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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA, is reopening the public comment period for feedback on their Work Plan, which is part of the efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The original comment deadline was January 15, 2021, but has been extended to allow more input until February 24, 2021. This effort is in line with the Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement Act, which aims to boost data sharing, improve global fisheries management, and address maritime security threats. NMFS encourages input from the seafood industry, NGOs, and other stakeholders regarding potential collaborations and strategic priorities within the Work Plan.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has set a 3.0% fee percentage for 2024 under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for halibut and sablefish in the North Pacific. This fee helps cover the costs involved in managing and enforcing the program. Fishermen must calculate their fees based on this percentage and the value of their catch, which they need to pay by January 31, 2025. Although management costs decreased, a significant drop in total fishery value keeps the fee percentage at this capped rate.

The Department of Commerce is requesting public comments on a proposal related to information collection from federally permitted fish dealers. This data is gathered to help manage fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The collection involves a mandatory weekly report detailing all fish transactions for commercial purposes. The public is invited to submit comments within 30 days on the website www.reginfo.gov.

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 This action aims to prevent confusion by eliminating outdated plans that are no longer necessary under the Pacific Fishery Management Council's guidelines.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 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are holding a joint public meeting on February 1, 2021. Due to COVID-19, the meeting will be conducted via webinar, with details available on the Council's website. The agenda includes discussing the Recreational Management Reform Initiative and considering a Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment for final action. Special accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities upon request.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is announcing a virtual stakeholder meeting about the management of North Pacific albacore (NPALB) on February 20, 2025. This meeting is to prepare for future discussions regarding the Management Strategy Evaluation for NPALB fisheries at international commission meetings in 2025. Interested participants need to register by February 13, 2025. The meeting will cover topics like fishing intensity, catch limits, and updates to logbooks, with more details to be provided in advance.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily adjusting the 2025 recreational fishing season for gag fish in the South Atlantic to protect the fish population. This rule means the fishing season will start on May 1, 2025, but will close early on June 26, 2025, after projections showed the catch limit would be reached by that date. During this closure, anglers cannot catch or keep any gag fish until the new season begins on May 1, 2026. The decision aims to prevent overfishing as it did in 2024 and was not subject to public comment because the necessary rules were already established.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are holding five online public hearings and a period for written comments. These hearings are to gather public input on changes to how fish like summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass are divided between commercial and recreational fishing. The existing allocations are based on historical data from the 1990s, which may no longer be accurate due to recent changes in how recreational catches are estimated. The aim is to review whether adjustments are needed and if some catches should be transferred between sectors based on their respective needs.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has put a temporary rule in place to stop people from fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Alaska due to concerns about low salmon numbers. This ban applies from May 1 to August 15, 2025, to help conserve the salmon population as recent reports show they are not abundant. The decision follows assessments by NMFS and Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game, predicting poor salmon runs in upcoming years. To address these issues quickly, NMFS made the rule effective immediately, waiving the usual 30-day wait period after publication.