News and Updates

December 20, 2025

Happy Trawler Days and

Merry Fishmas to All

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

Holiday Message and Year-End Update:

First, on behalf of the Board, Tracy, and myself, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and

a Happy New Year. This has been both a challenging and exciting year, with many positive

developments for the commercial seafood industry and numerous SFA accomplishments that

benefit all members. We continue to promote the American Commercial Seafood Industry as the first, of two, American food producers in our country. Seafood and Agriculture provide

nutritious, healthy, and protein rich food to American consumers.

Throughout the year, we have reported on many important issues. One significant win for SFA

and the industry was the recent legislation to reopen the federal government, passed by Congress and signed by the President, which included the creation of an Office of Seafood Liaison within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This liaison will support domestically harvested and processed seafood and coordinate efforts across USDA, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The seafood industry has worked collectively on this issue since 2023, and this new office should provide meaningful support to the commercial seafood sector. We have not yet been informed who will be appointed or hired to this position and will continue to monitor developments closely.

Many fishery issues remain under consideration at both the South Atlantic and Gulf Councils. As

most are aware, South Atlantic states are seeking to assume management of the recreational red snapper fishery. There was significant discussion at the most recent South Atlantic Council

meeting, with additional discussion scheduled for the March 2–6 meeting. Florida’s proposed

Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) contains the most complete framework to date, while other

states are still developing recreational data programs, monitoring methods for open days, and

related components. All states lacked clear plans for collecting discard data during closed

seasons, which range from 305 to 326 days per year. Discard data is critical for accurate stock

assessments, especially given the high discard rates that occur when anglers targeting other

species continue to catch red snapper during closures.

Unfortunately, there has been no movement by the South Atlantic Council on for-hire charter limited entry or the establishment of a required data program for private recreational anglers. Both are necessary to cap effort and provide reliable catch and effort data for stock assessments.

The South Atlantic Council also discussed options for approving a joint amendment to

establish a Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular

Concern off Florida’s east coast, continued work on measures affecting species within

the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Unit, and provided guidance for its Citizen

Science Program, including research priorities. The Council will hold a special shrimp

fishery access meeting for the Oculina Bank rock shrimp fishery via webinar on Friday,

January 23, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. This meeting will address

necessary updates to the amendment before it is considered for approval by the

Secretary of Commerce. Public comments will be accepted, and meeting materials,

including an online public comment form, will be available one week prior to the

meeting. Anyone concerned about gaining historical access to the rock shrimp area

should pay close attention and participate if possible. The Council also took action on

black sea bass reductions and blueline tilefish. You can view all their actions by this link.

Updates Click Here

There is one correction for blueline tilefish, the commercial quota will be 100 pounds/trip from Jan 1 to Apr 30 and increases to 300 pounds/trip on May 1.

Several issues were addressed at the most recent Gulf Council meeting. The Council submitted an amendment to continue the requirement that all vessels fishing for reef fish carry a descending device and/or venting tool. They moved forward with virtual public hearings on Red Grouper Amendment 62, which would maintain the current commercial and recreational allocation based on the outcome of the red grouper lawsuit, increase the commercial quota, and extend the recreational season through the end of 2026, pending approval by the Secretary of Commerce.

The Council also modified alternatives under Red Grouper Allocation Amendment 63 for future discussion. This amendment proposes a mechanism for distributing any future commercial quota increases between current IFQ shareholders and fishermen who land red grouper under leased IFQ. This is a complex proposal and will require close attention and significant discussion. All Gulf IFQ shareholders, regardless of species, should monitor this amendment carefully.

Additionally, the Council initiated a proposal for Gulf states to assume management of federally permitted for-hire charter vessels and headboats, similar to state management of the private recreational red snapper fishery. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the issue was

advanced at Louisiana’s request. This proposal could significantly alter future management for

federally permitted for-hire operators by removing them from federal management. The potential for each Gulf state to set its own seasons, bag limits, and size limits—with different rules in each state—makes this an issue that warrants close scrutiny by all affected operators.

