Nathan Strout

The government of Mexico has announced financial support for commercial fishers whose business has been hurt by an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Mexican government claims that the spill began in March off the coast of Veracruz, with oil spreading out across hundreds of miles of ocean. Some environmental groups have questioned the official account, noting that evidence of a spill could be seen in February and suggesting the culprit was a… Read More

European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis reiterated his call to transition fishing fleets away from fossil fuels amid the ongoing war in Iran, which has caused fuel prices to spike all around the globe. From Thailand to the United States, commercial fishers are considering keeping their vessels tied to the dock instead of letting the rising fuel costs eat into their thin operating margins. In Europe, some national governments… Read More

The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that the Gulf Council’s ability to exercise pocket vetoes is unconstitutional, though it upheld regulations enacted by the council. The ruling was in response to two lawsuits. Cortez, Florida, U.S.A. resident Karen Bell and Port Richey, Florida, U.S.A. resident William Copeland sued the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2023, arguing that the Gulf Council structure was unconstitutional and… Read More

U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) has introduced a bill that would create a new framework for culling double-crested cormorants, a bird known to consume large quantities of fish. "Great Lakes fisheries are essential to Michigan's economy, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage," Walberg said in a release. "When double‑crested cormorant populations grow beyond sustainable levels, they can significantly deplete fish stocks. This… Read More

Maritime technology and surveillance company ThayerMahan reported a positive demonstration of its counter illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing solution with NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, validating its technologies for future use. "This demonstration is important for our maritime national security, and the preservation of U.S. marine resources," ThayerMahan Vice President Offshore Programs Greg Sabra said in a release.… Read More

The state of Virginia has awarded USD 248,000 (EUR 214,857) to the Wanchese Fish Company as part of a government program designed to increase blue catfish production capacity. “With a total economic impact of more than USD 1 billion (EUR 866,372,317) annually, Virginia’s seafood industry is a major driver of local economic growth. In addition to the investment in the Commonwealth’s seafood industry and overall economy, today’s… Read More

A commercial lobsterman has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against 24/7 GPS monitoring of the Maine lobster fleet, arguing that the unmitigated surveillance is a violations of his rights. In 2023, Maine regulators began requiring all commercial lobstermen to install GPS monitoring devices on their vessels, enabling 24/7 tracking as called for by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The devices send minute-by-minute… Read More

The government of France has announced financial support for commercial fishers as part of a EUR 70 million (USD 81 million) aid package designed to offset soaring fuel prices caused by the Iran war. France will be providing EUR 0.20 (USD 0.23) per liter in reimbursement for commercial fishing vessels’ fuel bills. Diesel used for fishing is already exempt from taxes, the government noted. Roughly EUR 5 million (USD 5.8 million) of the EUR 70… Read More

The state of Florida has extended a law that exempts aquaculture production documents from the state’s public records law, arguing that producers need to keep that information private from their competitors. “This bill saves the repeal of public records exemptions for specified aquaculture records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – specifically, those types of documents that will be unable to be accessed by the… Read More

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced nearly USD 489 million (EUR 427 million) in grant funding for improving the nation’s ports and shipyards through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). “The Trump Administration is getting back to basics and investing hard-earned American dollars in restoring the nation’s maritime dominance,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a release. “We’re… Read More