Nathan Strout

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition brought by Alaska commercial fishers challenging federal management of the Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) salmon fishery. The lawsuit was the latest attempt by commercial set net and drift net fishing groups in the region to force the federal government to take an active role in managing the salmon fishery instead of deferring to state managers, which has resulted in the closure of commercial fishing… Read More

A group of European Union and Mediterranean countries have agreed to develop and adopt a new MedFish4Ever Declaration in 2027 to guide efforts on rebuilding Mediterranean fish stocks. “A decade after adopting the #MedFish4Ever Declaration, we are evaluating its progress and agreeing on a common path ahead to safeguard fisheries in the Mediterranean. This will pave the way toward an updated Declaration in 2027,” E.U. Commissioner for… Read More

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has approved exempted fishing permits (EFP) for the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, giving them the authority to manage the recreational red snapper fisheries in federal waters off their respective coastlines. While state officials have welcomed the announcement as an opportunity to expand severely limited recreational red snapper seasons, commercial fishers and… Read More

Just over two months after it was approved by the state legislature, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed a bill requiring clear labeling of imported shrimp into law. “The enactment of HB 117 is a huge victory for Georgia shrimpers, who organized an effective grassroots campaign to ensure that consumers have the ability to choose U.S. wild-caught shrimp when they dine out,” Southern Shrimp Alliance Director Blake Price said in a… Read More

NOAA has announced the purchase of eight new uncrewed marine systems for USD 21.6 million (EUR 18.3 million), which the agency claims will support charting, mapping, and fisheries surveys. "Uncrewed systems provide more efficiency in data collection, ensuring that our nation remains at the forefront of scientific innovation,” NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs said. “The administration’s focus on integrating emerging technologies into agency… Read More

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 41 percent budget cut to NOAA Fisheries, which includes the removal of effectively all protected species and habitat conservation functions. “Funding cuts for NOAA could not come at a worse time when you consider just how vulnerable American fisheries and fishermen are right now,” Jeff Watters, vice president of external affairs at NGO Ocean Conservancy, said in a release.… Read More

The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has adopted a report on simplifying data and statistical analysis of the bloc’s commercial fisheries and aquaculture sectors, setting the stage for negotiations to begin between member states. The European Commission first proposed a simplified framework for data collection in July 2025, replacing five regulations with a single regulation for E.U. catch data, landings, the fishing fleet, and… Read More

Both bodies of the South Carolina state legislature have passed a bill requiring country-of-origin labeling for all shrimp sales in the state, though differences between the two versions will need to be sorted out before the bill becomes law. On 14 April, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed HB4248, legislation requiring all shrimp sold in the state to have a clear label noting its country of origin. The legislation is largely a… Read More

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced its intention to develop a Climate Resilient Fisheries Management Plan using USD 96,572 (EUR 82,194) in grant funding. “Climate change is already impacting Maryland,” DNR Resilient Systems Officer Jackie Specht said in a release. “A climate-resilient fishery management plan will allow Maryland to prepare for both the challenges and opportunities that arise for Maryland’s… Read More

The White House has come out in support of legislation that would extend a congressional ban on new whale-related regulations of the New England lobster industry first put in place in 2023.  The move would continue to insulate the lobster sector from any potential new regulatory actions designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered marine mammal whose habitat overlaps the commercial fishery. There are roughly 380… Read More