WASHINGTON D.C. — In a decisive move to solidify maritime leadership, the U.S. Senate confirmed Timothy Petty on December 19, 2025, as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Petty will now spearhead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fisheries division.

A Strategic Leadership Role

As the head of NOAA Fisheries, Petty is tasked with a massive mandate: managing the nation’s marine fisheries and ensuring the conservation of protected ocean species. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) noted that Petty will act as second-in-command at NOAA, likely stepping into the role of NOAA Deputy Administrator.

Background and Expertise

Petty, a seasoned geologist, brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to the Department of Commerce:

• Department of the Interior: Served as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science (2018–2021).

• Capitol Hill: Former senior staffer for the House Subcommittee on Water and Environment.

During his October confirmation hearing, Petty faced rigorous questioning regarding stock assessments and the streamlining of disaster relief funding for coastal communities. His appointment comes at a critical time as the agency balances commercial fishing interests with escalating climate-related challenges in federal waters.

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During his recent annual televised Q&A session, President Vladimir Putin addressed a growing concern for Russian households: the lack of affordable fish. Despite Russia’s vast maritime resources, domestic consumption continues to fall short of national health standards.

Barriers to Consumption

The President identified several systemic bottlenecks preventing the fishing industry from meeting public demand. Currently, high costs and logistical hurdles mean that high-quality catch from the Far East often struggles to reach the more populated European regions of Russia at competitive prices.

The Strategic Roadmap

To bridge the gap between the ocean and the dinner table, Putin outlined a multi-pronged strategy:

• Logistical Optimization: Streamlining supply chains to ensure fish products move across the country more efficiently.

• Reduced Transport Costs: Implementing measures to lower the price of shipping from eastern ports to the West.

• Tax Incentives: Reviewing taxation policies to alleviate pressure on the fishing industry.

• Fleet Modernization: Creating favorable conditions to continue the construction of domestic fishing vessels.

"We need to ensure that fish products can reach consumers as cheaply as possible," Putin emphasized, signaling that the government will prioritize infrastructure and affordability to improve the national diet.

The Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) has taken a strategic step toward updating the biological diagnosis of the Argentine red shrimp. Through Minute No. 36/2025, the council formally requested INIDEP (National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development) to conduct a feasibility study for a scientific research campaign in the area colloquially known as the "Bridi Closure."

A Key Protected Zone

This maritime sector, located off the coast of Río Negro Province (between parallels 41° and 43° S and extending to the 62° W meridian), is currently under a strict bottom-trawling ban for shrimp per Resolution CFP No. 7/2018. The proposed mission aims to:

• Evaluate population dynamics within the protected reserve.

• Analyze potential yields in light of recent changes observed in the commercial fishery.

• Provide empirical data to support future management and sustainability decisions.

Technical Rationale

The decision follows an assessment of fleet behavior and catch yields in open fishing grounds over recent seasons. By gathering updated technical information, autho

MBA Chief Executive, Professor Willie Wilson, reflects on 2025. 

December always brings with it one of the highlights of our calendar, the Annual General Meeting, and with it an invaluable moment to reflect on our science, our community and our impact. Despite what has been an undeniably challenging period for the wider world, the ocean and the academic sector, the MBA has continued to deliver.

Our?2025 Annual Report?captures this story in more detail and I would personally like to share a few highlights that illustrate the strength, ambition and impact of the MBA today.

Source: Fish Focus | Read the full article here

Norway and Russia have reached an agreement on fishing quotas in 2026 for shared Barents Sea stocks, but the sanctioning of two major Russian companies by Norway continues to be a point of contention. 

Norway and Russia have agreed to set a total quota for Northeast Arctic cod of 285,000 metric tons (MT), a decrease of 16 percent compared to the quota set for 2025. That proposal is a compromise between the Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group number of 269,550 MT and a number from the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) which proposed a much higher quota of 315,033 MT, which would have been an increase over the quota set for 2025.

Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Shark scare at salmon farm as damage discovered in sea pen.

A swarm of sharks has ripped into a salmon farm in Norway, tearing holes in nets and sparking fears thousands of fish may have escaped.

The dramatic incident unfolded at a SalMar site in Trøndelag, Norway where operators discovered extensive damage to a sea pen after repeated shark attacks.Regulators say the predators struck under cover of darkness, forcing the company to urgently move fish out of the damaged enclosure and deploy emergency recapture nets.

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

A ban on salmon farm in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, has been overturned by a single vote in the region’s legislature, according to reports.

The local government in Tierra del Fuego passed the law in 2021, but regional legislator Agustín Coto – now a senator - moved to revoke the ban in the face of an economic squeeze. Tourism in Tierra del Fuego has slowed, and the region’s manufacturing sector is facing increasing pressures.Argentina’s current president, Javier Milei, also favours deregulating the nation’s industries to boost growth.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

FISA presented the preliminary program for the AquaSur 2026 Congress, featuring three days focused on innovation, sustainability, genetics, and technologies for aquaculture.

The thirteenth edition of AquaSur will take place from March 24 to 26, 2026, in the Los Lagos Region of Chile. The exhibition is considered the leading meeting point in the Southern Hemisphere for companies dedicated to aquaculture and related products.

The event organizers, FISA, part of the French group GL events, have high expectations for this edition. 

Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here