National Fisherman

West Coast & Pacific

By June 17, one of two Costco Warehouses in Anchorage had sold over 185 pounds of Copper River sockeye salmon for $14.99 a pound. Margaret Bauman photo.

Copper River sockeyes selling out

Margaret Bauman

Alaska's five Pacific salmon species are all forecast to see lower harvests in 2026, with global sockeye, keta, and pink supplies also expected to decline significantly from recent averages. Shutterstock photo.

Report forecasts 15% drop in global salmon harvest

Margaret Bauman

Initially established under President Bush in 2009, the no-fishing zone around Wake, Johnston and Jarvis in the Pacific Islands Heritage Monument was extended to 200 miles by President Obama in 2014. Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council gra

Trump moves to reopen Pacific remote waters for fishing

NF Staff

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

Over 100 groundfish industry volunteers worked in 80 degree heat at Terminal 91 at the Port of Seattle on May 28 to clean four huge midwater trawl nets to recycle plastics in the into new products. Photo by John Dunlap, Trident Seafoods

Groundfish industry cleans 55,935 pounds of nets for recycling

Margaret Bauman

Gig Harbor’s long-planned Commercial Fishing Homeport moved a step closer to reality this week after a city hearing examiner verbally indicated he would approve a shoreline permit for the project. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Gig Harbor homeport project clears key permitting hurdle

NF Staff

Restaurant managers ordered to pay tens of thousands in penalties; fishing vessel owner and operators prohibited from commercial fishing in state. Photo courtesy of CDFW

Restaurant, vessel operators penalized in seafood sourcing case

NF Staff

Dungeness crabs in a live hold. Oregon DFW photo.

Calif. fisheries bill advances out of Senate

NF Staff

Bering Sea pollock come aboard a trawler. NMFS video image.

North Pacific council seeks public comment on pelagic trawl gear

Margaret Bauman

California’s ocean salmon fishery reopened in May 2026 after a three-year closure. River fishing for Chinook salmon is also reopening, but at different times in 2026. Eric Palkovacs photo.

California’s salmon fishery is reopening, but that doesn’t mean all is well

Guest Author

The Japan Coast Guard training vessel Itsukushima and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Osprey maneuver during a May 21 international search and rescue exercise in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Victoria, British Columbia. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

US, Canada, Japan coast guards hold Pacific Northwest search and rescue exercise

NF Staff