NOAA announced on Sept. 2 a set of priorities aimed at reforming NOAA Fisheries and strengthening the U.S. seafood industry through what the agency described as science-based regulations and expanded fishing opportunities.

The agency said in a release that the priorities are intended to move the country toward greater seafood production and competitiveness while maintaining sustainable fishing and conservation practices.

The actions follow Regional Priorities guidance released July 2, which called for the same standard of accountability to be applied to NOAA’s own operations, regulatory frameworks and scientific processes.

NOAA said the priority list serves as an operational roadmap for NOAA Fisheries’ role in supporting President Trump's Executive order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. The agency said the effort will also lead into a broader interagency America First Seafood Strategy expected to be released in the coming months.

“Through these priorities, the agency is taking actionable steps to fulfill the President's vision of making the United States the world's dominant seafood leader,” Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator, said in the release. “NOAA is proud to deliver real-world results to the American public through innovative solutions that streamline regulations.”

Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, said the priorities are intended to ensure federal fisheries management benefits domestic harvesters.

“These priorities represent NOAA Fisheries’ commitment to ensuring that federal fisheries management boosts domestic harvesters,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “We are proud to empower hard-working American fishermen to produce more seafood for American plates.”

NOAA Fisheries developed the priorities after considering input from more than 700 individuals and organizations, including regional councils, the fishing industry and the public.

The agency said its approach will emphasize science-based fisheries management while supporting sustainable fishing opportunities, responsible conservation and more efficient regulations. The priorities cover multiple areas of NOAA Fisheries’ mission, including protected resources, scientific research, national policies and efforts to improve fishing opportunities.

The complete list of priority actions is available on the NOAA Fisheries website at www.fisheries.noaa.gov.

NOAA said the announcement outlines the agency’s immediate internal priorities while also serving as a step toward a broader, interagency effort to change federal seafood policy.

In the coming months, NOAA said it will announce additional actions intended to strengthen national seafood markets, rebuild U.S. fisheries infrastructure and processing capacity and address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The agency said the broader effort is intended to strengthen the U.S. seafood sector and advance its goal of making the country the world's dominant seafood leader.