NOAA Fisheries is calling on the public to help shape the future of American seafood.
Following the president’s Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, signed on 17 April 2025, NOAA has launched a comprehensive effort to boost domestic seafood production and consumption.
The initiative comes in response to significant challenges faced by the US seafood industry, including increased global competition, shifting market demands and climate-driven ocean changes. Between 2019 and 2023, seafood landings across the country dropped by nearly 1 billion pounds (around 450 million kg).
“Through our implementation of the president’s executive order, NOAA Fisheries is aiming to address the recent decline in fisheries landings and revenues,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator of NOAA Fisheries.
“We look forward to receiving input from the public.”
To meet the order’s directives, NOAA is evaluating a range of actions, including revising regulations for struggling fisheries, reviewing commercial restrictions in marine monuments, improving technology for data collection and updating the national Seafood Trade Strategy.
A new ‘America First Seafood Strategy’ is also in development in partnership with federal agencies.
The agency is specifically requesting feedback on:
- Regulations that could be revised or removed
- Challenges and opportunities within individual fisheries
- How to modernise fisheries science and management
- Expanding permit programs to promote fishing innovation
NOAA is also seeking input on cost-effective technologies, cooperative research models and data tools that would help fishing businesses adapt to environmental and economic changes.
The public comment period closes on 14 October 2025 and NOAA is encouraging all stakeholders, from fishers and industry professionals to scientists and consumers, to participate.
