Before any commercial fishing vessel leaves the dock in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, or California, captains perform an essential task; they check the weather forecast. Marine forecasts, buoy data, and storm advisories determine whether a crew goes out. That information comes from a federal infrastructure system most fishermen take for granted,…
The U.S. Coast Guard has officially launched a district-level investigation into the sinking of the fishing vessel LILY JEAN, which occurred approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and resulted in the loss of seven lives. Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Northeast District, Rear Adm. Michael Platt, authorized the…
A recent study has revealed key insights into the dramatic drop in eastern Bering Sea snow crab populations during 2018–2019, marking one of the largest ever recorded marine mortality events. Led by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologist Erin Fedewa, the groundbreaking study examined energy reserves in snow crabs before,…
As the federal government shutdown extends into its third week, legislation unrelated to funding disputes, such as H.R. 3756, a bipartisan bill designed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide, remains stalled. Introduced in June 2025, this bill has been referred to multiple House committees and has yet…
On April 11, 2025, a commercial scallop boat capsized near Green Island in Boston Harbor. A swift rescue and a coordinated environmental response began after the vessel started leaking fuel into area waters. At 7:46 a.m., watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston received a broken radio transmission from the…
A recent study using advanced genetic testing has revealed alarmingly high infection rates of bitter crab disease in Tanner and snow crabs, two commercially important species in the Bering Sea. Scientists estimate that up to 42 percent of Tanner crabs and 36 percent of snow crabs were infected during the…
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing harms both consumers and fishermen by undermining the seafood industry’s integrity. For fishermen, IUU fishing causes economic losses by flooding markets with illegal seafood, depletes fish stocks through overfishing, and creates unfair competition as illicit operators bypass regulations and compliance costs. Tackling IUU fishing…
The European green crab, a small but vicious predator, has been making its presence known on the West Coast of North America and wreaking havoc on native ecosystems. Native to the coastlines of Europe and northern Africa, the green crab has spread to coastlines around the world, from Australia to…
Alaska’s seafood industry, a cornerstone of the state’s economy and U.S. fisheries, is facing significant hurdles, as revealed in NOAA’s 2024 report. Economic conditions, workforce challenges, and climate impacts are driving this once-thriving sector into a difficult period, resulting in substantial declines in profits and industry-wide layoffs. Economic Downturn and…
The recent trial of innovative ropeless crab fishing gear off the California coast has ignited controversy among the Dungeness crab fishing community. The trial, which ran from April 9 to June 30, 2024, allowed a limited number of commercial crabbers to use ropeless gear to harvest during a time typically…