NOAA Fisheries FishNews—March 5, 2026

MARCH 5, 2026

Highlights Seafood Expo North America Seafood Expo North America is a leading trade event for all sectors of the seafood industry. The Expo will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from March 15 to 17. NOAA Fisheries is hosting a booth showcasing experts from our Seafood Inspection Program. If you plan to attend, we hope you can join one of our panel discussions or drop by our booth #181.

National Leveraging Advanced Technologies to Transform Our Data Enterprise NOAA Fisheries monitors and manages more than 460 fish stocks across U.S. ocean waters—that’s more than 4 million square miles of ocean! Accurate, reliable, and up-to-date data are essential for effective management decisions. We are currently modernizing how we collect, manage, and use data with new technologies. NOAA Fisheries Seeks Information to Support Potential Future Rulemaking to Improve Vessel Speed Regulations NOAA Fisheries is requesting information to inform possible modernization of regulations designed to reduce the risk of lethal vessel strikes with endangered North Atlantic right whales. We are seeking information from industry experts, coastal communities, and other relevant stakeholders on ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens while ensuring responsible conservation practices for endangered North Atlantic right whales. Comments are due by June 2.

New England/Mid-Atlantic Northeast Aquaculture Conference Celebrates Innovation, Growth, and Community Nearly 700 aquaculture business owners, growers, scientists, and students gathered to discuss the future of sustainable seafood at the joint 26th Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Expo and 45th Milford Aquaculture Seminar. The meeting was held in Portland, Maine, in January. Science presentations covered the latest industry-relevant applied research on shellfish, seaweed, sea urchin, and finfish aquaculture. A record 38 aquaculture vendors demonstrated the latest in aquaculture gear technology. Fiscal Year 2025 Northeast Ship-Based Survey Review The Northeast Fisheries Science Center completed all 16 planned ship-based surveys during FY 2025. Scientific parties, the officers and crew of NOAA ships, and charter vessels logged more than 300 days at sea monitoring and sampling from ships on the U.S. Northeast shelf. Habitat Restoration in the Great Lakes: By the Numbers The Great Lakes are some of our nation’s most important natural, recreational, and economic resources. But they face many threats, including habitat degradation, pollution, overfishing, and the spread of invasive species. NOAA and our partners work to restore habitat in the Great Lakes region to support the fish, ecosystems, and communities that rely on them. Weird and Wonderful: 10 Years of Northeast Bottom Longline Survey Video Footage Field scientist Hannah Ciarametaro explains how and why the Cooperative Research team collects video footage of the ocean floor during the Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey. She shares the weird and wonderful things they have seen along the way.

Southeast The Ocean’s Underwater Ears: Tracking North Atlantic Right Whales Using Sound Scientists are acoustically tracking endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Southeast Atlantic. Underwater audio recording devices called SoundTraps are anchored to the seafloor to capture long-term, continuous archival recordings. Later, scientists retrieve these units and sift through months of audio to pinpoint upcalls—the signature vocalizations of North Atlantic right whales. The data we collect help us understand their presence in their less-studied calving habitat. Science Held in Outdoor Classroom Continues to Evolve The St. Petersburg Science Festival School Day is an annual staple along Bayboro Harbor, and NOAA remains a proud sponsor and participant. We hosted nearly 900 students at the 14th annual event in February. It offers hands-on opportunities for thousands of Florida school children to explore technology and life, marine, and physical sciences. Restoring Florida's Indian River Lagoon With $9.4 million from NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation, the Indian River Lagoon Council and its partners are leading an ambitious ecosystem-wide effort to restore the Indian River Lagoon in east Florida. Learn more in our four-part series. A System-Wide Effort to Restore Florida’s Indian River Lagoon: The 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon was once defined by expansive seagrass beds, abundant fish and wildlife, and clear water. Pollution, habitat loss, and harmful algal blooms have since taken a heavy toll. The new restoration effort includes 15 projects across the estuary to restore seagrass, wetlands, shellfish populations, and shorelines. Investing in Indian River Lagoon Restoration Pays Dividends: NOAA-funded restoration projects in the Indian River Lagoon generate strong economic returns, support jobs, boost fisheries, and deliver environmental benefits worth billions of dollars. Restoration Innovation on the Indian River Lagoon: Spartan Reefs, Super Clams, and More: Three scientists and a fisherman are tackling the challenges of restoring four critical habitat types: coquina rock reefs, shellfish beds, seagrass meadows, and wetlands. Through innovative approaches, new technology, and hands-on fieldwork, each project leader is helping move the lagoon toward recovery. Restoring the Indian River Lagoon’s Seagrass Meadows and Wetlands: NOAA supports efforts to plant new seagrass meadows and let water flow naturally through wetlands. Seagrass improves water quality and serves as a "buffet" for species throughout the food web. Wetlands also play an outsized role in maintaining the health of the Indian River Lagoon and the safety of coastal communities. They filter out pollutants in the water and reduce wave and storm surge impacts.

West Coast West Coast Waters Experiencing Another Large Marine Heatwave A massive marine heatwave has dominated waters off the West Coast since last summer. This marks only the third time on record that such a large section of the coastal ocean has remained so warm for so long—particularly into winter months—without it being an El Niño. NOAA Fisheries and our partners are tracking possible heatwave impacts, which can include harmful algal blooms that can sicken marine mammals and close shellfish fisheries.

Upcoming Deadlines March 10: Public comment period closes for Exempted Fishing Permits to Pilot Test New Data Collection Methods and State Management Strategies for South Atlantic Red Snapper March 23: Applications due for the Scallop Research Set Aside Program  March 31: Entries due for the 2026 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species student art contest April 15: Applications due for United States Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grants May 4: Public comment period closes for Amendment 58B to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan: Modifications to Gulf of America Deep-Water Grouper Management Measures View more news and announcements

Upcoming Events March 5–7: Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport, ME March 5–9: Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Sacramento, CA March 15–17: Seafood Expo North America in Boston, MA March 17: Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop in Houston, TX March 24–26: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Honolulu, HI April 7–9: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in New York City, NY April 7–10: Gulf Fishery Management Council meeting in Mobile, AL April 10–16: Marine Resource Education Program Federal Fisheries Science & Management Workshop in Honolulu, HI April 14–16: New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Portland, ME April 21–22: Caribbean Fishery Management Council hybrid meeting in St. Croix, USVI 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.

Questions? Visit our website for national and regional contact information

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