Nathan Strout

The Spanish government has announced EUR 25 million (USD 29 million) in aid to its commercial fishing fleet as part of a EUR 877 million (USD 1 billion) package designed to offset higher fuel costs and other challenges created by the ongoing Iran war. “The increase in energy prices also affects the fishing sector, both directly through fuel costs and through its impact on other production costs such as packaging for freezing fish. Furthermore,… Read More

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has notified NOAA Fisheries of its intent to sue the agency after it denied a petition to list horseshoe crabs under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “Horseshoe crabs watched the dinosaurs come and go, but now they face their greatest threat yet: us,” CBD Senior Attorney Danny Waltz said in a release. “Fortunately, we also have the power to save horseshoe crabs by protecting them under the… Read More

The European Union’s border patrol agency spotted an illegal fishing operation in Italian waters and was able to work with the country’s coast guard to obtain one of the vessels. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, said it spotted two fishing vessels illegally operating within Italian waters near the island of Lampedusa on 21 March during a regular surveillance flight. The Frontex Surveillance Aircraft immediately notified… Read More

U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to reauthorize NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay office and bolster restoration efforts in the bay’s watershed. “The Chesapeake Bay is the heart of so many Virginia communities, supporting fisherman and local businesses, offering unique educational opportunities to students, and serving as a hotspot for recreation,” U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) said in a release. “I’m proud to introduce this… Read More

U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his pledge to stop invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, but officials say federal funding for the main project blocking their advance has been paused for months. Invasive carp have been invading U.S. waterways for years, slowly expanding their habitat and outcompeting the local fish species they come across. The fish have been spreading northward for some time, and experts warn that if they… Read More

The U.S. Senate has once again voted to pass the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, legislation that would give the federal government more tools to crack down on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing conducted by foreign fleets. The FISH Act directs the U.S. government to create a blacklist of vessels banned from U.S. waters due to their participating in IUU fishing. The bill also supports increased at-sea… Read More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued USD 2 million (EUR 1.7 million) in grant funding to two businesses to improve processing capacity for blue catfish, an invasive and prolific species in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. State and federal lawmakers have worked to increase processing capacity and grow the market for blue catfish, a voracious fish that can have a devastating impact on local ecosystems. In 2021, U.S. Congress established… Read More

The chair of the European Union’s Fisheries Committee is calling for the use of emergency mechanisms to support commercial fishers in the face of increased fuel prices due to the ongoing war in Iran. “The current geopolitical context, especially instability in the Middle East and rising oil prices, is having a direct impact on the European fisheries sector. Fuel represents one of the largest operating costs of the fleet, so the continued… Read More

COMEPESCA wants Mexican consumers to expand the variety of seafood species they’re eating, and it’s launched a new book to help people discover their new favorite. This month, the Mexico-based seafood sustainability NGO launched “Conociendo México a través de sus pescados y mariscos,” a colorful 256-page book highlighting the bounty of fish, shellfish, and plants that can be harvested from Mexico’s waters and how they can be… Read More

Canada-based seafood giant Cooke is set to take operational control of Greece-based seafood firm Avramar Greece after signing a memorandum of understanding to take on the company’s debts. Avramar Greece was first separated from Spain-based Avramar Seafood due to financial issues with the Greek business, which began pursuing a sale in 2023. Multiple bidders emerged to purchase the company, which has become a major player in Mediterranean… Read More