AK, WA Governors Tap Two for NPFMC While NOAA Head Urges More Industry Members on Councils

Amid comments from NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler for “better council members” at the regional fisheries management councils, both Governors Mike Dunleavy of Alaska and Bob Ferguson of Washington submitted their preferred nominations for two seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).  

That council oversees 26 federally-managed species caught in Alaskan waters, including the nation’s largest fishery, Alaska pollock. Taken together, about 30% of the nation’s total seafood production is managed by the 11-member NPFMC...

Washington State Adjusts Strategy to Limit Dangerous Low-Oxygen Levels in Puget Sound 

Across the country, states and regions are facing outdated permit processes, overwhelmed wastewater treatment plants, and competing land use policies that are creating oxygen ‘dead-zones’ where marine life cannot survive. 

Some of the worst areas in the U.S. are the northern Gulf of Mexico (now known as the Gulf of America) fanning out from the Mississippi River; the Chesapeake Bay, fed by the Susquehanna, Potomac, and James Rivers; and in the Pacific Northwest’s Puget Sound, into which the Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Nisqually, and the Skokomish...

Surimi Producer Trans-Ocean Products Appoints Chris Cameron as President

Trans-Oceans Products, a US-based surimi producer, announced the appointment of Chris Cameron as its new President.

Cameron assumed the role of head of the firm, which is owned by the Japanese seafood giant Maruha Nichiro, on January 1, 2026. Cameron succeeds Murry Park, who served as President and CEO of the company since 2014.

"I'm honored to step into the role of President and build on the strong foundation that has made Trans-Ocean a leader in the surimi seafood category," said Cameron...

Oregon, Washington Advance Toward Dungeness Crab Decision as Test Results Roll In

West Coast crabbers and fishery managers are entering a decisive week for the 2025-26 Dungeness crab season, with a season-opening announcement scheduled for Friday, following the recent release of Washington test results. 

According to an industry notice from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, crab from Long Beach did not meet the Tri-State meat recovery threshold for a Dec. 1 opener.  

Crab from Westport did meet the criteria, with a 25% meat recovery result, but some crab is still soft...

Bicameral Effort Urges Interior Secretary to Restore $1.28M For Salmon Habitat in Washington

On July 29, ten members of Congress from Washington state sent a strongly worded letter to Interior Secretary Doug Bergum urging him to restore funds for the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs).

“We write to express our deep concern regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) elimination of $1,285,000 of Fiscal Year 2025 funding for Washington state’s Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs),” the letter began, led by Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Representative Rick Larsen...

Cowlitz Tribe and NOAA Improved Lower Columbia River Tributary for Salmon and Steelhead

In Southeast Washington, NOAA funding is supporting the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s goal of restoring 30 percent or more of the salmon and steelhead habitat on its traditional lands in the lower Columbia River watershed.  

Last year the 55-foot-tall, 425-foot-long Kwoneesum Dam on Wildboy Creek was removed with the help of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation grant of $3.3 million. The dam had blocked upstream salmon and steelhead migration on the creek for almost 60 years...

Summer Crab Season Rules Take Effect in Washington

Summer months mean new fishing seasons, warmer weather and, in the case of Dungeness crabbing on the West Coast, new rules.   

As whales become more prevalent and crabs begin to molt, the states implement more restrictive gear rules, time constraints, landing limits or permitting requirements. In Washington, that means the Coastal Dungeness Crab Summer Fishery Management Plan takes effect as of 12:01 a.m. on July 6, through the end of this year’s season.  

According to the plan, crabbers cannot possess or land more than 2,500...

West Coast Salmon Seasons Set: No California Season, Limited Elsewhere

After a week of tense negotiations and discussion, salmon managers finally adopted a set of seasons for Washington, Oregon, and California, as of Tuesday, April 15. Now it’s up to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, or NOAA Fisheries) for approval.  

California commercial season is simple: It’s closed. For the third year in a row. Recreational salmon fishermen will get a chance at a fishery this year, though, the first since 2022. 

Oregon has limited opportunity, due to concerns of Klamath and Sacramento River stocks...

Shellfish Recall Initiated in Washington State Over Norovirus Concerns

In a proactive move, Washington State has initiated a recall of shellstock due to reports of Norovirus-like illnesses linked to the consumption of raw oysters.

This recall impacts all species of shellfish harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company (WA-1723-SS) and Manila clams harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council (WA-0098-SS).

The affected shellstock was distributed to several regions, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and even Canada.

Distributors have reported contacting retailers to mitigate further...

Calif. Opens Portions of Dungeness Season With Gear Reductions; Wash. and Ore Open Soon Too

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday that portions of the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open in early January following the completion of a risk assessment by Director Charlton H. Bonham. 

Also late Friday, Washington and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife announced non-tribal crab seasons north of Cape Falcon, Ore., with Dec. 31 and Jan. 4, 2026, opening dates.  

According to the CDFW Director's Declaration, Fishing Zones 3, 4 and 5 — stretching from south...

Butch Smith Seeks Re-Election to Port of Ilwaco Commission

Longtime Port of Ilwaco Commissioner and fisheries advocate Al “Butch” Smith is seeking another six-year term on the District 3 seat he has held since 2013. Smith, who currently serves as chair of the three-member board, will face former port manager Guy Glenn Jr. in the Nov. 4 general election. 

Smith is a lifelong resident of Ilwaco and an advocate for both recreational and commercial fishermen, stating that he is running to ensure the port continues to serve the needs of the working waterfront...

Record Return of Hatchery Chinook Expected to Whatcom Creek

More than 7,000 Chinook salmon are expected to return to Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham this season thanks to an ongoing collaboration between Bellingham Technical College, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. 

A few thousand fish may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of Puget Sound and the West Coast, but successful returns of hatchery fish across multiple creeks could alleviate some concern over prey species for Southern Resident orcas and boost populations for tribal...

Center for Food Safety Sues to Shut Down Nine Shellfish Aquaculture Sites in Washington 

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) and a local Washington organization against shellfish farming, have filed a motion in federal court to shut down nine coastal shellfish operations in Washington.

The lawsuit — which challenges permits obtained by the Army Corps of Engineers — alleges that the federal government failed to notify the public or conduct an environmental assessment prior to beginning operations.

Instead, CFS and local partner Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat, claim the Army Corps used permit review procedures known as...

2025 West Coast Pacific Halibut Fishery Opens June 24 

The first of two halibut fishery openers begins next week in federal waters off the West Coast. The first opener starts on Tuesday, June 24 at 8 a.m. and ends on Thursday, June 26 at 6 p.m. The second opener begins on Tuesday, July 9 at 8 a.m. and ends on Thursday, July 10 at 6 p.m. 

This year’s quota for Pacific halibut for the Area 2A fishery is 259,515 pounds, net weight. If the quota is not met, a third fishing period will begin two weeks after...