NOAA announced on July 2, 2026, a series of region-specific priorities designed to breathe new life into the American seafood industry. The plan focuses on cutting red tape for domestic fishermen, boosting production, expanding access, and improving the financial bottom line for the fishing sector.
The effort, coordinated through the Department of Commerce via NOAA Fisheries, comes in direct response to a presidential executive order titled “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” which called for increasing the sustainable harvest of seafood and supporting American fishermen and women.
“These regional priorities are a critical step in our efforts to fulfill the President’s vision of making the United States the world’s dominant seafood leader,” said NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D. “We look forward to partnering with the councils to advance seafood competitiveness and support our American fishermen.”
The process began in August 2025, when NOAA Fisheries asked stakeholders — including regional fishery management councils — to weigh in on how to better manage fisheries and science. The goal was to stabilize markets, widen access, boost profitability, and prevent fishery closures. More than 700 individuals and organizations submitted comments, and each regional council provided a detailed action plan.
After reviewing input from councils, the fishing industry, and the general public, NOAA identified priority actions for each region. Here is a breakdown of what each area can expect:
In the New England region, NOAA will focus on easing the financial burden of industry-funded monitoring, modernizing fleet capacity, and re-examining static area closures to restore fishing yields and economic health.
In the Mid-Atlantic region — which covers waters relevant to Delmarva-area fishermen — the priorities are modernizing fleet capacity and improving how fishing quotas are distributed.
In the South Atlantic region, the focus will be on improving access and flexibility while building state-led data partnerships.
In the Caribbean region, NOAA will review the effectiveness of marine protected areas, evaluate the role of territories in managing spiny lobster and queen conch, and work to significantly increase economic returns to island communities.
In the Gulf of America region, priorities include defending the domestic shrimp fleet from trade imbalances and making Individual Fishing Quota access more efficient.
In the Pacific region, NOAA will look at reducing redundancies in trawl observer requirements and review the science and management of Pacific sardines.
In the North Pacific region, the agency will review Steller sea lion closure boundaries, work to eliminate unnecessary requirements, and increase operational flexibility.
In the Western Pacific region, NOAA aims to open up commercial fishing opportunities that were previously blocked by what it describes as punitive monument closures, while also considering additional management changes consistent with the Endangered Species Act.
For Highly Migratory Species, NOAA’s priorities include pursuing international quota increases and maximizing the retention of targeted catch.
A full list of priority actions is available on the NOAA Fisheries website. Media inquiries can be directed to Rachel Hager at [email protected].
