National Fisherman

NationalFisherman.com is a complimentary online platform designed for those in the commercial fishing sector. It offers up-to-date news and insights about the industry all in one convenient location. National Fisherman is part of a broader network of prominent marine media, which is managed by Diversified Business Communications. This network also features Pacific Marine Expo, WorkBoat magazine, and the International WorkBoat Show.

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Tensions rise over blue crab fishery plan

6 days ago | nationalfisherman.com | Carli Stewart

The debate over North Carolina’s blue crab fishery is heating up as state regulators float new restrictions to stem what they call a long-developing population decline. But commercial crabbers say that the state’s data is outdated and doesn’t reflect what they’re seeing on the water. At the center of the issue is a proposed revision to the state’s Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan.
WASSP gets an upgrade

6 days ago | nationalfisherman.com | Paul Molyneaux

Since 2006, WASSP multibeam transducershave givenfishermen a wide-angle view of the water beneath them, making it easier to target schools of pelagic fish such as mackerel and herring. Coupled with Furuno’s Time Zero bottom mapping software, the WASSP also gave scallopers and lobstermen a clear view of the seafloor. In its most recent upgrade, WASSP has added a highly sensitive Motion Reference Unit (MRU) developed by the Norwegian company, Norwegian SubSea.
Mass. pushes feds for May 1 groundfish season start

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Carli Stewart

Massachusetts is calling on federal regulators to act swiftly to ensure the 2025 commercial groundfish season opens on time. On April 15, Tom O’Shea, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging immediate regulatory action to authorize the May 1 start date.
Washington approves new line marking rule for Dungie fishery

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Nathan Strout

State regulators in Washington have approved a new line marking rule for traps used in the state’s Dungeness crab fishery in the hopes of reducing the risk vertical lines pose to whales. “These proposed regulations are instrumental in advancing conservation efforts around whale entanglements,” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Coastal Marine Fisheries Whale Entanglement coordinator Megan Hintz said in February, when the changes were first proposed.
CA commercial salmon season cancelled for a third year

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Carli Stewart

California’s commercial salmon fishing season has been canceled for the third consecutive year, marking an unprecedented halt in the state’s salmon industry. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) voted on April 15, 2025, to extend the closure through the end of the year, citing critically low numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River.
NOAA layoffs: a crisis for U.S. fisheries?

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Carli Stewart

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the fishing industry and beyond, recent layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are raising alarms about the future of U.S. fisheries and the broader maritime community. Experts and industry leaders warn about the critical infrastructure needed to protect coastal communities.
Satellite connectivity shifts rock the marine industry

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Paul Molyneaux

Satcom companies around the world are adjusting to the impact of Starlink on the Satcom market. In 2023, SpaceX's Starlink subsidiary introduced high-bandwidth, low-cost satellite communication, or satcom, as a new option for commercial fishing and other marine users. “Since then, everyone else is trying to find their place in a new world,” says Ron Wright, director of commercial and government sales at OCENS, a Washington-based all-around satcom provider.
Alaska’s limited entry system still questioned fifty years later

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Carli Stewart

In 1973, Alaska passed one of the most consequential laws for its coastal economy, the Limited Entry Act. It was born in a time of overcapacity and industry collapse. The law was designed to safeguard the long-term health of Alaska’s fisheries while ensuring that Alaskans had a fair shot at staying in the game. But fifty years later, the ripple effects of limited entry are still being felt, especially in the rural communities that depend on commercial fishing for cultural and economic survival.
2025 Copper River salmon opener announced

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Laine Welch

State managers anticipate an "excellent" season for sockeyes. Alaska's 2025 salmon season will officially get underway on May 22 with a 12-hour opener for sockeye and Chinook salmon at the famous Copper River near Cordova. In its Friday announcement, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) pegged the harvest forecast for sockeye salmon at 1.92 million fish this season, more than double the ten-year average of 824,000 fish.
Massachusetts launches Commercial Fisheries Commission

1 week ago | nationalfisherman.com | Carli Stewart

To safeguard the future of the Bay State’s commercial fishing sector, Massachusetts officially convened its first Commercial Fisheries Commission (CFC) meeting on April 8, 2025, setting the stage for a new era of collaboration and state-level advocacy for the seafood industry. Born out of legislation passed in 2022, the CFC is designed to strengthen communication between commercial fishing stakeholders and state agencies while shaping strategies to promote long-term sustainability.