Saving Seafood

Fishermen seek to sink grouper limit at 11th Circuit

Two Florida-based fishermen asked the 11th Circuit Thursday to strike down a regulation limiting commercially caught gag grouper, arguing a regional fishery management council did not have the constitutional authority to implement the restrictions.

In 2024, Dominick and James Russo, who own FFC Seafood in Sarasota, Florida, sued the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries in Alabama federal court over Amendment 56. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council — a regional body made up of state-level appointees — crafted the rule, which cut quotas for gag group by 85%. The federal agencies approved and promulgated the regulation.

The 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act created eight regional fishery councils responsible for submitting management plans to the commerce secretary to set catch limits and prevent overfishing in federal waters. The statute gives the councils, made up of members appointed at the state level, the power to veto certain decisions by the secretary that change catch limits or reject the councils’ management plans.

The brothers contend that despite exercising “significant” federal control of the fisheries, the members of the council are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate, making their decisions unconstitutional under the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Read the full article at Courthouse News Service

ALASKA: Sullivan, Peltola battle for Alaska fishing vote in Senate race

July 16, 2026 — Members of Congress routinely post news releases on legislation they introduce and cosponsor, including for Alaska’s delegation, a plethora of seafood legislation impacting the seafood industry.

Once in a while, one of these bills becomes law. The odds are 1-3 percent.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, who are both running for his current Senate seat, have issued news releases stating their priorities for federal regulations related to the nation’s federal fisheries. Many of their campaigns are focused on convincing Alaskans engaged in the fisheries industry that they can do the most to protect and improve benefits for Alaskans working in that industry.

Purchases of Russian seafood were blocked from federal school lunch programs by an amendment introduced by Sullivan, which passed the Senate in November 2023.  That amendment closed a loophole that had allowed Russian seafood processed in China to bypass the National School Lunch Program “Buy American” requirements.

In 2022, the Alaska Salmon Task Force Act, sponsored by Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Rep. Don Young, Alaska’s all Republican delegation, was established as a federal task force. On July 12, 2024, the task force submitted its final science report on the complex biological, environmental and socioeconomic factors impacting Alaska salmon to the Secretary of Commerce, the Alaska Legislature and relevant congressional committees.

On June 25, Sullivan introduced the Bycatch Reduction Act, an updated version of bycatch legislation introduced by the Alaska congressional delegation in January of 2026, which remains in the introduced stage in the Senate and the House.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Seafood Harvesters of America Releases National Policy Roadmap to Strengthen U.S. Seafood Competitiveness

July 16, 2026 — The following was released by Seafood Harvesters of America:

Seafood Harvesters of America today released the Fisheries Leadership and National Policy Forum Report, a national roadmap outlining priorities to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. seafood industry while building on America’s global leadership in science-based fisheries management.

The report is the result of Seafood Harvesters of America’s inaugural Fisheries Leadership and National Policy Forum, which brought together seafood industry leaders, senior officials from the White House, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State, and Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other federal agencies, and representatives from Congress, to assess the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. seafood sector.

“This was truly a first-of-its-kind convening of government and seafood industry leaders,” said Hannah Heimbuch, a commercial fisherman and Board President of Seafood Harvesters of America. “It was a landmark gathering, built around a shared commitment to strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. seafood and growing America’s global leadership in sustainable, science-based fisheries management. It was clear throughout these discussions that maintaining a strong U.S. seafood industry will require coordinated leadership, strategic investment, and continued collaboration across government and the seafood sector. This report provides a roadmap for turning that commitment into action.”

The report is intended to serve as a resource for Congress, the Administration, federal agencies, and industry leaders as they work together to strengthen the future of U.S. seafood and America’s working waterfronts.

About Seafood Harvesters of America

Seafood Harvesters of America is the leading national organization representing seafood producers from across the United States. The organization advances science-based fisheries management and advocates for policies that strengthen the sustainability, competitiveness, and long-term resilience of the U.S. seafood industry.

The Department of Commerce Announces 2026 Council Appointments

June 30, 2026 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Managment Council:

The Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries announced the appointment of 22 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils. For the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), the appointments include three reappointments and one new member who will fill the vacant Massachusetts seat. The new and reappointed council members will serve three-year terms from August 11, 2026, through August 10, 2029.

NEFMC reappointments include:

  • Terry Alexander, Maine
  • Jackie Odell, Massachusetts
  • Daniel Salerno, New Hampshire
NEFMC new member:
  • Kirby Aarsheim Apjohn, Massachusetts.

