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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a final rule to establish harvest specifications and management measures for the 2025-26 Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This rule sets limits on how much groundfish can be caught each year and revises management measures to prevent overfishing and help rebuild stock. Key changes include implementing a rebuilding plan for California quillback rockfish and updating allocation frameworks and fishing regulations. The rule also introduces a new permit system for the directed open access fishery and includes technical corrections and modifications to existing regulations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the final groundfish harvest specifications for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for the years 2025 and 2026. This includes details on total allowable catches (TACs), acceptable biological catches (ABCs), and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, aimed at conserving fish resources while balancing ecological and economic needs based on the latest scientific data. These regulations follow goals set by the Fishery Management Plan prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and align with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to manage fisheries sustainably. The rule notes that TACs are intentionally set below ABCs to ensure sustainability, and it addresses how these specifications were informed by public comments and scientific assessments.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released the final rule for the 2021 and 2022 harvest limits in the Gulf of Alaska's groundfish fishery. This rule sets the total allowable catch limits for various fish species to sustain fish populations and comply with management plans. The specifications are intended to balance environmental conservation with economic opportunities for fisheries and are in line with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. These regulations take effect from February 19, 2021, ensuring the responsible management of fisheries resources in the region.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the final rules for the 2025 and 2026 groundfish fishing seasons in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These rules set the limits for how much fish can be caught, based on scientific assessments to ensure sustainable fishing practices. They aim to balance the fishing industry needs with conservation efforts, taking into account environmental factors and fish stock health. Public comments were considered during the process, and these rules follow the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act's requirements.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to regulations for West Coast salmon fisheries. They plan to remove rebuilding plans for the Queets River and Strait of Juan de Fuca coho salmon from the rules because these fish stocks have been successfully rebuilt. This action aims to prevent confusion by eliminating outdated plans that are no longer necessary under the Pacific Fishery Management Council's guidelines. Additionally, this proposed rule is considered a deregulatory action, meaning it simplifies existing regulations without significant economic impacts on small fishing businesses.

The Department of Commerce is asking for feedback on their collection of information regarding the Fishery Capacity Reduction Program. This request is part of efforts to manage the burden of reporting on the public, as mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The main goal of the program is to reduce fishing capacity by compensating fishermen to give up their fishing permits or vessels. The public is encouraged to send their comments by March 23, 2021, to help evaluate and improve the information collection process.

The Department of Commerce is inviting the public and other federal agencies to comment on the Chinook Salmon Economic Data Report (EDR) Program managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This program collects data to help assess how well measures to reduce bycatch of Chinook salmon in the Bering Sea pollock fishery are working. They are renewing the information collection process which includes three forms: the Compensated Transfer Report, Vessel Fuel Survey, and Vessel Master Survey. Public comments are open for 60 days, and the information gathered will aid in enhancing the quality and utility of the data collected while minimizing reporting burdens.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to implement Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan for the 2025 and 2026 fishing years. This plan includes setting scallop catch limits, allocating fishing efforts, and modifying access area management to protect juvenile scallops. The adjustment also involves seasonal closures, area openings, and a research set-aside for scallop studies. The proposed rule aims to prevent overfishing, increase yield, and optimize the sustainability of scallop fisheries.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a final rule to implement Amendment 111, which reauthorizes the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program. This rule aims to preserve the program's existing benefits in conservation, management, safety, and economics. Key changes include removing the expiration date for the Rockfish Program, simplifying reporting requirements for fishing participants, and adjusting regulations to improve the program's efficiency. These updates are intended to continue promoting the goals of sustainable fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These specifications, which include catch limits and prohibitions on certain species' catch, are set to ensure sustainable fishing practices according to the Fishery Management Plan. The rules aim to conserve and manage marine resources in alignment with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The document also details the U.S. Department of Commerce's approach to balancing environmental, social, and economic factors in these fisheries management decisions.