July 05, 2026 to July 11, 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.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Natural Resources Committee Markup on Fisheries and Marine Bills – July 15, 2026: The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a markup on July 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EDT (Longworth House Office Building 1324), considering several bills relevant to water resources, NOAA management, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and North Atlantic right whale regulations.
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to Consider Water Resources Development Act of 2026 – July 15, 2026: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will meet for an open business meeting on July 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EDT (Dirksen Senate Office Building 406) to review the draft Water Resources Development Act of 2026 and the nomination of Kevin Lilly as Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife.

Federal Government News

NOAA Finalizes Pacific Tuna Fisheries Conservation and Management Measures for 2026 and Beyond

The National Marine Fisheries Service issued final regulations implementing IATTC tropical tuna conservation measures for U.S. vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, effective July 7, 2026. The rule reduces the purse seine closure period from 72 to 64 days, introducing adjusted closure dates and additional reporting requirements. U.S. purse seine vessels are now assessed a one-time fee to support regional tuna tagging efforts, while modifications clarify reporting and handling practices related to fish aggregating devices (FADs) and sea turtle bycatch mitigation. Technical updates correct outdated references in regulations under the AIDCP and further clarify reporting and monitoring obligations for industry operators.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

New England Fishery Management Plans: Proposed Omnibus Management Flexibility Amendment

NOAA has proposed the Omnibus Management Flexibility Amendment to implement administrative changes across New England Fishery Management Council FMPs. The action would allow annual catch specifications to be set for up to five years, standardize the specification-setting process, expand in-season adjustment authority, and remove duplicative annual review/reporting requirements for several managed fisheries. If finalized, in-season modifications could be made to achieve conservation objectives, and Councils would have increased discretion in aligning management with updated stock assessments and data. The proposed rule is open for public comment through August 7, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Endangered Species Act Permit Modification Sought for Sampling Activities in Maine River Systems

NOAA published a notice regarding a permit modification request from the Midwest Biodiversity Institute for the incidental take of shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, and Atlantic salmon associated with fish sampling in Maine's Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers. The proposed modification would increase authorized take limits to reflect expanded monitoring and increased encounters with protected species. The applicant intends to maintain adaptive sampling protocols, reporting procedures, and conservation outreach in coordination with federal and state resources. Public comments are accepted until August 6, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Reclassification of Rainbow Runner under Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan Proposed

NOAA published a proposed rule to reclassify rainbow runner as a pelagic rather than a reef fish species under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan. The regulatory changes would shift rainbow runner to management measures applicable to pelagic fish, retain sector-specific ACLs, introduce commercial and recreational annual catch targets, and update accountability measures. The public comment period is open until August 7, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Gulf of America Red Grouper: Proposed Adjustments to Catch Limits and Removal of SWG Recreational Closure

Amendment 62 to the Fishery Management Plan for Gulf reef fish proposes to revise catch limits and allocations for red grouper, reflecting the most recent stock assessment and using updated recreational harvest data. The rule would increase commercial and recreational ACLs and quotas over several years, adjust sector allocations, and eliminate the shallow-water grouper recreational closure in waters deeper than the 20-fathom boundary. NOAA is accepting comments through August 6, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026 Introduced

Bill 9621, the Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026, was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill seeks to address predation impacts on endangered salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest through potential legislative measures.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• He Wanted to Track Microplastics in the Sea. The E.P.A. Fired Him.: A U.S. government scientist's effort to monitor ocean microplastics resulted in his dismissal from the EPA.
• Bumper haul of Pacific bluefin tuna a double-edged sword for Japan's fishermen: Japanese fishers experience increased Pacific bluefin tuna catches, raising both economic benefits and market concerns.
• As East Africa’s oceans change, coastal women build new livelihoods: Women in coastal East Africa develop new livelihoods as climate and fishing pressures reshape local economies.
• I Wanted to Learn How to Fly Fish. So I Traveled to Its American Birthplace.: An account of a visit to the Catskills to learn fly fishing in its historic U.S. setting.
• A decade after historic ruling, Philippine fishermen say driven away from disputed shoal by China: Philippine fishermen describe continued exclusion from a contested shoal a decade after an international legal decision.

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