Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries report shows large whale entanglements nationwide up in 2024; 3 occurred in Maine

November 24, 2025 — According to a new annual report from NOAA Fisheries, there were 95 total confirmed large whale entanglements nationwide last year. In the Northeast Atlantic, the majority of entanglements were reported in Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay. Three occurred off the coast of Maine.

NOAA spokesperson Andrea Gomez says that two of those three whales were humpbacks, and one was a minke. One of the humpbacks was found dead outside of Portland, entangled in a fishing net. The other humpback and the minke were found alive off Jonesport and Stonington, entangled in Maine lobster gear. The minke was able to shed the gear on its own, and Maine Marine Patrol was able to disentangle the humpback.

Read the full article at Maine Public

Seafood Tips from the People Bringing You America’s Seafood (Part 1)

November 21, 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 Atlantic coast share their stories and tips for making seafood a bigger part of your life—no matter where you live. And stay tuned: we’ll be sharing Part Two featuring insights from Pacific coast experts.

Captain Brady Lybarger, Scallop Shack Farms

New Jersey

Scallop Shack Farms began as South Jersey’s original seafood pop-up. Captain Brady Lybarger, an experienced second-generation commercial fisherman, and his wife Amanda started selling scallops from the back of their truck during the pandemic.

Today, the thriving family-run market in Cape May, New Jersey offers scallops, seasonal catches, and gourmet goods, all sourced directly from American fishermen. Brady runs the shop with his wife, her father and sister-in-law, and even nieces, welcoming seafood lovers in to buy and connect. At Scallop Shack Farms, seafood goes from boat—often Brady’s own F/V Salted—to home chefs within hours of landing. Customers don’t just buy seafood there—they learn the story behind it, meet the people who caught it, and become part of a growing family of supporters.

Brady knows firsthand the challenges facing the fishing industry, with declining fisheries, rising costs, and fewer young workers entering the trade. That’s why he carves out time to serve on New England Fishery Management Council advisory panels on tilefish and scallops, ensuring fishermen’s knowledge informs management decisions.

Captain Brady’s Seafood Tips

  • Start fresh: A fresh, well-handled product makes all the difference. Scallop Shack Farms takes pride in bleeding and brining fish and delivering them within 24 hours when possible.
  • Keep it simple: For scallops, the secret is to pat them completely dry, then sear in a hot pan for 1.5-2 minutes per side. Add just salt, pepper, oil, and butter—no need to over-season a good product.
  • Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to talk with your fishmonger or fisherman—they’re happy to share how the seafood was caught and the best ways to prepare it.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Administration revises Endangered Species Act regulations to strengthen certainty, reduce burdens and uphold law

November 19, 2025 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced four proposed rules to restore Endangered Species Act regulations to their proven 2019 and 2020 framework. The actions advance President Donald J. Trump’s directives to strengthen American energy independence, improve regulatory predictability and ensure federal actions align with the best reading of the law.

The proposals, two of which were issued in coordination with NOAA Fisheries would revise Biden administration regulations finalized in 2024 that expanded federal reach, created unnecessary complexity and departed from the statute’s clear language. These actions implement Executive Orders 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” and 14219, “Department of Government Efficiency,” along with Secretary’s Order 3418, which direct agencies to remove regulatory barriers that hinder responsible resource development and economic growth while maintaining core conservation commitments.

The four proposed rules are:

  • Listing and critical habitat (50 CFR part 424):

The agencies jointly propose to restore the 2019 regulatory text governing listing, delisting and critical habitat determinations. The proposal ensures decisions are based on the best scientific and commercial data available while allowing transparent consideration of economic impacts. It reestablishes the longstanding two-step process for designating unoccupied habitat, restores clarity to the definition of “foreseeable future” and reinstates flexibility to determine when designating critical habitat is not prudent.

  • Interagency cooperation (50 CFR part 402):

The agencies jointly propose to return to the 2019 consultation framework by reinstating definitions of “effects of the action” and “environmental baseline,” removing the 2024 “offset” provisions and restoring section 7 procedures consistent with the statutory text. These changes respond directly to the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the Chevron deference standard and reaffirmed that agencies must adhere strictly to the law as written.

  • Threatened species protections (50 CFR part 17; section 4(d)): 

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to eliminate the “blanket rule” option and require species-specific 4(d) rules tailored to each threatened species. This approach reflects the single best reading of the statute under Loper Bright and ensures that protections are necessary and advisable to conserve each species without imposing unnecessary restrictions on others. It also aligns service policy with NOAA Fisheries’ longstanding species-specific approach.

