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The Pacific Fishery Management Council is holding online meetings that the public can attend. The meetings will take place on February 22 and 23, 2021. These meetings aim to prepare for the Pacific Council's upcoming session in March and will focus on ecosystem management topics. More details, including how to join the online session, are available on the Pacific Council's website.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced that Connecticut has used up its 2024 commercial quota for summer flounder, so boats with federal permits can't land these fish in the state for the rest of the year, unless more quota is transferred from another state. This rule, effective December 10, 2024, ensures that fishing stays within limits to help manage and conserve fish populations. Regulations require that when a state's quota is harvested, a notice must be published to inform those in the fishing industry about the closure and prevent any further landings or sales in that state.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is implementing a temporary rule to stop fishing for Pacific cod using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This is because the limit for how much Pacific cod can be caught during the "A" season in 2025 is about to be reached. The action will be in effect from March 10, 2025, to June 10, 2025, to ensure that the fishing limits aren't exceeded. The decision was based on recent data, and the usual notice and comment period was waived to act quickly.

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a hybrid meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel on April 1, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Boston and online. The meeting aims to discuss the Long-Term Scallop Strategic Plan and review the progress of the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota (LAGC IFQ) Program. Public participation is welcomed, and the meeting is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Call Cate O'Keefe for more information about accommodations or further details on attending the meeting.

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 This action aims to prevent confusion by eliminating outdated plans that are no longer necessary under the Pacific Fishery Management Council's guidelines.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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a public meeting on March 25, 2025, to talk about new ways to manage fishing activities for Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish. The meeting will focus on a proposed amendment that could separate the management of for-hire recreational fisheries from other types of recreational fishing, known as "sector separation." They will also discuss how to improve data collection from private anglers and for-hire vessels. The public can connect to the meeting online, and additional details are available on the Council's website.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the opening of the fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This season will run from March 20, 2025, to December 7, 2025, aligning with the Pacific halibut season, although the exact opening and closing hours differ. The actions are taken to promote conservation and management of fishery resources as per federal laws and regulations. This rule was issued quickly without public comment to ensure the simultaneous opening of the sablefish and halibut fisheries, which is essential for effective management and reducing bycatch.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Groundfish Management Team (GMT) is planning a public work session to prepare for upcoming meetings in 2025. This session will be hybrid, allowing both in-person attendance and participation via a webinar. It will address various topics, including stock definitions, new management measures, and the expected humpback whale and leatherback sea turtle biological opinion. The meeting takes place from February 4 to February 7, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, with more details available on the Pacific Council's website.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued a temporary rule to stop fishing for Pacific cod using pot gear by large catcher vessels (60 feet or longer) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This decision is to ensure the fishing limits for the 2021 A season aren't exceeded. This rule went into effect on January 21, 2021, and will last until September 1, 2021. NMFS made this decision quickly based on the latest fishing data to protect the fish population and ensure sustainable fishing practices.

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding public hearings online regarding changes to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan, known as Draft Amendment 5. These hearings will take place on January 21 and February 8, 2021, and are intended to gather public feedback, which will be considered by the full Council. People interested in attending can register via provided webinar links. The meetings will include a briefing on the amendment followed by public commentary, and special accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.