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SouBob Zales - Executive Director
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
July 2026
It has been several months since my last Executive Director's Report. As everyone knows, we have been extremely busy addressing a wide range of issues affecting the commercial seafood industry. These efforts have required our full attention as we continue working to protect and strengthen our industry.
One of our most successful events during this period was our meeting at the Boston Seafood Show. The meeting was well attended and featured outstanding speakers, including representatives from the SBA Office of Advocacy and NMFS Assistant Administrator Eugenio E. Piñeiro Soler. We also had excellent audience participation. The focus of the meeting was The American Commercial Seafood Industry and how we can unite industry representatives to elevate commercial seafood to the same level of recognition and support afforded to farmers and ranchers. The attention generated by this meeting was instrumental in helping achieve the establishment of the new USDA Office of Seafood, an important first step toward gaining the recognition and support our industry deserves.
We were also successful in supporting the reappointment of South Atlantic and Gulf Council members from Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama. Congratulations to Capt. Ed Walker (Florida) and Kerry Marhefka (South Carolina) and Dr. Anthony Overton (Alabama)on their reappointments. We continue to work closely with both Councils on numerous fisheries management issues to protect and enhance our marine resources while ensuring continued access for future generations.
Progress continues, although slowly, in our efforts to eliminate the shark fin ban and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on the commercial shark fishery. Our goal is to allow commercial shark fishermen greater opportunities to harvest sharks while maintaining sustainable fisheries. More broadly, we remain committed to reducing regulatory burdens across the commercial seafood industry by working closely with the SBA Office of Advocacy and other federal agencies.
We have also made significant progress regarding U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations governing approved offshore communication devices. Since last August, we have participated in multiple meetings and two webinars with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), providing detailed information on how commercial and passenger vessels currently utilize Starlink and other internet-based communication systems offshore. There is now broad agreement among the USCG, FCC, and other officials that approving these systems will greatly enhance emergency voice communications. We are optimistic that regulatory approval is forthcoming, which will improve safety while easing compliance requirements for vessel owners.
We are now focused on our 2026 Annual Meeting, which will be held September 8–11 at the Reefhouse Resort & Marina in Key Largo. Registration information, sponsorship opportunities, information to donate items for our auction, and meeting details are available on our website. Simply click on the "AM 2026" tab to access registration forms, sponsorship information, and tickets for our annual 50/50 raffle. With all 300 tickets sold at $50 each, the winner could receive up to $6,000. We encourage everyone to purchase their tickets early.
This year's Annual Meeting is shaping up to be one of our best. We are assembling an outstanding lineup of speakers who will provide the latest information on regulatory developments, business issues, fisheries research, and other topics important to our industry. Confirmed speakers will be announced soon, so please check our website regularly for updates.
Sponsorships continue to be an outstanding way for businesses and individuals to demonstrate their support for the commercial seafood industry and the work of the SFA. While our primary mission is to secure regulatory relief and protect our industry, the many businesses that supply products and services to commercial fishermen also benefit from a strong, viable seafood industry. We offer several levels of sponsorship and encourage everyone to consider participating. Sponsorship forms and additional information are available on our website.
For additional information, please visit www.sfaonline.org. You may also contact me at bobzales@sfaonline.org, Tracy at tracy.sfa@gmail.com, or call us at 850-532-7977.
We hope you will join us in Key Largo this September. We look forward to an informative, productive, and enjoyable meeting with friends and colleagues from across the industry.
Capt. Bob Zales
Executive Director.
Busy Times for Fisheries & and Industry Impact
As you can see from the many reports you receive, these are busy times for fisheries and the businesses they support. The Trump Administration continues to advance policies that impact us all in one way or another. On the regulatory front, every agency is working to ease burdens and improve business operations.
Regarding fisheries, Executive Order 14276 — Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness —directs NMFS and the Councils to seek input on how to improve the commercial seafood industry. They are looking for suggestions on regulations that negatively affect you, ideas for deregulation, and proposals to help the industry move forward. We have already shared information about scheduled meetings to collect comments and will continue to provide updates via email.
In The New Edition of Emailed Hotlines:
New Council Appointments: Dr. Mike Allen (Gulf Council) and Dewey Hemilright (South Atlantic Council).
Grouper Sandwich Controversy: Governor DeSantis claims $32 is too much for a grouper sandwich & SFA’s Vice President, Mike Lombardi, responds.
Shrimp Labeling Explained: Understand restaurant and market terms.
Regulatory Updates: Coverage of actions by the Trump Administration and the new
“Big Beautiful Bill.”
Red Grouper Lawsuit Settled
The Gulf of America red grouper lawsuit related to Amendment 53 has been settled. As part of the agreement:
Plaintiffs receive $20,000 in legal fees.
DOJ will instruct NMFS to have the Gulf Council revisit allocation issues.
The review will use Florida State Reef Fish Survey data instead of MRIP-FES.
Impact: This could increase the commercial sector allocation from nearly 60% to close to 70%, resulting in a potential 10% increase in quota share.
New Lawsuit: Recreational Sector Accountability
On July 3, Slash Creek Waterworks and others filed a suit against the Secretary of Commerce and NMFS. The suit addresses:
Excessive discards and mortality by the recreational sector.
Lack of accountability in recreational data and harvest.
SFA Position:
We have long advocated for a recreational data collection program.
We support quota accountability where each sector covers its own discards and mortality. We will monitor this case closely and provide updates.
SpaceX Activity on Northeast Florida Coast
Recent SpaceX activity and public hearings have raised major concerns:
Restricted fishing access.
Damage from launch debris.
Excessive noise and potential runoff impacts.
We are hopeful of improved cooperation between the company and federal agencies and stakeholders to resolve these issues.
SFA 2025 Mid-Year Accomplishments
We have made significant progress on many industry priorities. A full report of our 2025
accomplishments (January–June) is included below.
Membership Drive Launching Soon We will be launching a membership campaign to increase
our support base across all sectors. Your participation makes our advocacy possible.
How You Can Help:
Share this newsletter.
Encourage others in the seafood industry to join.
Let us know how we can better support your business.
We are Here for the Commercial Seafood Industry
Contact us with questions, concerns, or suggestions. Together, we will continue working to protect and strengthen the industry we serve. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Capt. Bob
WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD FOR THE OVERSIGHT HEARING On restoring AMERICAN SEAFOOD COMPETITIVENESS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER, WILDLIFE, AND FISHERIES HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 4, 2025
NOAA FTR - Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.pdf
June 2-5, 2025 Bob and other members of SFA are in Washington for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation "Capitol Hill Ocean Week" CHOW 2025.
In May Bob was in Washington DC to meet with Jason Becker, White House Public Liaison to discuss Fishing Issues
FL state private recreational season for 2025
https://www.wjhg.com/2025/04/28/longest-red-snapper-season-date-governor-desantis-announces/
LA residents accused of false crab landings
Info on trump EO and worldwide impacts
Gulf Council name and web site change
Info from South Atlantic Council
https://safmc.net/posts/the-south-atlantic-bite-4-25-2025/