The Council continues work on shallow-water grouper, including black grouper and

scamp, with discussion scheduled to continue at the next meeting during the week of

January 26 in New Orleans. They also approved Shrimp Amendment 19, maintaining

the status quo and the current moratorium on issuing new permits, and forwarded it to

the Secretary of Commerce for approval. Additional updates on actions from both

councils will be provided in future communications. See more info by clicking on this link:

GC_Motions-Report_Nov2025-FINAL.pdf

We have met with staff from Fresh From Florida (FFF) and are learning more about how their

programs can benefit our members. FFF already provides valuable resources to promote Florida-harvested seafood and is seeking additional information from us to expand those efforts. All Florida SPL, wholesale, and retail license holders are eligible to join Fresh From Florida at no cost. Membership provides access to promotional tools, industry information, and updates on FFF activities. We will share more details with members via email.

We also met with key staff from the SBA Office of Advocacy to learn how they can support

small businesses across the seafood industry—from individual vessel owners to processors,

restaurants, and fish houses. We provided them with an extensive list of regulations negatively

affecting your businesses, including fishery management issues, U.S. Coast Guard regulations,

shipbuilding requirements, and the lack of support from the Department of Commerce for the

domestic seafood industry. We believe this relationship will help reduce regulatory burdens and

elevate industry concerns, with the goal of achieving support comparable to that provided to

farmers and ranchers.

The SFA Board met on December 4, 2025 and approved several actions. At the previous meeting, the Board approved an increase in membership dues. At the December meeting, they approved a change to the membership renewal structure. Currently, membership renews on the anniversary of the join date, resulting in dues being received throughout the year. The approved change establishes a uniform renewal date of July 1 for all members. This will improve budgeting, planning, and overall financial management.

The Board also selected the dates and location for the next Annual Meeting, which will be held

September 8–11 at the Reefhouse Resort and Marina in Key Largo, Florida. Please mark your

calendars and plan to attend. We are beginning the planning process now and will be seeking

sponsors from across the commercial seafood industry, as well as selecting key speakers and

presenters to provide timely information on regulatory impacts and industry issues. We are

excited about the program and expect this to be one of the best Annual Meetings SFA has hosted.

We encourage everyone to watch for our periodic emails, which contain important updates on the state of the seafood industry and information relevant to your business. Please also follow and engage with us on social media—Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube—where we share industry news and updates on SFA’s work.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, suggestions, or information you believe would be useful to our members.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to more progress in the year ahead. Happy Holidays.

Save The Date:



2026 SFA Annual Meeting

September 8-11, 2026

Reefhouse Resort & Marina

Key Largo, Florida

My Suggestions for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness

NOAA Fisheries recently had an open comment period on Regulatory Reform, Seafood Industry Challenges, and Innovative Approaches in Response to the Executive Order Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. The comment period was related to the Executive Order, "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness;" and sought suggestions to enhance the economic viability and competitiveness of American seafood. I provided input on several

measures that I believe would benefit southeastern fishermen and U.S. fishermen more broadly.

Below are the suggestions I shared. This list was not exhaustive; there are more changes that could improve American seafood competitiveness. I focused on several changes that I believe would be extremely beneficial to SFA members and the U.S. industry. If you’ve read my other

Hotlines articles, you will recognize these suggestions.



Senate Confirms Timothy Petty to Lead NOAA Fisheries

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed Timothy Petty as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. In this role, Petty will serve as the top official overseeing NOAA Fisheries, stepping into a leadership position critical for the management of the nation’s commercial and recreational fishing industries.

Who is Timothy Petty?

A geologist by trade, Petty is no stranger to the halls of power.3 He previously served as the Assistant Secretary of Water and Science at the Department of the Interior (2018–2021) during the first Trump administration. Most recently, he worked as a senior staffer for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Why This Matters for the Seafood Industry:

Petty’s confirmation comes at a pivotal time for federal fisheries management. During his confirmation hearings, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle signaled clear expectations for his tenure:

• Improved Science & Surveys: Senators emphasized the urgent need to overhaul and improve fisheries surveys and stock assessments. Reliable data is the backbone of quota setting, and industry leaders have voiced frustration over recent survey gaps.
• Disaster Relief: One of Petty’s “first orders of business” will be addressing a backlog of fishery disaster declarations. Specifically, he has pledged to prioritize financial relief for Alaska’s salmon fisheries (including the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers) hit hard in recent years.
• Regulatory Efficiency: Expect a push for more “science-based policymaking” and a faster turnaround on regulations required to open fisheries on time.