  • Critical habitat exclusions (50 CFR part 17; section 4(b)(2)):

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to reinstate its 2020 rule clarifying how economic, national security and other relevant impacts are weighed when determining whether to exclude areas from critical habitat. The revised framework provides transparency and predictability for landowners and project proponents while maintaining the service’s authority to ensure that exclusions will not result in species extinction.

The 2024 regulatory packages had reimposed provisions previously deemed inconsistent with the ESA’s statutory text. The Administration’s proposed rules would replace those provisions with standards that reflect decades of implementation experience, consistent judicial precedent and the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation that agencies must follow the law as written.

The proposed rules will be published in the Federal Register and will be available for public inspection on November 19 at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/current.

The public is encouraged to submit comments during the 30-day comment period beginning November 21 at https://www.regulations.gov by searching the following docket numbers:

  • FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0039 (Section 4)
  • FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0044 (Section 7)
  • FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0029 (Section 4(d))
  • FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0048 (Section 4(b)(2))

NOAA Fisheries establishes task force to address West Coast humpback whale entanglements

November 4, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries has established a federal task force to address the problem of humpback whales becoming entangled in commercial fishing gear along the west coast.

The announcement came just prior to a 31 October deadline set by the courts in response to a lawsuit brought by conservation NGO the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). The group sued NOAA Fisheries in 2022, claiming the agency’s sablefish fishery permit didn’t incorporate any plans to reduce entanglements or harm to the endangered whales. In 2023, NOAA Fisheries signed a legal agreement as part of a settlement, committing to create a task force by 31 October 2025.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

New Bedford Mayor Urges NOAA to Advance Targeted Scallop Permit-Stacking to Keep Fleet Working and Protect Jobs

October 16, 2025 — The following was released by the Port of New Bedford:

Mayor Jon Mitchell today wrote to Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, setting forth his position on a proposed rule that would allow full-time, limited-access scallop permit holders to “stack” two permits on a single vessel. New Bedford has been the nation’s highest-value fishing port for 23 consecutive years, since 2001. As the Mayor writes, “the Atlantic sea scallop fishery is one of America’s highest grossing commercial fisheries and is concentrated in New Bedford,” giving the city “a singular interest in policies that govern the allocation of scallop permits.”

Background and changing circumstances
Three years ago, the mayor opposed a proposal that would have authorized leasing of limited-access scallop permits. In his view then, it went further than necessary to address over-capitalization and risked inexorable industry consolidation, costing shoreside jobs and diminishing returns to single-boat owners and their crews, while failing to sufficiently engage the small businesses most exposed. He now notes that changing circumstances have prompted him to revisit his position, given the continued tightening of effort controls and their knock-on effects throughout the fleet and waterfront.

Why the industry needs relief
“The continued decline in available days-at-sea and closed area trips for limited-access permit holders has forced a broad reckoning in the industry that the traditional assignment of one permit per boat is antiquated. It has resulted in scallopers remaining in port for nearly eleven months a year on average – hardly an efficient use of a multi-million-dollar business asset,” the mayor writes. Building on that point, the mayor cites the practical consequences in port: prolonged vessel idling has increased congestion on municipal piers, reducing safety for fishermen; and by cutting average-boat revenues, it has constrained reinvestment in vessels, raising additional safety concerns.

What’s different now
“The new proposal is being advanced by a different group of proponents, who went back to the proverbial drawing board to fashion a more measured approach. In its broadest terms, the proposal would not allow the leasing of permits, but it instead would allow the transfer of permits between two vessels of similar size and common ownership. In practice, this would enable one boat to fish for approximately twice as long in any given year,” the mayor wrote.

“Earlier objections to permit stacking are not triggered by the new proposal. The consolidation of two permits will not likely result in the loss of crew jobs. The reality is that on account of the days-at-seas caps, it is now common for scallop fishermen to serve on multiple vessels. It is also not likely for scallop stocks to grow to a point that could support a significantly greater number of fishing days for the current fleet. New equipment technology and fishing techniques have made scallop fishing much more efficient than it was in the 1990s, when the current permitting regime was instituted.” He adds that “the process used to fashion the new proposal was more open than last time,” and that proponents “have actively sought to understand the concerns of boat owners and shore-side businesses,” yielding “broader understanding and support in New Bedford,” the mayor wrote.

Not yet an endorsement, but a clear direction
“While it would be premature for me to explicitly endorse the proposal, as the precise language has yet to be settled on, it is clear that the status quo is untenable,” the mayor wrote.

