In April, we celebrated the 50 years since the United States signed the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This landmark law set the United States on a course toward sustainably and cooperatively managed marine resources. But in order to appreciate how far we’ve ventured, it helps to understand why we embarked.

The United States advanced its goals to combat harmful fishing practices at the North Pacific Fisheries Commission’s annual meeting in Osaka, Japan. The U.S. delegation ensured the Commission addressed concerns about illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; revised catch limits to rebuild fish stocks; and focused attention on unsustainable deep-sea bottom fisheries.

NOAA Fisheries has completed a status review and 12-month finding for Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon in response to a January 2024 petition. We have determined that listing any of the three Evolutionarily Significant Units of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act is not warranted. This determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial information and the findings of the status review.

With $7 million in funding, the Office of Habitat Conservation has established a unique partnership with Ford House—the historic 1920s estate of Eleanor and Edsel Ford. The partnership is rebuilding shoreline habitat for fish and other wildlife on Michigan’s Lake St. Clair, while expanding access and educational opportunities for visitors.

What draws people to the ocean and fishing? Field scientist Hannah Ciarametaro recently asked the captain and crew of the F/V Miss Trish II that very question. Their stories touch on duty, pride, and the toll a life at sea can take on seafood harvesters and their families.

For many in the Southeast, red snapper fishing is a multi-generational tradition, making it a flagship species for the world’s largest recreational fishery. Effectively managing and preserving this vibrant species requires more than just accuracy; it demands a swift, responsive flow of data. Learn about three projects that are working to deliver faster, more efficient science by modernizing recreational red snapper data collection.

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund will fund up to $99 million for conservation and recovery projects that support Pacific salmon. The funding supports Administration priorities by improving habitat and implementing other actions to increase the production of salmon and steelhead—fisheries that create jobs and put more domestic seafood on American plates.

A new mapping system combines decades of fisheries data and statistics to visualize West Coast fisheries and how they have changed over time. The new project—led by researchers at NOAA, state wildlife departments, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission—is creating maps to inform marine planning, compare different uses of the ocean, and help visualize their implications for fisheries.

Dr. Elizabeth "Eli" Holmes recently received the prestigious Earth Science Information Partners Martha Maiden 2026 Award. Dr. Holmes’ 25-year career at NOAA Fisheries demonstrates a deep commitment to advancing open science, fostering collaboration across agencies, and inspiring the next generation of scientists.