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.
Read Part I of this series PART II: Virginia Looks at the Future Although the Board set the 2026 TAC at its October 2025 meeting, future TACs, and the future of the Bay cap, were not yet established. To help resolve that uncertainty, Virginia legislators have introduced four bills addressing the menhaden resource, which range […]
Read Part II of this series PART I: ASMFC Struggles with Menhaden Management Atlantic menhaden are an important forage fish all along the East Coast, feeding everything from striped bass off New England to king mackerel in the southeast. Their appeal isn’t limited to predatory fish; they are also an important part of the diets […]
This article is reprinted with permission from Sustainable Fishmonger, which is Flying Fish Company’s nonprofit arm for education and experience to help people reach a deeper connection to their food. Top photo: Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Photo credit: NOAA. Last month, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) held its quarterly meeting in Costa Mesa, California. The […]
Top photo: NOAA stock assessment At first glance, the FY26 appropriations minibus looks like another chapter in Washington’s slow erosion of federal investment in science, climate, and environmental protection. NOAA research gets cut. EPA funding slips. The Department of Energy loses ground. For anyone who cares about oceans, climate resilience, or renewable energy, it is […]
Top photo by John McMurray Legislation introduced into the House of Representatives on October 8, 2025 represents a real threat to the federal recreational fisheries data collection process, and to how that data will be used in the management process. H.R. 5699, the so-called “Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025,” was introduced by […]
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.
