Saving Seafood

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

US senators demand NOAA Fisheries nominee address fisheries surveys

October 23, 2025 — U.S. senators used a hearing for U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead NOAA Fisheries to demand the administration improve the survey work necessary to manage the nation’s commercial fisheries.

On 22 October, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing for Congressional staffer Timothy Petty, the president’s nominee to be assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, where he would oversee NOAA Fisheries. After former President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the agency, Janet Coit, stepped down at the end of his administration, NOAA Fisheries was initially led by longtime NOAA employee Emily Menashes. She was replaced in April when the White House named former commercial fisherman and officeholder Eugenio Piñeiro Soler acting assistant administrator.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA nominee pledges ‘scientific integrity’ in fisheries regulation

October 23, 2025 — Lawmakers representing the nation’s fishing communities pressed President Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee oceans and fisheries to prioritize baseline surveys and stock assessments that undergird the nation’s $320 billion dollar seafood economy.

In a Wednesday hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Timothy Petty pledged to kick-start stalled surveys and other research necessary to set fundamental fishing regulations — including annual catch limits, the length of fishing seasons, fishing area closures, and restrictions on activities that could harm the overall health of fish and other marine life.

“Our seafood industry needs two things from the federal government: surveys and timely promulgation of regulations to open fisheries,” Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan told Petty, who awaits confirmation for assistant secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere.

Read the full article at E&E News

Subcommittee to Hold Oversight Hearing on FY2019 Budget Priorities for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, and Four Power Marketing Administrations

April 9, 2018 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the House Committee on Natural Resources:

On Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans will hold an oversight hearing titled, “Examining the Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Spending, Priorities and Missions of the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Four Power Marketing Administrations.” 

WITNESSES:

Mr. Mark Gabriel, administrator, Western Area Power Administration

RDML Timothy Gallaudet, Ph.D., acting under secretary for oceans and atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce

Mr. Kenneth Legg, administrator, Southeastern Power Administration

Mr. Dan James, deputy administrator, Bonneville Power Administration

Mr. Timothy R. Petty, Ph.D., assistant secretary for water and science, U.S. Department of the Interior

Mr. Mike Wech, acting administrator, Southwestern Power Administration

WHAT:

Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans oversight hearing, “Examining the Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Spending, Priorities and Missions of the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Four Power Marketing Administrations.”

WHEN:

Thursday, April 12, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:

1324 Longworth House Office Building 

Visit the Committee Calendar for additional information once it is made available. The meeting is open to the public and a video feed will stream live at House Committee on Natural Resources.