NOAA Fisheries has reopened through Dec. 15 its public comment period on potential “Regulatory Reform, Seafood Industry Challenges and Innovative Approaches,” in response to the Trump administration executive order on restoring American seafood competitiveness.
The federal agency announced Dec. 2 it is for comment on specific issues, including regulations governing fishing activities that may be suspended, revised or rescinded and challenges specific faced by specific fisheries, suggestions for innovative improvements and examples of existing federal fishery regulations that could be modified to enhance the nation's fishing businesses.
Also sought are ways to improve fisheries management and science and ways to expand exempted fishing permit programs to promote fishing opportunities nationwide.
NOAA Fisheries is specifically asking for comments on:
– How less expensive and more reliable technologies and cooperative research may be used to support fisheries assessments.
– How the agency can modernize how data is collected, and uses data to update federal fishery regulations.
– The types of data, tools or information that fisheries businesses need to deal with changing economic and environmental conditions, and keep on fishing.
Comments received will be used to help identify specific actions that the federal agency can take to revitalize the nation's seafood industry. The agency said this will underscore NOAA's commitment to addressing recent declines in U.S. fish landings and revenue, boosting sustainable aquaculture, reduce the seafood trade deficit and strengthen supply chain resilience.
NOAA Fisheries has also scheduled a public listening session for Monday, Dec. 8, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m Eastern (noon to 1 p.m. Alaska time), with online registration.
