NOAA Fisheries is actively seeking public input on potential locations for new Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs), inviting comments by September 14, 2026. The agency will also host three public listening sessions on August 6, August 13, and August 31 to gather relevant information and specific issues for consideration in identifying future aquaculture sites. This national initiative aims to guide the future development of sustainable aquaculture.
In other significant developments, NOAA Fisheries has been involved in critical marine conservation efforts. On the West Coast, whale watch operators in Monterey Bay provided crucial assistance in July, leading to the successful disentanglement of a humpback whale from commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear. While an initial sighting in May was hampered by poor weather, persistent efforts led to the whale's release. Further north, off the Oregon Coast, a collaborative team, including a local fishing vessel, freed another severely entangled humpback whale on July 26. Despite the removal of all gear, the young whale sustained a permanent jaw injury, making its survival unlikely, though the insights gained are hoped to prevent future incidents.
The agency continues its extensive research and monitoring programs, including the "Teacher at Sea" initiative. Teachers Jo Slavitz in Alaska and Cheyanne Vanderdonckt in the Southeast have joined scientists to survey species like Alaska pollock, sharks, and snapper, providing valuable insights into marine ecosystems and bycatch. Stacey Morris, another Teacher at Sea, is currently surveying pelagic fish off the West Coast, utilizing acoustic methods and a moving vessel profiler. Additionally, the 2026 Ecosystem Monitoring Survey in the New England/Mid-Atlantic region continues its comprehensive tracking of oceanographic conditions and marine resources, involving university partners and a Teacher at Sea. Pacific Islands interns have also contributed to diverse projects, from gamefish monitoring to Hawaiian monk seal conservation and aquaculture permitting. These ongoing efforts underscore NOAA Fisheries' commitment to sustainable marine resource management and ecosystem health.