June 21, 2026 to June 27, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning fisheries, aquaculture, shellfish, and marine conservation. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to see GR activities in areas of the economy related to the Fisheries channel? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Environment and Agri-Food. Also consider subscribing to our Fisheries - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area Revisions Finalized

The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a final rule eliminating the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area (GCA) off central California for all groundfish fisheries and establishing a new Groundfish Exclusion Area to protect sensitive habitats. Regulatory changes remove the former GCA from Federal regulations, opening 10.2 square miles to trawl gear and 40.1 square miles to non-trawl gear. The new Exclusion Area overlays the bottom contact Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Area, closing 26.4 square miles to all groundfish fishing. The rule seeks to reduce regulatory complexity and restore access to historical fishing grounds, while maintaining closure of areas with vulnerable rocky reef habitat and coral grounds. Most coral and sponge observations remain within closed areas. Effective June 23, 2026, the amendments impact commercial and recreational groundfish fisheries and adjust relevant definitions and gear prohibitions in 50 CFR parts 660 and 679.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Certification of Admissibility for Fish Imports Moves to Electronic Submissions

NOAA is proposing revisions to the Certification of Admissibility process for fish and fish products under High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The changes transition forms from paper to electronic submission via the Customs and Border Protection Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), improving efficiency and data accuracy for importers. The updated form will require disclosure of harvest location, gear type, and species, with exporting nations certifying compliance and U.S. importers submitting electronically. Software enhancements and maintenance are estimated at $550,000 annually, with a burden of 27,720 hours. Comments are open until August 24, 2026; legal authority is cited in 50 CFR parts 216 and 300.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Revised Haul Designation Timing for Alaska Trawl Catcher-Processors

A final rule from NMFS standardizes the time limit for trawl catcher/processors in Alaska groundfish fisheries to assign each haul to a management program, requiring that the designation be made within two hours after completion of weighing all catch. This eliminates discrepancies between CDQ and non-CDQ hauls, simplifies reporting, and allows vessel operators more time to assess species composition before assignment. The rule does not affect observer data collection or electronic monitoring systems. NMFS expects minimal impact on small entities, noting that only one of thirty impacted vessels is categorized as such. The rule is effective July 27, 2026, and has been classified as a deregulatory action under Executive Order 14192.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Definition of Shellfish Expanded to Include Cephalopods

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has amended its regulatory definition of 'shellfish' in 50 CFR 10.12, removing the phrase 'having a shell' and explicitly including squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and related cephalopods within the scope. This change clarifies import/export requirements, reduces ambiguity and regulatory burden, and aligns with current scientific taxonomy and commercial practices. The rule will take effect on July 23, 2026 and applies prospectively. Sea urchins and sea cucumbers remain excluded as they are echinoderms, not mollusks.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USITC Maintains Antidumping Duties on Vietnamese Frozen Fish Fillets

The U.S. International Trade Commission determined that revoking the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from Vietnam would likely lead to a recurrence of material injury to the U.S. industry. This decision, made under the Tariff Act of 1930 following an expedited five-year review, ensures continued tariff enforcement for Vietnamese fish fillet imports. The determination was completed June 18, 2026 and documented in USITC Publication 5754.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 4938 Targets Bycatch and Trawl Gear Impacts in Alaska

Bill 4938 was introduced in the Senate to address bycatch and seafloor habitat impacts from trawl gear in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. The legislation proposes gear performance standards, seafloor contact detection, salmon excluder requirements, increased Council transparency, ecosystem analysis prioritization, modernization of electronic monitoring, prohibition of unsustainable foreign seafood imports, and creation of a Bycatch Mitigation and Habitat Protection Assistance Fund. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation as of June 24, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 Advances

The Senate moved to reconsider and agreed without objection on the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 (Bill 629). The bill is focused on agricultural conservation measures with relevance to fisheries and aquatic resources. The latest action was recorded on June 23, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

SCALE Act of 2026 Receives Committee Referral

The SCALE Act of 2026 (Bill 4851) was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The bill addresses aspects of agriculture and food policy, potentially impacting fisheries-related supply chains. The referral occurred on June 22, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4935 Promotes Zero-Emission Vessel Technologies

Bill 4935 would direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program for research, design, and deployment of zero-emission vessels, retrofits, and charging infrastructure. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation as of June 24, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 9454 Addresses Zero-Emission Vessel Support

Bill 9454 seeks to establish federal programs supporting research and deployment of zero-emission vessels and related infrastructure. The bill was referred to both the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with jurisdictional review pending since June 25, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Montana DEQ works toward impairment designation for Big Hole River: State officials are considering an impairment designation for the Big Hole River due to declining fish populations.

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