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The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting on March 18, 2025, in Tampa, Florida, to discuss the Ad Hoc Red Snapper Grouper/Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs. During this meeting, topics such as IFQ Permit Requirements and Distribution Issues will be reviewed, along with active participation in these programs. The meeting is open for public comment and can be attended in person or via webinar. Special accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the City of Imperial Beach plan to create a draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Bayside Community Resiliency project. This project aims to transform a section of the Bayshore Bikeway corridor into a coastal resilience corridor to protect against flooding, improve public access, and enhance habitat areas around San Diego Bay. The proposal includes various alternatives such as constructing a "living levee" and creating a tidal channel to improve stormwater management and provide additional habitat space. Community input is being sought during the scoping period, which closes on February 24, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to establish critical habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population of the longfin smelt, a fish found in California's San Francisco Bay estuary. This includes approximately 91,630 acres of land to help conserve the species under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal outlines specific water conditions and habitat requirements needed for the smelt's survival. Public comments and economic analysis on the proposal are sought before finalizing the critical habitat designation.

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 Village of Gouverneur in New York has submitted a settlement agreement to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Gouverneur Hydroelectric Project on the Oswegatchie River. The agreement, filed on January 13, 2021, involves the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It includes measures for project operation, fish protection, recreation, and management plans for invasive species and certain wildlife. The village is requesting these measures be included in the project's license conditions and seeks a 40-year license term. Comments on the agreement are due by February 16, 2021, with replies due by February 26, 2021.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are proposing to remove the definition of "harm" from the Endangered Species Act regulations. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo that requires agency regulations to align with the best reading of the statute. The existing definition, which includes habitat modification, is seen as incompatible with the true meaning of "take" under the Act. Public comments on this proposed change are welcomed until May 19, 2025.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a Record of Decision (ROD) which adopts the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) Final Environmental Impact Statement for managing barred owls in western Oregon. The decision allows for the implementation of management strategies on BLM lands to help protect the northern spotted owl, under a special permit issued by the FWS. This decision is now final and cannot be appealed. The ROD was signed by BLM officials on December 31, 2024.

Quinebaug Associates, LLC has filed a new major license application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the Quinebaug-Five Mile Pond Hydroelectric Project located in Windham County, Connecticut. The project consists of two power-generating developments with a combined capacity of 2,181 kilowatts, generating an average of 7,460 megawatt-hours annually. The application includes plans to continue operating in run-of-river mode, maintain minimum water flows for environmental protection, and improve facilities for fish passage. Interested parties have until April 28, 2025, to request additional studies or seek cooperating agency status.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public feedback on applications for permits to conduct certain activities with foreign species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA generally prohibits activities involving endangered species without federal authorization, and public comments are part of the permit approval process. Applications are from various zoos and individuals requesting permission to enhance species' survival, including captive breeding and importing sport-hunted trophies. Comments must be submitted by April 23, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced a closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area until March 31, 2026. This decision is to prevent overfishing after the NGOM Set-Aside limit for scallops in 2025 was reached. Vessels with specific permits can still fish in state waters of Maine and Massachusetts. A new rule, Framework 39, might reopen this area if adjustments to the set-aside limit are approved.