NOAA Fisheries Implements 2024 and 2025 Summer Flounder and Scup and 2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures

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NOAA Fisheries - New England - Mid Atlantic Bulletin

April 25, 2024

NOAA Fisheries Implements 2024 and 2025 Summer Flounder and Scup and 2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures

NOAA Fisheries is implementing 2024 and 2025 summer flounder and scup and 2024 black sea bass recreational fishery management measures.

Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass

We are approving the conservation-equivalency approach for the summer flounder and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Under conservation equivalency, federal recreational management measures are waived. Recreational fishery participants, including federally permitted for-hire vessels, must comply with the recreational summer flounder and black sea bass regulations in their states.

For summer flounder, we have approved conservation equivalency for 2024 and 2025. For black sea bass, we have approved conservation equivalency for 2024. Recreational black sea bass measures will be reevaluated for 2025 after the 2024 management track assessment is available. 

Scup

There are no changes to federal recreational scup measures for 2024 and 2025. Federal recreational scup measures are: a year-round open season, a 40-fish possession limit, and a 10-inch minimum size. 

Read the final rule as published in the Federal Register today.

Questions?

Fishermen: Contact Emily Keiley, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9116

Media: Contact GARFO Public Affairs