NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed 2025 Specifications for the Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Fisheries

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NOAA Fisheries - New England - Mid Atlantic Bulletin

October 16, 2024

NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed 2025 Specifications for the Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Fisheries

Comments Due October 31, 2024

NOAA Fisheries is proposing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended 2025 summer flounder, scup, and bluefish specifications. These specifications are consistent with those adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission). The proposed catch limits are based on the results of recently conducted stock assessments for summer flounder, scup, and bluefish, and the recommendations of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee for all three species. We are proposing 2025 specifications for black sea bass consistent with those adopted by the Commission.

 2025 Specifications

  Scup 

Black Sea Bass

Summer Flounder

 Bluefish 

 Overfishing Limit (OFL)

 42.19  

17.01

24.97

27.49

 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)

  41.31 

16.66

19.32

21.83

 Commercial ACL = Commercial Annual   Catch Target (ACT)

 26.85 

7.50

10.62

3.06

 Commercial Quota

 19.54 

6.00

8.79

3.03

 Recreational ACL = ACT

 14.46 

9.16

8.69

18.78

 Recreational Harvest Limit

 12.31 

6.27

6.35

15.70

The final summer flounder and bluefish commercial state quotas will be published in the final rule, including any necessary adjustments for overages.

No changes to the Federal commercial or recreational management measures are proposed.

Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register today and the bulletin. The comment period is open through October 31, 2024. Submit your comments through the e-rulemaking portal

Questions?

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

Media: Contact GARFO Public Affairs