Nathan Strout

A federal court has sentenced two individuals for their roles in stealing commercial fishing equipment last year, while another two individuals involved in the crimes were entered into the court’s Pretrial Intervention Program. “Commercial fishermen rely on their equipment to earn a living, and when that equipment is stolen, the impact extends far beyond the value of the property itself,” Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield… Read More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to purchase catfish and Atlantic groundfish products as part of USD 76.5 million (EUR 67.3 million) in planned purchases for domestic nutrition programs. “The farm-raised catfish industry has been under tremendous financial pressure as producers have struggled with years of rising costs and inflation.  Like many agricultural sectors, our catfish farmers have faced significant economic… Read More

Multiple states are preparing to sue the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over a series of deals the government has signed to end offshore wind energy developments, and a group of senators has launched an investigation. Trump has made opposition to offshore wind energy a key policy in his second term, making multiple attempts to halt any development off the U.S. coast. On day one in office, Trump signed an executive order pausing… Read More

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is accepting public comments on whether it should list southern resident killer whales under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Southern resident killer whales were first listed as endangered under the U.S. federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2005, and the population was estimated at just over 70 individuals in 2024. The whales depend primarily on salmon for prey, and declining… Read More

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced legislation providing additional funding for restoring salmon in the San Joaquin River, clearing the bill for a vote from the full Senate. If passed into law, the bill would triple the cap on funding available under the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act from USD 250 million (EUR 219 million) to USD 750 million (EUR 656 million). The original legislation was passed in… Read More

Conservation groups have filed suit against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump after the government rolled back the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act. “Preventing harm to wildlife by protecting where they live, eat, and sleep is a basic foundation of the Endangered Species Act,” Kristen Boyles, the managing attorney of Earthjustice's Northwest Regional Office, said in a release. “The Trump administration… Read More

U.S. representatives on the House Committee on Natural Resources voted to advance a bill reauthorizing NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office on 15 July. “The House just took a key step toward investment in the science, restoration, and education that’s essential to the Chesapeake Bay’s recovery,” Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek said in a statement. “We’re grateful to House leaders for advancing the… Read More

In a 22-13 vote, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee advanced legislation that would extend a five-year pause on new lobster regulations related to North Atlantic right whales through 2035. “Protecting the North Atlantic right whale and supporting America's fishing communities are goals that can and must go hand in hand. By extending the current regulatory framework through 2035, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act provides the time… Read More

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) has partnered with the Spanish government to test semi-pelagic trawl doors – also known as flying doors – off the coast of Spain. Organizers hope the field trials will show that the technology reduces the environmental impact of bottom trawl fisheries without reducing catch totals. “During the fishing operations, researchers will assess catch rates, catch composition, gear… Read More

Hawai’i-based mariculture startup Ocean Era said it has secured the final permit needed to launch a red drum farming demonstration 40 miles off the coast of Florida. With Velella Epsilon, Ocean Era plans to raise up to 20,000 red drum in a single net pen about 40 miles off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A. According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit, the project is expected to produce a total fish harvest weight of… Read More