The Bigger Picture:

Petty will join a leadership team that includes newly confirmed NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs. Together, they are expected to focus on reducing the U.S. seafood trade deficit and leveraging new technologies to modernize the agency’s approach to ocean resources.

What’s Next?

With the confirmation complete, Petty is expected to move quickly into his role at NOAA headquarters. His first major test will be balancing the administration’s goal of streamlining federal oversight with the industry’s demand for robust, well-funded scientific research.



News Release

U.S. secures major win for bluefin tuna fishery at 2025 ICCAT annual meeting

The United States delegation to the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Seville, Spain, secured the largest single-year increase in U.S. bluefin tuna quota in the history of the fishery. U.S. negotiators, led by NOAA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for International Fisheries Andrew Lawler, successfully advocated for an additional allocation of 231 metric tons of Atlantic bluefin tuna — a 17% increase in baseline quota and allowances for U.S. fishermen. This increase represents a significant step forward for the domestic fishing industry, which had been suffering under restrictive quota limits and unfair international competition for years. U.S. fishermen will see an increase in total allowable catch beginning in 2026.



Operation Riptide:

Highly Migratory Species Enforcement Levels the Playing Field for Law-Abiding Fishermen

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement led “Operation Riptide,” a 2-day multi-state operation targeting highly migratory species enforcement in July 2025. Agents and officers from NOAA, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation worked together to help protect marine life and law-abiding U.S. fishermen. We conducted this operation to help improve compliance with highly migratory species regulations in the state and federal waters off of New York and New Jersey.

Each day of the operation began with virtual briefings before participating agents and officers hit the water. These briefings provided crucial information on historic fishing patterns to help them effectively assess potential violations. They included details such as:

• Target species at that time of year
• Up-to-date weather and tide information
• Real-time species-specific migration and population density information in the operation area.

Crack Down



Following President Trump's America First Seafood Strategy, legislation cracks down on predatory foreign practices crushing our coastal fisherman and economy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 19, 2025) — Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) reintroduced the Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025 to strengthen protections for U.S. fisheries and coastal communities against foreign interference and illegal fishing.

The bill modernizes the Magnuson-Stevens Act to include economic harm caused by foreign actors as a valid trigger for disaster declarations, giving the federal government the power to intervene when American fishing communities are put at risk.

This is especially critical for South Carolina, where coastal fishermen have been undercut by unfair foreign competition and alleged mislabeling of foreign shrimp as “local.”

“South Carolina’s fishing industry is the backbone of our coastal economy and our way of life,” said Congresswoman Mace. “For far too long, foreign actors have cheated the system with illegal fishing, forced labor, and this bill finally brings real accountability. It defends the livelihoods of hardworking American fishermen instead of leaving them to pay the price.”

South Carolina’s Lowcountry fisheries support thousands of jobs, from shrimpers and captains to processors and marine service industries. Foreign interference threatens those jobs and the coastal economy depending on them.

The legislation expands the definition of a fishery disaster to include economic harm caused by foreign activity, such as:

• Market distortion by foreign producers,
• Disruptions to sustainable harvests, and
• Threats to the operational or economic viability of U.S. fisheries.

It also directs the Secretary of Commerce to consider evidence of:

• Illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) foreign fishing, including operations using forced labor,
• Predatory pricing from foreign competitors, and
• Subsidies that undercut U.S. seafood prices or distort markets.

NRDC Asks CIT to Enforce Settlement, Urge US to Implement Fisheries Import Ban

December 16, 2025 by Jacob Kopnick|Top News



Three wildlife advocacy groups urged the Court of International Trade to compel the U.S. to comply with its settlement agreement with the groups by requiring the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to bar the importation of fish and fish products from all harvesting nations that don't meet Marine Mammal Protect Act (MMPA) standards (Natural Resources Defense Council v. Howard Lutnick, CIT # 24-00148).

The three groups -- the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Center for Biological Diversity and the Animal Welfare Institute -- said the government violated its settlement agreement by striking another settlement agreement in a separate CIT case, which was led by the National Fisheries Institute. In the separate case, the U.S. agreed to stay the effective date of an import ban for swimming crab fisheries in five nations pending NMFS' reconsideration of the comparability findings for these fisheries (see 2510310035).

