of Colorado released a statement saying that a federal pause on grant funding has put scientists who collect data about the atmosphere “at risk for elimination.”

It specifically pointed to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), saying it “has not released these funds.”

Waleed Abdalati, director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), told The Hill that about 30 days before the institute was slated to run out of funds to pay the scientists in question, “we were informed that NOAA has put a pause on all grant actions.”

“We are all told to assume no funding is moving through the grants management division until a spend plan has been approved,” he said.

Read the full article at The Hill

New Jersey Captain and Seafood Buyer Found Guilty of a Multiyear Scallop Harvest Conspiracy

April 13, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement uncovered a lucrative scheme devised by a New Jersey captain and seafood dealer to illegally harvest and sell excess scallops. The captain and dealer pleaded guilty; they were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States.

On August 4, 2025, the captain was sentenced to a $10,000 fine, 6-month home confinement, and 2-year term of probation. He has been prohibited from holding a NOAA Fisheries Operator Permit or commercial fishing permit and from completing any Fishing Vessel Trip Reports. On April 22, 2025, the dealer was sentenced to a $4,000 fine and a 2-year term of probation.

This case began in April 2021, when our officers boarded the defendant’s vessel and located scallops concealed in a hidden compartment. Two NOAA Fisheries special agents and our enforcement officers conducted an investigation that lasted more than four years. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection officers assisted us in the investigation.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Conservation group sues over Alaska pollock trawling claiming practice harms fur seal population

April 10, 2026 — Conservation NGO the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has filed a lawsuit challenging NOAA Fisheries’ regulations for pollock trawling in Alaska, arguing that the government has not done enough to protect northern fur seals.

The lawsuit centers on the seal population around St. Paul Island, Alaska, U.S.A., where many mothers raise their pups. According to CBD, those seals rely on the same pollock that are harvested by the commercial trawling sector, depriving them of a key source of prey and putting that population under unnecessary stress. The seal population on the island has shrunk 70 percent over the last 50 plus years, and CBD claims that the pollock trawl fishery is one of the primary culprits.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NFWF Announces $3.4 Million in Grants to Modernize Data Collection in U.S. Fisheries

April 9, 2026 — The following was released by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation:

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries today announced $3.4 million in grants to support data modernization and electronic data collection in U.S. fisheries. The grants will leverage $4.2 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of $7.6 million.

The grants were awarded through the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program (EMR Grant Program), a partnership between NFWF and NOAA Fisheries.

“Innovative technologies have always helped advance the science and practice of wildlife conservation,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “The grants announced today will support the continued development of advancements in the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies to modernize how vital fisheries data are collected, shared and analyzed. These conservation investments will benefit vital marine wildlife populations while also supporting more effective and efficient fishery management that will benefit the people and communities that rely upon them for their way of life.”

The 13 projects announced today will expand proven electronic monitoring and reporting to new fisheries, deploy artificial intelligence onboard vessels to make electronic data collection more efficient, and improve the timeliness of data collection in some of the nation’s largest fisheries. Projects will support sustainable management efforts in federal and state fisheries in Alaska, Alabama, California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, along with the territory of Puerto Rico.

“By investing in emerging technologies, NOAA is continuing to provide fishermen with the high-tech tools necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s seafood sources,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “These emerging technologies will improve data and increase the speed and transparency of information, allowing both managers and the fishing community to respond more effectively to the evolving challenges of our marine ecosystems.”

This year’s grants include multiple projects to transfer proven concepts and technology to new fisheries, spreading the economic and conservation benefits of electronic technologies further. One example is a project working to bring electronic monitoring to the scallop fishery in the U.S. Atlantic coast. Additional projects will continue the growth of electronic monitoring and electronic reporting in fisheries around the United States.

The EMR Grant Program was established in 2015 and advances NOAA Fisheries’ goals for productive and sustainable fisheries and safe sources of seafood by working to partner with fishermen and other stakeholders, state agencies, and Fishery Information Networks to incorporate technologies that modernize fisheries data collection and management. To date, the program has awarded more than $40.6 million to 139 projects in U.S. fisheries and has generated an additional conservation impact of $58.6 million through matching contributions. In 2025, Congress appropriated $3.5 million to NOAA Fisheries for this program’s 2025–2026 slate of awards.

A list of the 2026 grants made through the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program is available here.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion. Learn more at nfwf.org.

About the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Weather, water, and climate affect all life on our ocean planet. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict our changing environment, from the deep sea to outer space, and to manage and conserve America’s coastal and marine resources. See how NOAA science, services, and stewardship benefit your community: Visit noaa.gov for our latest news and features, and join us on social media.

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