Recognizing the profound impact of climate change on marine ecosystems and fishing communities, the FCC is committed to ensuring that fishery management decisions are informed by the latest scientific understanding of a changing climate and warming oceans. By incorporating climate-related data and projections into management plans, we can better anticipate and adapt to shifting fish populations, ocean conditions, and environmental stressors.

Our advocacy efforts focus on promoting the use of climate information to inform catch limits, habitat conservation, fishery access, and ecosystem-based management strategies. We work closely with scientists, policymakers, and fishing communities to develop practical tools and approaches that support resilient fisheries. Ultimately, the FCC aims to build a more sustainable and equitable future for commercial fishing by integrating climate considerations into additional aspects of fishery management.

The FCC championed the development an passage of the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on January 5, 2021. The YFDA is a small but mighty program administered by Sea Grant each year to support fishing organizations and other institutions to support young community-based fishermen begin their careers at sea.

Each year the FCC works with Congress and allied fishing organizations to ensure that YFDA programs receive adequate fiscal support, and ensure that NOAA administers the program appropriately. You can read more about how Sea Grant administers the YFDA program here, and learn more about the history and mechanics of YFDA programs here.

FCC members understand that there are always opportunities for us to do better. Improving the fundamentals in fishery management means protecting sensitive habitat from harmful impacts, whether from fishing gear or destructive industrialization of our oceans, coasts, and rivers. It means working together to build balanced solutions between harvest and informed conservation to ensure there is a productive surplus of fish to catch now, and later. It also means ensuring the effectiveness of management by incorporating state-of-the-art climate change modeling techniques.

The FCC has been a leading voice advancing smart, targeted bycatch reduction for years. We champion solutions that prioritize directed fisheries and minimize impacts to communities and the environment.

Community-based fishermen depend on the health of marine resources for their families’ livelihoods. That’s why they’re the most legitimate and passionate stewards of our oceans and fisheries. By advancing policies that support fishing communities and family-owned fishing and seafood businesses, the FCC is making a case for the future of fish.

Our coalition works hard to champion accountability measures that ensure fair access to marine resources, keeping America’s ocean bounty on your dinner plate. Our fishery monitoring programs must have clearly defined goals and objectives, use innovative tools and technologies, maintain cost effectiveness, and provide comprehensive data capable of rapidly informing management decisions.

The Magnson-Stevens Act frames our fishery management system. Each of the programs it established, from the Regional Fishery Management Councils and the National Standards by which they operate to individual Fishery Management Plans, requires diligent care and engagement in order to remain fair, equitable, and sustainable. The FCC is constantly monitoring the status of our fishery management system, weighing in when necessary and empowering the next generation of fishing community advocates to make their voices heard.

Each year, FCC members travel to Washington, DC for a ‘fly-in’ to meet with the key Senators, Representatives, and Federal agency officials to deliver messages straight from the working waterfront to the halls of power.

The Farm Bill is a major piece of legislation that instructs the federal government how to support US food producers. The Farm Bill is considered every 5 years, although political gridlock has delayed its passage until late 2024 or beyond. Historically, the Farm Bill supports land-based agriculture operations, although fishing and seafood businesses can qualify for a very limited number of its programs.

The FCC has recently become one of the leading voices advocating for supporting small scale seafood and fishing businesses in the Farm Bill. We believe that seafood support should be primarily based in the US Department of Agriculture, and that the agency’s programs should be expanded to support fishing and seafood businesses. From expanding Farm Credit and marketing program eligibility to expanding cold storage funding to ensuring Buy American programs apply, the FCC’s inclusive approach to the Farm Bill is a rising tide that will lift all ships.

The FCC is a leading advocate for ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) within the U.S. federal fisheries management system. EBFM is a holistic approach that considers the entire marine ecosystem, rather than focusing solely on individual fish stocks. This means managing fisheries while accounting for the complex interactions between fish species, marine habitats, and other ocean life. By adopting an EBFM framework, we can ensure the long-term health of our oceans and the sustainability of the fishing industry.

The FCC works diligently to promote policies and practices that support EBFM, such as limiting bottom contact gear in sensitive areas, reducing bycatch, and managing for community and ecosystem resilience. By working collaboratively with scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders, we can achieve both environmental and economic sustainability. Read more about the FCC’s approach to EBFM here.