The NRDC argued that in its settlement agreement, the U.S. agreed to issue comparability findings for all harvesting nations by September 2025 and, on Jan. 1, 2026, bar the importation of fish and fish products from all harvesting nations for which NMFS had denied a comparability finding (see 2503250033). The MMPA requires that such an import ban be imposed on fisheries that don't have the same protections as U.S. fisheries.

However, since the NRDC settled its case, the U.S. struck a settlement in the separate lawsuit brought by the National Fisheries Institute. The NRDC said the U.S. is trying to "renege" on its obligations under the initial settlement agreement by delaying the Jan. 1, 2026, implementation date of the import ban for five swimming crab fisheries in Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka for which NMFS has denied comparability findings.

The U.S. "agreed to these terms in clear violation" of its settlement agreement, "which this Court has the power to enforce," the NRDC argued before the trade court. The advocacy group urged CIT to ban the import of fish and fish products from these five fisheries on Jan. 1, 2026.

The settlement agreement only establishes "two narrow circumstances where Defendants can obtain relief from their obligations under the [settlement] -- neither of which applies," the brief said. First, under the settlement agreement, NMFS can "reconsider" a comparability finding "in accordance with" its regulations. While the National Fisheries Institute settlement references "reconsideration," its "reconsideration" isn't "in accordance with" NMFS regulations, since the regulations "expressly require that, during any reconsideration, an import ban shall 'remain in effect' until NMFS is able to make a positive finding," the brief said.

Second, the settlement recognizes the government's ability to comply with a court order enjoining the enforcement of a comparability finding. "The NFI Settlement does not qualify," the NRDC said, since it only asked the court to retain jurisdiction to oversee compliance with the terms of the parties' stipulation.

Upcoming Fishery Management Council Meetings

2026 Meetings

SAFMC

Gulf Council

Other Important Meetings

• Jan 26-28, 2026 Gulf Council Meeting - New Orleans LA.
• Jan 23 2026, South Atlantic Council - Webinar Only
• Feb 4-5, Florida Wildlife Commission - Tallahassee FL
• March 2-6, 2026 - SAFMC - Jekyll Island GA

SFA's 2025 Activities and Achievements

Representation on Fishery Management Councils and Panels

• 2025 68^th SFA Annual Meeting: The Annual Meeting was a great success. We had a good attendance and had informative speakers providing information on a wide array of tropics. After the presentations there was good one on one exchange of information during the round table discussions. Plans are already in the works for our 69^th Annual Meeting and we are already looking for dates in September 2026.
• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: SFA was instrumental in helping Capt. Dewey Hemilright to be appointed as the North Carolina Commercial Representative on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Dewey will use his commercial fishing experience in his efforts to enhance the commercial seafood industry in the South Atlantic.
• Gulf Fishery Council: SFA was instrumental in helping Dr. Mike Allen to be appointed as the Florida Academic Representative on the Gulf Fishery Council. Mike will use his scientific and business knowledge in his efforts to provide advice on the management of Gulf fisheries.
• NMFS Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel: Board member Jimmy Hull and ED Bob Zales represent SFA and at a recent web meeting both provided information and comments on the increasing shark predation issues affecting all fishers.
• International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Advisory Panel: ED Bob Zales, newly appointed member, attended his first ICCAT meeting the week of June 2. Working with commercial and recreational representatives he was able to have language drafted that proposes the United States work to expand the shark fishery and recommends the U.S. allow the sale of shark fins. He was also able to have language included that would require other member nations to begin to research shark predation on other fisheries and look for ways to deter sharks.
• Merritt Island Refuge Commercial Fishing Permits: ED Bob Zales met with the Refuge Superintendent the week of June 9 about the current scheduled non-renewal of commercial fishing permits to access the refuge. The elimination of commercial fishing in the refuge is contrary to President Trump’s EO 14276 which directs all government agencies to restore the American Seafood Industry. The Superintendent is considering options.
• Space Coast Rocket Launches issues with restricted fishing and hazardous debris damaging fishing gear: Over the past 6 months, ED Bob Zales has met with members in the Cape Canaveral area along with members of Launch on Demand to provide information to the LOD folks to develop an app that will provide real time launch data to fishers to help reduce the restricted time to access fishing grounds. Bob has also been in discussions with legislators to contact FAA and NASA agencies to set a meeting with members from the Cape to consider various ways to mitigate gear damage and restricted fishing time and to consider establishment of a financial fund to compensate fishers for damage and loss of fishing time.  
• President Trump Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness: SFA is working with several governmental agencies and legislators to move this effort forward in order to seek deregulation of many regulations and increase commercial fishing activity.
• NOAA Ocean Week National Fish Fry: SFA participated with Greg Abrams Seafood and Ariel Seafood to provide and prepare fresh Gulf tuna, shrimp, red snapper and tuna dip and served to all attendees at the Fish Fry. Those in attendance were Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, NMFS AA Eugenio Soler, future NOAA AA Neal Jacobs, and many other agencies and legislative staff.
• Gulf Commercial Fisheries Summit: SFA is instrumental in creating this first of a kind meeting to bring the Gulf of America Commercial Seafood Industry together to discuss the many regulatory and legislative issues that impact the Gulf Commercial Seafood Industry. This summit should establish communication among all industry participants to work together on critical issues.

