Nathan Strout

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is considering a challenge to a 2019 NOAA Fisheries rule forcing Louisiana inshore shrimpers to install turtle excluder devices (TEDs). A TED is a grid of metal bars placed in a trawl net that block larger animals – like turtles – while allowing smaller animals – like shrimp – to pass through. Louisiana shrimpers claim the requirement on inshore vessels is excessive, making their work more… Read More

The European Commission has approved a plan submitted by the Maltese government to provide fuel aid to the nation’s commercial fishing sector. Malta is the latest country to receive approval from the European Commission for a state aid scheme to offset higher fuel prices caused by war in Iran. In response to attacks by the U.S. and Israel, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical throughway for much of the world’s oil supply. In… Read More

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines has launched a new initiative to gather community reports of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing around the Southeast Asian nation and share them with authorities. “Illegal, unreported, and unregulated [IUU] fishing is both an economic and a national security challenge. It depletes fish stocks, disrupts supply chains, distorts markets, threatens food security, and places responsible fishers… Read More

NOAA Fisheries is soliciting public recommendations on where it should establish aquaculture opportunity areas (AOA) in the country as it begins considering a wider swath of regions. AOAs are a carry over priority from U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, when he directed NOAA Fisheries to identify areas that would be a good fit for developing commercial aquaculture operations. In the six years since, NOAA Fisheries has worked to identify… Read More

The U.S. Department of State is seeking an NGO partner that can identify evidence of forced labor and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the seafood supply chain. “By increasing transparency and accountability in global seafood supply chains, the program will help combat unfair competition, support responsible business practices, protect marine resources, and reinforce a level playing field for the U.S. seafood sector,”… Read More

Proposals for state management of the South Atlantic red snapper fishery in federal waters set a collective harvest limit of 215,391 fish, roughly 10 times higher than the previous recreational harvest limit of 22,797 fish. The proposals were submitted by the state governments of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and would set month-long recreational seasons in the fall. Recreational fishing groups and officials from the region have long… Read More

The European Commission has adopted harmonized rules for weighing fishery products, replacing the 44 plans that have been implemented independently by E.U. member states over the years. “Accurate weighing is crucial for effective fisheries control,” the commission said in its 10 August announcement. “It produces the reliable catch data needed to monitor quota uptake, assess the impact of fishing activities, and check compliance with the… Read More

A pair of U.S. senators have introduced legislation to enable more investment in offshore wind development, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to buyout existing lease holders. Trump has made opposition to offshore wind power a key policy of his second term, issuing an executive order pausing offshore wind projects his first day back in office. That order was ultimately struck down by a federal judge, and a subsequent order by the U.S.… Read More

U.S. Representative James Gallagher (R-California) has introduced a federal bill that would undo California state emissions regulations for small craft vessels. Under California’s commercial harbor craft amendments, the state has long held more stringent standards for small commercial vessels than those enforced at the national level. The law requires California vessel owners to replace their engines with newer models that have substantially… Read More

The European Union’s Market Advisory Council (MAC) warned that the eventual elimination of duties on imported canned tuna and other tuna products from Mexico could have a negative impact on the bloc’s commercial fishers. “In the view of the MAC, in the medium term, the planned liberalization of tuna products could negatively impact the competitiveness of the E.U. fishing fleet and of the E.U. processing sector, reducing the E.U.’s food… Read More