NOAA Fisheries is calling on seafood industry members and the public to help shape the future of American seafood. The agency is soliciting comments in response to the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, signed April 17, 2025, which launched a government-wide effort to strengthen the domestic seafood sector.
The initiative comes at a time when U.S. seafood production has been under pressure. Between 2019 and 2023, domestic landings fell by an estimated 1 billion pounds, underscoring the need for new strategies to support fishermen, processors, and exporters.
“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.”
Planned actions include:
- Considering regulatory changes for fisheries with significant recent declines in landings and revenue
- Reviewing commercial fishing restrictions in marine national monuments
- Assessing advanced technologies for improved data collection
- Updating the U.S. Seafood Trade Strategy to reflect new global dynamics
- Developing an interagency “America First Seafood Strategy”
Key areas for input include:
- Which regulations could be suspended, revised, or rescinded to reduce burdens on U.S. fisheries
- Fishery-specific challenges and innovative solutions to strengthen businesses
- Ways to modernize data collection, forecasting, and management tools
- Opportunities to expand exempted fishing permits to create new fishing opportunities nationwide
The public comment period will remain open until October 14, 2025.