Nathan Strout

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick commented on a handful of fisheries issues under questioning by lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee during an 22 April hearing. Senators demanded answers from the Trump administration official on regulations surrounding Maine lobster, the backlog of fishery disaster determination requests, and NOAA Fisheries’ capacity to conduct surveys in the face of budget and staffing cuts during a… Read More

A group of U.S. lawmakers from the Pacific Northwest want to establish a federal task force to coordinate efforts to research 6PPD-quinone – a chemical used in tires that has been connected to mass mortality in coho salmon – and find alternatives. “6PPD is a disaster for our ecosystems, our economy, and Tribal communities,” U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) said in a statement. “As we consider how to transition away from using this… Read More

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee has approved the Fighting Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act, legislation intended to penalize foreign vessels and individuals who participate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. “My bipartisan bill with Representative Dan Crenshaw [R-Texas] and Rep. Nick Begich [R-Alaska] to crack down on illegal international fishing that undercuts Rhode Island fishermen just passed the House… Read More

U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to restructure global trade – and his inability to do so cleanly and consistently – has created uncertainty in the seafood sector and hurt trade between the U.S. and the E.U., according to seafood industry stakeholders speaking at a panel at the 2026 Seafood Expo Global (SEG). “No matter what you think of the policy overall, the up and down nature of it and the uncertainty that that generates is… Read More

The U.S. state of California is set to close more of its Dungeness crab fishery to traditional gear as regulators anticipate an upcoming abundance of whales in commercial Fishing Zone 3. Harvesters who opt to use pop-up fishing gear will be allowed to continue fishing for several more weeks in that area, however, as part of the state’s effort to enable commercial fishing to take place alongside whales while reducing entanglement risk. “This… Read More

A Duson, Louisiana, U.S.A. resident was cited by law enforcement agents for illegally harvesting undersized Spanish mackerel with shrimping gear. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDFW) agents were on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, currently referred to as the Gulf of America by the U.S. government, when they spotted a commercial trawling vessel. Upon coming in contact with the vessel, law enforcement discovered 63 Spanish mackerel,… Read More

The European Commission has authorized member nations to provide financial assistance to commercial fishers, aquaculture producers, and processors who have been impacted by the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the war in Iran. The Iran war has led to a surge in fuel prices that have impacted commercial fishers around the globe. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a critical juncture for oil being transported out of the Middle East – has… Read More

A U.S. lawmaker has introduced legislation requiring the federal government to only purchase domestically produced seafood for school lunches and other federal programs. “In Louisiana, seafood is a cornerstone of our economy and a way of life. My Buy American Seafood Act would ensure that taxpayer-funded seafood is sourced from American fishermen and processors, protecting taxpayers from subsidizing foreign countries or adversaries like… Read More

The European Union has secured a new fishing agreement with the Republic of Seychelles, providing financial support to the nation in return for access to its fisheries. “This marks a new step in strengthening our bilateral cooperation,” the E.U. said in a social media post announcing the new deal. According to the Seychelles government, it concluded negotiations with the E.U. on a new four-year sustainable fisheries partnership agreement… Read More

The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has dropped its lawsuit against the U.S. state of Washington’s ban on net-pen aquaculture. Conservation groups, including Duvall, Washington, U.S.A.-based nonprofit Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC), were quick to celebrate the move, which was approved by the Superior Court of Washington for Thurston County on 30 March.  “This is a landmark, decisive victory for Washington, closing the chapter on a long… Read More