NOAA announced regional priorities to revitalize the U.S. seafood sector in response to a presidential executive order. The priorities focus on reducing burdens on domestic fishing, increasing production, improving access, and enhancing economic profitability.

This effort follows the President's Executive Order Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, which aims to increase the sustainable harvest of seafood resources and boost American fishermen. NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs stated, "These regional priorities are a critical step in our efforts to fulfill the President's vision of making the United States the world's dominant seafood leader." Jacobs added, "We look forward to partnering with the councils to advance seafood competitiveness and support our American fishermen."

In August 2025, NOAA Fisheries requested input from stakeholders, including regional fishery management councils, regarding improvements to fisheries management and science. The goal of this input request was to stabilize markets, improve access, enhance economic profitability, and prevent closures. NOAA received comments from more than 700 individuals and organizations, with each regional fishery management council submitting a detailed action plan.

After considering input from councils, the fishing industry, and the public, NOAA prioritized actions for each council region. In the New England region, priorities include alleviating industry-funded monitoring burdens, modernizing fleet capacity, and re-evaluating static area closures to restore yield and economic viability. For the Mid-Atlantic region, priorities are to modernize fleet capacity and improve quota distribution. In the South Atlantic region, NOAA will focus on improving access and flexibility and advancing state-led data partnerships.

In the Caribbean region, NOAA's priorities involve reviewing the effectiveness of marine protected areas, evaluating the role of the territories in the management of spiny lobster and queen conch, and increasing economic returns to the islands. The Gulf of America region's priorities are to defend the domestic shrimp fleet from trade imbalances and optimize Individual Fishing Quota accessibility. In the Pacific region, NOAA will review trawl observer redundancies and Pacific sardine science and management.

For the North Pacific region, priorities include reviewing Steller sea lion closure boundaries, removing unnecessary requirements, and increasing flexibility. In the Western Pacific region, NOAA aims to enable commercial fishing previously prohibited by monument closures and will consider additional management changes to improve access and flexibility consistent with the Endangered Species Act. NOAA's priorities for Highly Migratory Species are to implement international quota increases and maximize target catch retention.