National Fisherman

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News

A new policy brief released concludes that most seafood imported into the United States lacks basic catch documentation and traceability. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Major gaps remain in monitoring of seafood imports

Margaret Bauman

The Pacific Legal Foundation is arguing that the otters should be delisted as a threatened species, and petitioning the Fish and Wildlife Service to exempt fishermen from liability for incidental takes of southern sea otters. Photo courtesy of UFWS

Fishermen challenge sea otter protections in Calif. waters

Paul Molyneaux

The Northwest Explorer and the Alaska Knight are the two fishing vessels being used for the upcoming surveys. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Bering Sea survey to track temperature shifts

NF Staff

According to a recent report, the 2025 Pacific salmon harvest totaled 425.7 million fish, marking the lowest aggregate for an odd-numbered year since 1987. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

NPAFC reports lowest odd-year harvest of Pacific salmon

Margaret Bauman

West Marine files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but plans restructuring. Photo courtesy of West Marine

West Marine files for bankruptcy, plans restructuring

NF Staff

The 2026 Chesapeake Bay winter blue crab dredge survey shows a 46 percent increase in the crab population from 2025. Photo by Larry Chowning

Larry_Chowning

Bay-wide blue crab survey shows 46 percent increase

Larry Chowning

A Southeast Alaska commercial harvester has been sentenced to jail, a $20,000 fine, and forfeiture of his commercial fishing boat after conviction of numerous commercial fishing violations. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Alaska harvester sentenced, fined for multiple commercial fishing violations

Margaret Bauman

Rowan Miller has been working on her father’s salmon seiner since she was 14. At 24, she has utilized the Alaska Commercial Fishing Loan Program to finance the purchase of her first boat, the Journeyman. Credit: Rowan Miller

Boat of the Month: Journeyman

Paul Molyneaux

Reid Wilson returned to Eastport, Maine, in 1989. Wilson started fishing in the 1930s and kept fishing for over 60 years, until there was nothing left to catch. He blamed draggers for the disappearance of groundfish in Cobscook Bay. Photo courtesy of Quod

Downeast groundfish vanish, leaving stories and questions behind

Paul Molyneaux

Calif. commercial Dungeness crab fishing opportunities will remain open in some areas under existing management measures. Photo courtesy by CDFW

Commercial crabbing continues as Calif. expands trap restrictions

NF Staff

Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery is facing additional regulatory changes as the state works to address whale entanglements. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Whale permit uncertainty drives changes in Oregon crab fishery

NF Staff