“The eight regional fishery management councils are key partners with NOAA Fisheries in the regional, science-based, and transparent U.S. fishery management process. The Secretary of Commerce made appointments for open fishery management council seats from state and territorial governors’ lists of nominees. New council members play a critical role in meeting the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s mandate to end overfishing and rebuild fish stocks to ensure sustainable fisheries and maintain vibrant coastal communities.” Eugenio Pineiro Soler, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator NOAA Fisheries

Commerce Department releases $123.6 million in fishery disaster aid

June 24, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Commerce announced June 17 the allocation of $123.6 million in fishery disaster relief funding to address a series of commercial fishery collapses that struck Alaska, Oregon, California, and Washington’s Squaxin Island Tribe between 2019 and 2023. The money was appropriated by Congress through the American Relief Act, 2025.

The funding covers six previously declared fishery resource disasters: the 2023–2024 Bering Sea snow crab fishery in Alaska; the 2023 Oregon ocean commercial salmon fishery; the 2022 Chignik salmon fishery in Alaska; the 2023 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Setnet salmon fishery in Alaska; the 2024 California Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean and inland salmon fisheries; and the 2023 Squaxin Island Tribe Puget Sound Fall Chum salmon fishery in Washington.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

SOUTH CAROLINA: SC’s red snapper season on pause amid federal lawsuit

June 22, 2026 — Anglers won’t be able to reel in red snappers off South Carolina’s coast this summer after a federal judge paused the state’s extended season.

The decision, which came in response to a lawsuit filed last month in Washington, D.C., reversed a federal agency’s approval to extend the state’s recreational fishing season from two days last year to 62 days this year. The state Department of Natural Resources touted that approval as a victory following years of pushing for longer seasons to catch the large, red fish.

South Carolina’s red snapper season was set to begin July 1.

Because the legal case won’t be resolved before then, state officials withdrew the application for a longer season and are instead working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to set dates for a red snapper season this fall, DNR said in a news release Friday.

The Southeastern Fisheries Association, which represents nearly 300 southeastern businesses, sued Secretary Howard Lutnick, arguing the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees the permits, failed to consider the possibility of overfishing in violation of a 1976 conservation law.

Read the full article at the South Carolina Daily Gazette 

U.S. Department of Commerce allocates $123.6M in fishery disaster funding to Alaska, Oregon, California and Squaxin Island Tribe

June 17, 2026 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA announced the allocation of $123.6 million in fishery resource disaster funding, appropriated by Congress in the American Relief Act, 2025. The funding will address fishery resource disasters that occurred in Oregon, California, the Squaxin Island tribe, and multiple Alaska fisheries between 2019 and 2023.

“Fishery resource disasters have devastating effects on local communities and our economy,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D, NOAA administrator. “This disaster funding provides much needed assistance to our fishing industry, and we will work with the affected communities to help them recover. This action demonstrates our continued commitment to hardworking American fishermen and to the President’s vision to uphold the United States as the world’s dominant seafood leader.” 

Today’s allocation announcement applies to previously declared fishery resource disasters, including:

  • 2023/2024 Bering Sea snow crab fishery in Alaska
  • 2023 Oregon ocean commercial salmon fishery
  • 2022 Chignik salmon fishery in Alaska
  • 2023 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Setnet salmon fishery in Alaska
  • 2024 State of California Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean and inland salmon fisheries  
  • 2023 Squaxin Island Tribe Puget Sound Fall Chum salmon fishery in Washington.

NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenue loss information to allocate funding across the eligible disasters. 

“These fishery resource disasters are of great concern for the fishing industry and the people and communities that depend on these fisheries to support their local economies,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “NOAA will continue to provide guidance and resources to boost recovery and support more resilient fishing communities in the future.”

These funds will help improve the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the impacted fisheries. Funds can be used to assist commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, charter businesses, shore-side infrastructure, subsistence users, and other impacted community groups. Activities that can be considered for funding include fishery-related infrastructure projects, habitat restoration, state-run vessel and fishing permit buybacks, job retraining and more. Certain fishery-related businesses impacted by the fishery disasters may also be eligible for assistance from the Small Business Administration. 

As delegated by the Secretary of Commerce, NOAA Fisheries will administer the funds. In the next steps, NOAA Fisheries will work with the state of Alaska, the state of California, the state of Oregon, and the Squaxin Island Tribe and/or the appropriate designated entity. Fishing communities and individuals affected by these disasters should work with their state or Tribe as appropriate.

For more information see the detailed allocations to states and learn more about fishery disaster assistance.

MARYLAND: Gov. Moore sends federal disaster funding request on current state of fishery

March 3, 2026 — The Delmarva Fisheries Association, sharing with WMDT, a letter from Governor Wes Moore that was sent to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The letter was an attempt to request an evaluation of the current state of commercial fishery in Maryland waters.

With the snowstorm, ice in the Chesapeake Bay has depressed the market this year. Governor Wes Moore said there had been quote “reduced consumer confidence resulting from misconceptions about the impact of the Potomac interceptor sewage spill on Maryland’s waterways.”

Robert Newberry, the President of the Delmarva Fisheries Association, says the Governor’s request for funding from the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act (MSA) and Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act (IFA) will take too long to process payment in the current situation, which he claims is dire.

Read the full article at WMDT