We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reopening the public comment period on our June 17, 2025, proposed rule to remove the Gila chub (Gila intermedia) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. We are taking this action to allow all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in our development of the final rule.
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the WAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.
Today, the Commission proposed extending the annual winter closure in the Bay of Biscay into winter 2027 for fishing vessels over eight metres to help prevent catches of common dolphins and other small cetaceans - which are strictly protected species under the EU Habitats Directive.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that nine species are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA or Act). After a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Big Bar hesperian (Vespericola pressleyi), Chesapeake logperch (Percina bimaculate), Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii), orangefin madtom (Noturus gilberti), Shasta chaparral (Trilobopsis roperi), Shasta hesperian (Vespericola shasta), Shasta sideband (Monadenia troglodytes troglodytes), tall western penstemon (Penstemon hesperius), and Wintu sideband (Monadenia troglodytes wintu). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.
NMFS proposes regulations to modify the Pacific halibut (halibut) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to revise vessel harvest limitations for IFQ halibut harvested in IFQ regulatory Areas (Areas) 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E by establishing a vessel harvest limit of five percent of the total annual commercial catch limit across Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This action would also exclude IFQ halibut harvest derived from quota held by a Community Quota Entity (CQE) in Area 4B from accruing under the proposed five percent vessel harvest limit across Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This action would provide additional flexibility for halibut IFQ Program fishery participants in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, where fishery conditions continue to be challenging. This action would promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws.
NMFS established fishery management measures for the ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California for the season beginning May 16, 2026, until the effective date of the 2027 management measures, which we expect to be May 16, 2027 (the 2026 ocean salmon fishing season), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The final rule, published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2026, included an error in the management measures for recreational ocean salmon fisheries in the subarea from Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico border (Monterey). This action corrects an error by adding the text that was accidentally omitted from the May 19, 2026 rule and clarifies the applicability of bag limits and early 2027 management measures in the area from Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco).
The European Commission has approved a €30 million State aid scheme for agricultural, fishery and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices due to the Middle East crisis.
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) length overall using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service), open or expand hunting opportunities on 111 field stations, including 107 units of the National Wildlife Refuges System (Refuge System or NWRS) and 4 units of the National Fish Hatchery System (Hatchery System or NFHS). This includes opening hunting or sport fishing opportunities for the first time on 14 National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and 3 National Fish Hatcheries (NFH). These actions will open or expand more than 1,450 opportunities for hunting and fishing across the NWRS and NFHS in order to increase access for the American public. In accordance with Secretary's Order (S.O.) 3447 and Director's Order (D.O.) 233, we also make changes to existing station-specific regulations in order to improve the clarity and accuracy of regulations, reduce the regulatory burden on the public, ensure consistency across FWS lands and waters, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain-language standards.
The Government of Canada, represented by the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, joined representatives from the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs to sign a 10-year Incremental Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement at the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs’ Office and Sindihl House of Learning in Gitanyow, in northwestern British Columbia.