Saving Seafood

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

Leveraging Advanced Technologies to Transform our Data Enterprise

February 25, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries monitors and manages more than 460 fish stocks across U.S. ocean waters—that’s more than 4 million square miles of ocean! We work to ensure our fisheries are sustainable, which requires striking a healthy balance between positive economic impacts and long-term population health.

To ensure stocks are sustainably harvested, we make management decisions using the latest data. Fisheries managers may make decisions, such as closing or opening seasons, adjusting total catch limits, introducing quotas, or other measures. These decisions affect fishing communities, coastal economies, and the seafood available on our tables.

Accurate, reliable, and up-to-date data is essential for effective management decisions. Ocean data are a U.S. strategic asset. We are currently modernizing how we collect, manage, and use data with new technologies.

This modernization effort focuses on two main areas:

  • Improving how we gather information in the ocean
  • Enhancing how we analyze, store, and share that information

By strengthening both, we are building a faster, more efficient system that helps scientists and managers more effectively manage marine resources.

A more efficient data enterprise will help fisheries managers—like regional fishery management councils, marine fisheries commissions, international organizations, and other management bodies—make better, more informed decisions. Leveraging advanced technologies helps address challenges across regions related to data needs, infrastructure, and management.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

ALASKA: NOAA Fisheries identifies 77 potential aquaculture opportunity areas in Gulf of Alaska

February 24, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries has identified 77 locations in the Gulf of Alaska that could be suitable for aquaculture operations, following up on an order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020.

“Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the nation combined, and we should be using that resource to its full potential,” Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said in a release. “This atlas helps identify where aquaculture makes sense in our state waters. It will support creating new job opportunities, strengthen food security for Alaskans, and add to Alaska’s already tremendous seafood industry.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Feds deny ESA protections for crabs with blood used by humans

February 20, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries has denied Endangered Species Act protections for the Atlantic horseshoe crab, a lumbering species whose unique blood is highly valued by the biomedical industry.

Faced with two petitions that urged designating the species as either threatened or endangered, the federal agency instead concluded no ESA listing was warranted.

“There has been improvement in the population status and trends of regional populations from New Hampshire to Florida-Atlantic, with the exception of New York,” NOAA Fisheries announced this week, adding that “the petitions rely on obsolete and incorrect information to infer the current status and trends of the species.”

Read the full article at E&E News