NOAA Fisheries FishNews—April 16, 2026

APRIL 16, 2026

50 Years of Innovation and Leadership: Celebrating the Magnuson-Stevens Act The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is the primary law that governs marine fisheries management in U.S. federal waters. First passed in 1976, the MSA fosters the long-term biological and economic sustainability of marine fisheries. NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler reflects on the legacy and the future impact of the Act.

Highlights NOAA Fisheries Trains African and Southeast Asian Partners to Combat Illegal Fishing Practices The Office of Law Enforcement deploys teams worldwide to train our global counterparts to protect their fishery resources. These trainings help them spot and stop illegal fish products before they reach the United States. We have trained more than 214 individuals from 19 countries.

National NOAA Issues Proposed Rules to List Two Distinct Population Segments of Tope Shark As Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act One distinct population segment proposed for listing occurs off the southern coast of Africa and the other occurs off the eastern coast of South America. NOAA announced that listing is not warranted for four other tope shark distinct population segments. NOAA Rescinds Regulation Prohibiting Commercial Fishing in Atlantic Monument Area Opening commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument increases opportunities for American fishermen to catch desirable species. Home-Grown Seafood: NOAA’s Aquaculture Highlights from 2025 When produced responsibly, as it is here in the United States, farmed seafood is good for people, the environment, and the economy. Aquaculture is a resource-efficient way to grow protein, improve nutrition, and support coastal economies. In 2025, NOAA's Aquaculture Program made significant investments in science and planning to foster sustainable domestic aquaculture growth.

Alaska NOAA Fisheries Asks for Public Comments on Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska State Waters NOAA Fisheries is preparing an Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and requesting public comment. This PEIS will assess the impacts of identifying one or more Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska state waters and the potential impacts of siting aquaculture in those locations. We are accepting public comments until May 28, 2026. Genetics Shines New Light on Cod Populations and Distributions in Alaska Pacific cod is a commercially and ecologically important species in the North Pacific Ocean. Researchers identify distinctive genetic stocks of Pacific cod in Alaska and use that information to build a cost-effective genetic tool to answer ecological questions about the species.

New England/Mid-Atlantic New Jersey Captain and Seafood Buyer Found Guilty of a Multiyear Scallop Harvest Conspiracy NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement uncovered a lucrative scheme devised by a New Jersey captain and seafood dealer to illegally harvest and sell excess scallops. The captain and dealer pleaded guilty; they were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States. Scientists and the Fishing Industry Join Forces for Better Data and Management While the Northeast Fisheries Science Center spent more than 300 days at sea monitoring and sampling from ships last year, no one spends more time out on the water than fishermen. That’s why we have a dedicated research team focused on working closely with the fishing community. Our Cooperative Research programs build partnerships between scientists and fishermen to collect data that improve fisheries management. Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

Southeast Celebrating our Top Taggers for Citizen Science Month April is Citizen Science Month! To celebrate, we’re highlighting the anglers who make our cooperative tagging research possible, and recent accomplishments. Could you be the next top tagger?

West Coast Yakima River Salmon Get a Lifeline with Removal of Causeway NOAA funding helped the Yakama Nation and partners remove a causeway in Richland, Washington, that had wreaked havoc on Yakima River salmon and steelhead populations. Now, fish have a better chance of surviving migration in and out of the river. Helping Growers Permit Aquaculture Farms on the West Coast NOAA developed a series of guides to help West Coast seafood farmers navigate state, federal, and local aquaculture permitting. These resources help growers follow the steps needed to obtain permits and get their farms in the water.

Upcoming Deadlines April 22: Applications due for United States Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grants May 1: Comments due on potential market name change for certain rockfish species May 4: Comments due on Proposed Amendment 58B to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan: Modifications to Gulf of America Deep-Water Grouper Management Measures May 8: Applications due for South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s fishery advisory panels, Scientific and Statistical Committee, and Social and Economic Panel  May 11: Applications due for the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s Small Shipyard Grants May 28: Comments due on the preparation of the Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement June 1: Applications due for the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program Discretionary Grant Opportunity June 1: Comments due on Amendment 62: Modifications to Gulf of America Red Grouper Management Measures June 2: Deadline to provide feedback to support improvements to vessel speed regulations June 15: Comments due on proposed listings and 12-month determinations for tope sharks under the Endangered Species Act View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events April 17: Kodiak Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Atlas Workshop in Kodiak, AK April 21–22: Caribbean Fishery Management Council hybrid Meeting in St. Croix, USVI May 12: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Meeting in Silver Spring, MD May 17: Ocean Fun Days 2026 in Sandy Hook, NJ View more events

Federal Register Actions Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations web page to learn more about recently proposed and finalized regulations in your region.

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