Healthy oceans and productive fisheries are crucial for the future of our planet, the survival of our species, and the prosperity of our country. Learn why effective management of U.S. federal fisheries is critical for the long-term conservation of our oceans.
Abundant fisheries begin with the right policies. See how developments on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies affect the people who work on the water. Learn how the Network defends and strengthens federal fisheries policy to work effectively for fishermen, fishing communities, and the oceans on which we all depend.
Watch our monthly Waterside Chats or listen to the podcasts. Read our blog, join our email list and follow the Network on Facebook and Twitter to learn what’s stirring the waters when it comes to fisheries management, working waterfronts, recreational angling and much more.
Top photo: Fishing boat docked in Swansboro Harber, North Carolina, via Pexels On August 17, 2026, a Superior Court judge in Wake County, North Carolina found that, in managing its marine fisheries, North Carolina “has failed to meet its ‘obligation to manage and protect fisheries for the benefit of the general public’ as required under […]
This article was first published on August 10, 2026 on Conservation Law Foundation’s blog. It is reprinted with permission. Top photo: The fishing industry is key to New England’s culture and history, via EcoPhotography. Five Ways CLF Has Fought to Protect Fish and Fisheries Decades of advocacy have made a difference in New England Fish […]
This article was first published on July 23, 2026 on the Alaska Marine Community Coalition’s Changing Tides Blog. It is reprinted with permission. Top photo: Bristol Bay, Alaska. A new study examining the severe decline of Yukon River Chinook salmon offers an important lesson for fisheries management across Alaska: when changing ecosystem conditions become a […]
On July 24, 2026, the recreational fishing tackle industry’s largest trade organization, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), issued a press release which declared that “Sportfishing Groups Support Rep. Austin Scott’s South Atlantic Red Snapper Fair Access Act.” The press release went on to note, In recent years, recreational anglers in the South Atlantic have been […]
Molly Masterton joined the Network and host Tom Sadler for an online Waterside Chat on July 14, 2026. Molly is a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she works to promote sustainable fisheries management and the application of ecosystem-based management tools to ocean resources in the U.S. and abroad. Watch now: In […]
The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, sustainable seafood suppliers, and marine science organizations dedicated to sustaining abundant fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and thriving fishing communities through defending and strengthening U.S. ocean conservation policy, including our primary federal fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Learn more.