Key Initiatives and Events

• Participation in Events:
• Represented members at Gulf and South Atlantic Council meetings and FWC meetings.

·        Shrimp and other Seafood Products

o  Mislabeling of seafood products such as shrimp and reef fish is a growing issue that is being addressed by federal and state agencies. SFA is providing information on this issue to members and consumers as some restaurants and seafood dealers are selling imported products as domestic which harms local family fishing companies and misleads consumers to pay more for cheaper and in many cases harmful products where some are harvested by forced child labor. SFA continues to work with federal and state agencies to address this problem.

Advocacy and Policy Work

o  Working Waterfronts

o  We have consistently advocated for more working waterfronts and have sought funding for same. This is a national issue, and we are working with others across the country to find more areas to create working waterfronts. SFA fully supports current Federal Legislation, the Working Waterfront Act, introduced by Senators Murkowski and King.

• Charter Sector Concerns:
• Engaged with new for-hire charter members from the Florida Keys about open-access concerns. Continuing to work on the issue to help their business.
• Recommended limited entry for federally licensed charter vessels and the use of smart technology for data collection to SAFMC.
• Suggested a limited entry program for state-licensed for-hire vessels to FWC.
• SFA continues to lead the effort to improve recreational data that will account for the effort, catch and releases, especially release mortality to improve stock assessments which will allow for more quota for all.

Ongoing Collaboration and Advocacy

• Partnering with other commercial seafood associations and Rick Marks on legislative efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and support growth in the commercial seafood industry.
• Continuing to represent SFA’s interests at local, state, and federal levels to ensure sustainable and thriving fisheries for future generations.

Planning and preparing for the 69^th SFA Annual Meeting in 2026

·        Based on the success of our 68^th Annual Meeting held in May; we are in the process of planning the 69^th Annual Meeting. Currently we are looking for the meeting to be held in September 2026. Information on all of the meeting details will be provided in the near future. These annual meetings have been a great success providing opportunities for members to renew old friendships, make new ones, and learn about regulatory impacts and future legislation.

2025/2026 SFA OFFICERS

SFA Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Chairman of the Board: Eugene Raffield, Raffield Fisheries

President: Mike Merrifield, Wild Ocean Market

Vice President: Mike Lombardi, Lombardi's Seafood

Treasurer/Secretary: Amy Wirtz, Pelican Point Seafood 

Executive Director: Bob Zales II

Directors

Austin Abrams, Abrams Seafood

Pat Barker, Refrigerated Express Inc

Karen Bell, AP Bell Fish Co.

Jimmy Hull, Hull's Seafood Market

Peter Jarvis, Triar Seafood

Tony Lombarti, Lombarti Seafood

Pat Lynch, Bionic Bait

Chris Merrifield, Wild Ocean Market

Jeanna Merrifield, Wild Ocean Market

Sherri McCoy, Wild Ocean Market

Steven Rash, Water Street Seafood

Justin Versaggi, Versaggi Shrimp Co.

Jim Zurbrick, Fish For America