August 30, 2026 to September 05, 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

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News

Federal Government News

Pacific Halibut IFQ Vessel Use Caps Proposed for Area 4

On September 3, 2026, NOAA’s NMFS published a proposed rule to revise Pacific halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) vessel harvest limitations in regulatory Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This revision would establish a vessel harvest limit of five percent of the total annual commercial catch limit across these Areas, separate from the current Alaska coastwide cap, allowing greater operational flexibility. IFQ halibut harvested from quota held by a Community Quota Entity (CQE) in Area 4B would be excluded from this vessel cap. The temporary exemption on vessel use caps will expire after the 2027 fishing season, and the new rule is intended to address reduced catch utilization and operational challenges in Area 4. Public comments are requested by October 5, 2026; comments can be submitted electronically via regulations.gov, with further documentation available on the NMFS Alaska Region website.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Correction to 2026 West Coast Salmon Fishing Bag Limits

NMFS issued a rule correcting an omission in the May 19, 2026, salmon management measures affecting recreational ocean salmon fisheries from Pigeon Point, California to the U.S.-Mexico border. The correction specifies the bag limit as 'all salmon except coho salmon, two salmon per day,' applicable for the Monterey management area and clarifies that this limit applies to the entire area from Point Arena to Pigeon Point. Early 2027 management measures are also clarified for the San Francisco area. NMFS determined the correction necessary to avoid public confusion; no changes in operating practices or total catch are required. Implementation was immediate, and prior notice and comment were waived due to the non-controversial nature of the correction and its urgency.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NOAA Fee Schedule for Seafood Inspection Services Maintained for FY2027

NOAA’s Seafood Inspection Program announced on September 4, 2026, that its fee schedule for fiscal year 2027 will remain unchanged. The base hourly rate for contract customers remains $238, with overtime and holiday rates specified. Non-contract customers are billed at higher rates. Certificate requests will continue to be billed at $97 per request. The program operates as a fee-for-service under the Agricultural Marketing Act, Fish and Wildlife Act, and Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, and reviews cost recovery annually. Fees are unchanged since November 1, 2022; participants will be notified if future changes are made.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Alaska Pacific Cod Hook-and-Line Fishery Closure for Catcher Vessels ≥50ft

On September 1, 2026, NMFS prohibited directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels measuring 50 feet or more using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. The closure was triggered by the sector’s 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) quota of 1,387 metric tons being reached; a directed fishing allowance of 1,187 metric tons was established, with 200 metric tons set aside for incidental catch. The closure is effective immediately through December 31, 2026, to prevent TAC overruns. Incidental catch allowances remain available during trips.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Warmwater Shrimp Antidumping Duty Review Finalized for 2024–2025

The Department of Commerce issued final results for the administrative review of antidumping duties on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India, covering February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025. The Devi Group and Sandhya Aqua Exports received weighted average dumping margins of 4.04% and 7.01%, respectively. Companies not individually examined were assigned a rate of 5.53%. These findings affect cash deposit rates, and CBP will assess duties accordingly. Company-specific rates continue for those previously investigated, with 'all others' rate at 10.17%. Additional procedural details and the Issues and Decision Memorandum are available via ACCESS.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

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