Four caveats from the mayor’s letter
Before any action is taken, the letter sets out four caveats that should accompany the proposal:

  1. Expansion of the resource. “The Management Council should expand the biomass available for fishing… In particular, the implementation of a permit stacking regime would make it even more important that the Council revisit its decision not to reopen the Northern Edge to scalloping, as I have long advocated.”
  2. Legal Curbs on Consolidation. “To protect against the risk of consolidation, the five percent ownership cap of scallop permits must remain sacrosanct… The Council should remain leery of allowing stacking rules to slide down a slippery slope toward open-ended leasing and even the commodification of permits.”
  3. Preventing the Abandonment of Vessels. “The stacking of permits will lead owners not to use their less productive vessels… permit holders must make certain accommodations. This could include a prohibition on the stacking of a permit if the vessel with which it is associated has remained dormant at a public facility for an unreasonably long time.”
  4. Robust Engagement. “Before implementing the proposal, the Council should ensure that the interests of smaller fishing and shore side businesses are fully considered. Given its status as the epicenter of the scallop industry and America’s leading fishing port, New Bedford should be the focal point of these efforts.”

Read the letter here

US judge dismisses NGO lawsuit challenging North Pacific trawling

October 8, 2025 — U.S. district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by conservation NGO Oceana challenging bottom trawling in the North Pacific, finding that NOAA Fisheries acted in accordance with the law in regulating commercial fishing in the area.

Oceana filed the lawsuit in August 2024 in an effort to block bottom trawling in the North Pacific, an activity the group claims can cause substantial damage to seafloor coral and sponge habitats.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries extends emergency rule for Northeast cod and haddock fisheries

October 7, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries has extended an emergency action to keep the Northeast commercial multispecies fishery open, ensuring that New England groundfish harvesters can continue operating in the absence of regular management measures for the 2025 season.

“This inability to fish would result in substantial adverse economic impacts on vessel owners and operators, dealers, and the fishing communities that rely on them,” NOAA Fisheries noted in a Federal Register notice justifying the extension.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries continuing seafood inspections, fisheries management despite US government shutdown

October 1, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries will continue conducting seafood inspections, fisheries management, and law enforcement operations during the U.S. federal government shutdown, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), although most research efforts will be paused.

The federal government officially entered a partial shutdown 1 October after Congress failed to pass appropriations bills funding several departments and agencies into fiscal year 2026. While the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded for seven more weeks, Republican leaders in the Senate were unable to accomplish the same. Democrats in the Senate have held firm in opposing the stopgap funding bill until Republicans concede on funding health care subsidies.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries Releases 2025 Alaska Aquaculture Accomplishments Report

September 29, 2025 — The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office has released the 2025 Aquaculture Accomplishments Report. It highlights the growth of the aquaculture industry in Alaska and provides details about local, state, and federal efforts aimed at supporting this important maritime industry.

NOAA’s Aquaculture Program supports cutting-edge science and policies to foster sustainable domestic aquaculture growth. Currently, at least 70 percent of the seafood Americans eat comes from other countries, and over half of that is farm-raised. Produced responsibly, as it is here in the United States, aquaculture is one of the most resource-efficient ways of making healthy food, and it can help reduce reliance on imports, providing a more stable and secure seafood supply. By expanding domestic aquaculture in harmony with wild-capture fisheries, NOAA helps create jobs, support coastal communities, and ensure healthy, home-grown seafood for American families.

Alaska’s aquaculture industry consists of seaweed and shellfish farming. Oysters, mussels, sugar kelp, ribbon kelp, and bull kelp are the primary species grown in the state. The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Aquaculture Program has strategically aligned our annual activities to support the Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, and NOAA’s 2023-2028 Aquaculture Strategic Plan. The plan lays out a framework to support a thriving, resilient, and robust U.S. aquaculture industry as part of a resilient seafood sector. This effort also supports the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA reports higher than average number of large whale entanglements in 2024

September 23, 2025 — According to a new report by NOAA Fisheries, the number of large whale entanglements recorded by the agency in 2024 was higher than average, with 95 entanglements confirmed nationally – 87 of which featured entangled animals that were still alive at the time of the entanglement report. 

That number was a significant increase from the 64 confirmed entanglements in 2023, and from the 17 year average of 71.4 entanglements per year. The agency said it is still looking into the causes of the uptick, and unable to yet determine whether the “increase is temporary or part of a longer term trend.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource