The Southern Shrimp Alliance was grateful to join NOAA leadership for a Coastal Sciences Roundtable at the NOAA Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina. SSA Board Member and Chairman of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, Brent Fulcher, was invited by Dr. Neil Jacobs, Under Secretary of Commerce and NOAA Administrator, who convened the discussion with National Ocean Service Director Nicole LeBoeuf and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science/Office of Response and Restoration Director Sean Corson. The meeting brought together NOAA personnel and marine scientists to talk about the future of marine technology in eastern North Carolina, with Fulcher representing the perspective of commercial fishermen.
AI and Machine Learning: Faster, Better Stock Assessments
One of the biggest takeaways from the meeting was just how much momentum NOAA’s scientists have built around using artificial intelligence and machine learning to modernize fisheries science. These tools are helping streamline and enhance stock assessments, which in turn allow for more timely, responsive management decisions. This is a meaningful shift away from the slow-moving assessment cycles that have long frustrated fishermen waiting on accurate, up-to-date data.
This push towards smarter, faster science lines up directly with the Trump Administration’s “America First Seafood Strategy,” which prioritizes cutting unnecessary burdens on America’s fishermen. For an industry that has spent years navigating outdated assessments and slow bureaucratic processes, NOAA’s investment in these technologies is a welcome and overdue step forward.
Defending the Domestic Shrimp Fleet
The roundtable also reinforced NOAA Fisheries’ commitment to protecting the domestic shrimp fleet from the trade imbalances that have battered the industry for decades. Programs like Section 609 of Public Law 101-162, which require foreign fishermen to meet the same environmental standards as U.S. producers—particularly around sea turtle protection—remain a critical tool for leveling the playing field.
Enforcing these standards isn’t just about fairness for American fishermen. It’s a win for American workers, consumers, and the environment. Protecting migratory species in U.S. waters while allowing harmful fishing practices by foreign competitors is ineffective and disadvantages American fishermen in the U.S. market for investing in conservation.
For too long, NOAA’s work has served to regulate American fishermen rather than optimize America’s marine resources. By balancing conservation and commerce, America can have thriving fisheries that produce sustainable, healthy seafood for American consumers and reduce our reliance on imports from countries that fail to meet our environmental, food safety, and labor standards.
Building a Marine Science Corridor
Beyond stock assessments and trade enforcement, the conversation touched on the broader potential of eastern North Carolina to grow as a leading marine science and technology corridor. From uncrewed systems to AI-driven data collection for coastal habitats, the region’s marine science cluster is clearly embracing next generation tools. Carteret County’s role as a gub for that innovation continues to grow.
NOAA leadership was clear that input from industry voices, like Fulcher’s, is essential to shaping that future. Strong collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions will be what determines whether this region reaches its full potential as a center for marine research and technology.
“SSA thanks Under Secretary Dr. Jacobs, Director LeBoeuf, and Director Corson for the opportunity to contribute to the important conversation,” said Blake Price, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “We’re encouraged by NOAA’s direction, from embracing new technology to holding foreign producers accountable, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration as it shapes the future of American fisheries management.”