Notice2025-16377
Recommendations for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 27, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
On April 17, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O.) on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. NMFS requests public comment from interested parties on suggestions to improve fisheries management and science within the requirements of applicable laws, as required in the E.O. In addition, NMFS will host a listening session to receive additional public comment. The intent of these public engagements is for NMFS to obtain input on fishery-related regulatory barriers, fisheries management, science, and other priority needs identified in the E.O. designed to strengthen the Nation's seafood supply and competitiveness.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 164 (Wednesday, August 27, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41818-41819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16377]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE889]
Recommendations for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: On April 17, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order
(E.O.) on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. NMFS requests
public comment from interested parties on suggestions to improve
fisheries management and science within the requirements of applicable
laws, as required in the E.O. In addition, NMFS will host a listening
session to receive additional public comment. The intent of these
public engagements is for NMFS to obtain input on fishery-related
regulatory barriers, fisheries management, science, and other priority
needs identified in the E.O. designed to strengthen the Nation's
seafood supply and competitiveness.
DATES: Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Responses should be submitted via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d9b7b4bfaaf7aabcb8bfb6b6bdaaadabb8adbcbea099b7b6b8b8f7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="107e7d76633e637571767f7f746364627164757769507e7f71713e777f66">[email protected]</span></a>. Include ``E.O. 14276 Notice Response''
in the subject line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Denit, Director, Office of
Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 301-427-8517.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 17, 2025, President Trump issued
E.O. 14276 titled ``Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness'', which
expands on the 2020 E.O. 13921 titled ``Promoting American Seafood
Competitiveness and Economic Growth.'' Four provisions of E.O. 14276
are being addressed through this request for public comment.
First, section 4(a) directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify
``the most heavily overregulated fisheries requiring action and take
appropriate action to reduce the regulatory burden on them, in
cooperation with the Regional Fishery Management Councils, interagency
partners, and through public-private partnerships, as appropriate.''
Second, section 4(a)(ii) directs the Secretary of Commerce to
``solicit direct public comments, including from fishing industry
members, technology
[[Page 41819]]
experts, marine scientists, and other relevant parties for innovative
ideas to improve fisheries management and science within the
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.); and other applicable laws.''
Third, section 4(a)(iii) directs the Secretary of Commerce to
pursue ``direct public engagement to ensure executive departments and
agencies are focusing core fisheries management and science functions
to directly support priority needs that strengthen our Nation's seafood
supply chain.''
Finally, section 4(c) states that the Secretary of Commerce shall
direct NMFS to ``incorporate less expensive and more reliable
technologies and cooperative research programs into fishery
assessments, expand exempted fishing permit programs, and modernize
data collection and analytical practices to promote fishing
opportunities and improve the responsiveness of fisheries management to
real-time ocean conditions.''
Over the past few years overall commercial fishery landings within
the United States have declined. Multiple factors influenced these
landing declines. In response to section 4(a), the following initial
list includes heavily overregulated stocks or fisheries with large
reductions in landings or revenue as well as stocks or fisheries
identified via recent stakeholder input. When considering the questions
below, please identify specific fishery challenges that the NMFS or
partner agencies could address through innovative ideas or new
technologies that focus on the concepts identified in E.O. 14276. The
fisheries or stocks are organized into the following four categories:
<bullet> Multispecies fisheries (e.g., Alaskan groundfish, New England
groundfish, South Atlantic snapper-grouper)
<bullet> Shellfish (e.g., lobster, shrimp, scallop, surf clam and ocean
quahog)
<bullet> Atlantic and Pacific highly migratory species (e.g., tunas)
<bullet> Other pelagics (e.g., squid, mackerel)
Through this request for public comment, NMFS seeks written public
input on the following issues. When commenting, costs to the
Government, regulated industry, or both should be identified to the
extent possible. Please submit input via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aec0c3c8dd80ddcbcfc8c1c1cadddadccfdacbc9d7eec0c1cfcf80c9c1d8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a24272c3964392f2b2c25252e393e382b3e2f2d330a24252b2b642d253c">[email protected]</span></a> (see ADDRESSES).
1. NMFS is soliciting comments on regulations that govern fishing
activities that may be suspended, revised, or rescinded, consistent
with section 4(a) of the E.O., the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable law. When
commenting, please provide specific information about the
regulation(s), fishery or fisheries involved, and other pertinent
information necessary to fully outline the issue and changes
recommended. NMFS is also engaging with the Regional Fishery Management
Councils on ways to reduce burdens on domestic fishing and to increase
production, consistent with section (4)(a)(i) of the E.O. The public is
encouraged to engage with the Regional Fishery Management Councils in
addition to providing comments directly to NMFS through this notice.
2. NMFS is soliciting comments on ways to improve fisheries
management and science within the requirements of applicable laws (the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; the
Endangered Species Act of 1973; the Marine Mammal Protection Act; and
other applicable laws, consistent with the E.O. section (4)(a)(ii)).
Commenters are encouraged to provide:
a. Details about the challenges faced by a specific fishery or
fisheries, suggestions for innovative improvements, and any supporting
evidence to further support the recommendation being offered (e.g., a
new gear that has been tested in the fishery or a technology that can
be applied to fisheries).
b. Specific examples of existing Federal fishery regulations or
policies that, if appropriately modified or streamlined consistent with
the requirements of applicable laws, could enhance operational
efficiencies, access, or economic profitability for U.S. fishing
businesses.
3. NMFS is soliciting comments on the following concepts outlined
in section (4)(c) of the E.O.:
a. How can less expensive and more reliable technologies and
cooperative research be used to support fisheries assessments?
b. How can NMFS modernize data collection and analytical practices
to improve the responsiveness of fisheries management to real-time
ocean conditions?
c. What types of data, forecasting tools, or information products
are most needed by U.S. fishing businesses to adapt their operations
effectively to changing economic and/or environmental conditions and
maintain access to fishery resources, and how can NMFS best support the
development and dissemination of such resources?
4. NMFS is also soliciting comments on exempted fishing permit
programs. NMFS executes exempted fishing permit programs throughout the
country. These programs provide for exemptions from specified
regulatory requirements to test new fishing gear or techniques, and
have provided valuable information for science and management. Section
(4)(c) of the E.O. directs expansion of these programs. NMFS is
soliciting comments on ways to expand exempted fishing permit programs
to promote fishing opportunities nationwide.
In addition to this request for public comment, NMFS will host a
listening session as a means of ``direct public engagement to ensure
executive departments and agencies are focusing core fisheries
management and science functions to directly support priority needs
that strengthen our Nation's seafood supply chain'' as outlined in
section 4(a)(iii) of E.O. 14276. Information on this listening session
will be provided on the NOAA website <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/restoring-americas-seafood-competitiveness">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/restoring-americas-seafood-competitiveness</a>, as well as widely
distributed through NMFS social media and other public communications.
Relationship to E.O. 13921
E.O. 14276 builds upon the work conducted under E.O. 13921, which
was signed on May 7, 2020, and also promoted American seafood
competitiveness and economic growth. E.O. 13921 called for the
``expansion of sustainable U.S. seafood production through: More
efficient and predictable aquaculture permitting; cutting-edge research
and development; regulatory reform to maximize commercial fishing; and
enforcement of common-sense restrictions on seafood imports that do not
meet American standards.''
Dated: August 22, 2025.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-16377 Filed 8-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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