Nathan Strout

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to confirm that a disaster has hit the state’s oyster industry, enabling oystermen to access emergency loans and financial support. Like their counterparts working in Chesapeake Bay, New York oystermen have been beset by extreme cold weather and icy conditions that have kept them from working for much of the season. “With freezing temperatures that lasted for… Read More

The U.S. government is soliciting recommendations from the seafood and fishing sectors on what name Sebastes – a group of species collectively referred to as rockfish – should be marketed under moving forward. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published a request for information in the Federal Register “to help make an evidence-based determination that balances food safety, regulatory clarity, and industry interest regarding a… Read More

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again proposed making massive cuts to NOAA, even though Congress largely rejected his similar request for fiscal year 2026. The White House’s fiscal year 2027 budget outline recommends a USD 1.6 billion (EUR 1.4 billion) cut to NOAA. “The Budget terminates a variety of Green New Scam programs at NOAA. For example, NOAA’s educational grant programs have consistently funded efforts to radicalize students… Read More

European Union Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis continues to stand behind the bloc’s implementation of the new E.U. Fisheries Control Regulation, despite concerns raised by some that the requirements are onerous. Adopted in 2023, the Fisheries Control Regulation overhauled European fisheries management, requiring electronic tracking for all commercial fishing vessels, digitized catch reporting, and the use of cameras to… Read More

The government of Mexico has announced financial support for commercial fishers whose business has been hurt by an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Mexican government claims that the spill began in March off the coast of Veracruz, with oil spreading out across hundreds of miles of ocean. Some environmental groups have questioned the official account, noting that evidence of a spill could be seen in February and suggesting the culprit was a… Read More

European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis reiterated his call to transition fishing fleets away from fossil fuels amid the ongoing war in Iran, which has caused fuel prices to spike all around the globe. From Thailand to the United States, commercial fishers are considering keeping their vessels tied to the dock instead of letting the rising fuel costs eat into their thin operating margins. In Europe, some national governments… Read More

The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that the Gulf Council’s ability to exercise pocket vetoes is unconstitutional, though it upheld regulations enacted by the council. The ruling was in response to two lawsuits. Cortez, Florida, U.S.A. resident Karen Bell and Port Richey, Florida, U.S.A. resident William Copeland sued the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2023, arguing that the Gulf Council structure was unconstitutional and… Read More

U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) has introduced a bill that would create a new framework for culling double-crested cormorants, a bird known to consume large quantities of fish. "Great Lakes fisheries are essential to Michigan's economy, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage," Walberg said in a release. "When double‑crested cormorant populations grow beyond sustainable levels, they can significantly deplete fish stocks. This… Read More

Maritime technology and surveillance company ThayerMahan reported a positive demonstration of its counter illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing solution with NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, validating its technologies for future use. "This demonstration is important for our maritime national security, and the preservation of U.S. marine resources," ThayerMahan Vice President Offshore Programs Greg Sabra said in a release.… Read More

The state of Virginia has awarded USD 248,000 (EUR 214,857) to the Wanchese Fish Company as part of a government program designed to increase blue catfish production capacity. “With a total economic impact of more than USD 1 billion (EUR 866,372,317) annually, Virginia’s seafood industry is a major driver of local economic growth. In addition to the investment in the Commonwealth’s seafood industry and overall economy, today’s… Read More