National Fisherman

Politics

The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025 would continue funding for the community-based commission that supports marine habitat restoration across the Northwest Straits region of Puget Sound. Shutterstock photo.

House passes bill to reauthorize Northwest Straits Commission

NF Staff

Dungeness crabs in a live hold. Oregon DFW photo.

Calif. fisheries bill advances out of Senate

NF Staff

Fishing vessels line up side to side on the edge of Pier 11 in New Bedford. Credit: Brooke Kushwaha / The New Bedford Light

Montigny pushes for harbor oil spill solution, wastewater funding

Guest Author

A NOAA Fisheries snapshot report on the Gulf shrimp sector noted that relatively low wages and the uncertainty involved in that work make it difficult for vessel owners to find willing and competent workers. Shutterstock photo.

Texas shrimpers ask Trump administration for more H-2B visas amid labor shortage

Nathan Strout

Federal budget cuts to NOAA are drawing attention across the commercial fishing and marine conservation sectors as lawmakers debate funding priorities for the fiscal year 2027. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Proposed NOAA cuts raise questions

NF Staff

A fishing vessel operates in Alaska waters. Shutterstock photo.

Legislation would expand representation on NPFMC

Margaret Bauman

A new bipartisan bill in Congress aims to level the playing field for the Gulf Coast states by expanding offshore boundaries for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Photo courtesy of Florida Sea Grant

Gulf states push for offshore parity with 9-mile boundary bill

NF Staff

New legislation would prohibit the federal government from purchasing foreign seafood, directing all taxpayer-funded seafood spending — including school lunch programs — toward domestic sources. Shutterstock photo.

Bill would keep foreign seafood out of school lunches

NF Staff

A foreign commercial fishing vessel works open waters. The FISH Act, advancing in Congress, would publicly list vessels tied to illegal fishing and block their seafood from U.S. markets. Shutterstock photo.

FISH Act moves closer to halting entry of illegal seafood harvests

Margaret Bauman

European Union rules raise red flags for Alaska seafood exports. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

New EU CATCH rules could snarl Alaska seafood trade

NF Staff

Representative Chris Smith, R-NJ, is putting renewed focus on China’s illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices. Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard

Congressional hearing targets China’s IUU fishing, impacts on US fleet

Carli Clancy