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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the 2025 fishing limits for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish to prevent overfishing and manage fisheries sustainably. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission worked with NMFS to set these limits based on scientific data. Most public comments supported these limits, although some expressed concerns about overfishing, particularly for black sea bass. NMFS clarified that the new limits are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and are not expected to harm fish populations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued a temporary rule to close directed fishing for Pacific cod using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This closure is necessary to ensure the total allowable catch for the 2021 A season is not exceeded. The rule is effective from February 3, 2021, until June 10, 2021, as the limit of 1,060 metric tons has been reached, with an additional 8 metric tons reserved for bycatch. This action is based on the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA, has issued a final rule under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to implement rebuilding plans for three overfished salmon stocks on the West Coast: Juan de Fuca, Queets, and Snohomish natural coho salmon. These stocks were declared overfished due to a decline in spawning escapement between 2014 and 2016. Although comments from the public were mostly supportive, some suggested more restrictive measures. NMFS concluded that habitat conditions, rather than fishing, primarily caused the decline, and thus, further restrictions were not deemed necessary. The rule aims to rebuild the salmon stocks within 10 years while considering the impact on fishing communities.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed rules for managing the 2025 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery, aiming to establish limits that prevent overfishing while allowing optimal yield. This proposal seeks to set new catch specifications following recommendations from fishery councils and recent stock assessments indicating the fish population is not overfished. The rules include a commercial quota of 4,236 metric tons, marking a reduction from previous years, due to updated scientific data. Public comments on these proposals are invited, ensuring stakeholder involvement in finalizing the regulations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily stopping directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska from January 20, 2021, to May 31, 2021, to prevent exceeding the designated catch limit for the A season. This closure is because the 2021 total allowable catch of 799 metric tons for this area has been set aside to support other groundfish fisheries as incidental catch. The NMFS determined that reaching the directed fishing limit was necessary and acted quickly to implement the closure based on recent data to avoid surpassing the allowable catch limits. This action is in accordance with the regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the waters off Washington, Oregon, and California. These changes include adjustments to recreational fishery seasons and allocations for 2025. New measures are also proposed to transfer unused fishing quotas from Northern California to areas south of Point Arena to help maintain opportunities for anglers. The public is invited to provide comments on these proposed rules by January 27, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule that modifies the duration limits on permits and Letters of Confirmation (LOCs) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Previously, these permits and LOCs were limited to five years, but now NMFS can issue them for longer periods if deemed appropriate. This change aims to make the permitting process more efficient and less burdensome for researchers and other permit holders. Public comments regarding the proposed change have been considered, and any new permits will continue to be subject to a public comment period before issuance.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has reopened directed fishing for Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This decision allows catcher vessels using trawl gear to fully utilize the 2021 season's allocation of Pacific cod. The fishing season will run from January 20, 2021, to June 10, 2021. This temporary rule modification was made to allow the use of remaining Pacific cod quotas and was not open to prior public comment due to the need for a timely response.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA and the Commerce Department, has announced a temporary rule to stop directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in a specific part of the Gulf of Alaska. This decision is to ensure the 2025 total allowable catch for this area is not exceeded and will be in effect from February 28, 2025, to June 10, 2025. The rule was enacted quickly without prior public notice or comment due to the urgent nature of the situation, based on data that became available in January 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has implemented a temporary rule to stop fishing for Pacific cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This rule applies specifically to catcher vessels that are less than 50 feet in length and use hook-and-line gear. The ban is effective from February 5, 2021, to June 10, 2021, to prevent exceeding the allowed catch limits for the season. This decision ensures sustainable fishing practices and complies with the management plans set for the region.