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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a temporary rule to stop directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This action, effective from March 10 to June 10, 2025, is necessary to ensure the Pacific cod catch does not exceed the allowed limit for the 2025 season. The imposed closure responds to recent data indicating that the catch quota is nearing its limit. The rule was implemented without prior public notice or delay to quickly address the situation as per the guidelines of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has implemented a temporary closure on directed Pacific cod fishing by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This measure, effective from March 17, 2025, to June 10, 2025, aims to ensure that the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod is not surpassed. The decision was made quickly to respond to recent data on Pacific cod catches, preventing delays that might have led to overfishing.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily stopping targeted fishing for Pacific cod by certain trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This closure is necessary to avoid surpassing the Pacific cod catch limits set for the year 2025. The fishing restriction will be in effect from February 12, 2025, to November 1, 2025. This measure is taken based on the latest data and aims to ensure sustainable fishing practices in the area.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy to allow for the incidental harassment of marine mammals during the Pier 6 Replacement Project at Naval Base San Diego. This project involves pile driving and removal activities, which might disturb California sea lions but is not expected to cause injury or mortality. The authorization includes specific measures to mitigate impacts on marine mammals, such as monitoring practices and temporary work stoppages if marine mammals enter the designated zones. The project's environmental impact has been assessed, and it is not expected to have significant adverse effects on marine mammals or their habitats.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is transferring 20.5 metric tons of quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna from the December 2025 period to the January through March 2025 period. This change is designed to give fishermen more opportunities to catch tuna and help gather important data about the fish population. The adjusted quota for January through March will now be 58.2 metric tons. The decision considers current fish availability and aims to ensure the sustainable management of tuna stocks.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a temporary rule to reallocate unused Pacific cod catch limits in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Specifically, 1,000 metric tons originally allocated for jig gear will be transferred to smaller vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear. This decision helps ensure more of the Pacific cod catch limit is used effectively before the end of 2025. The action bypasses normal public comment due to the urgency of incorporating the latest fisheries data.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced a temporary rule allowing North Carolina to transfer a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder quota to Virginia. This transfer, which amounts to 3,520 pounds, was made under mutual agreement between both states to address a situation where an out-of-state vessel landed fish under a safe harbor agreement. The modified quotas for 2025 are now 2,408,923 pounds for North Carolina and 1,877,227 pounds for Virginia. This move complies with the fishery management plan designed to ensure sustainable fishing practices.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily closing the commercial fishing season for Atlantic bluefin tuna from March 1 to March 31, 2025, as the quota for this period has been exceeded. This closure affects vessels with Atlantic Tunas General category permits and HMS Charter/Headboat permits with a commercial sale endorsement. Fishermen can still tag and release bluefin tuna during the closure. The fishery will reopen on June 1, 2025, with specific limits on how many bluefin tuna can be caught.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced a temporary closure of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This decision aims to prevent surpassing the allowed quota, known as the "A season apportionment," for the year 2021. The closure is effective from January 16, 2021, to September 1, 2021, to ensure sustainable fishing practices. The rule is implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, exempt from public notice and comment due to the urgent nature of the recent data, which required a prompt response.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set a 2021 limit of 2,000 metric tons of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific territory, including American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Each territory can allocate up to 1,500 metric tons to U.S. fishing vessels, but the total allocation across all territories cannot exceed 3,000 metric tons. NMFS will monitor the catches and may impose restrictions if these limits are expected to be reached, to ensure long-term sustainability of these fishery resources. Additionally, NMFS has addressed public comments concerning environmental and cultural impacts, ensuring comprehensive consideration of the potential effects on marine ecosystems and populations.