Effective February 23, 2026
In response to updated information from a September 2025 management track stock assessment, NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the 2026 Atlantic mackerel fishery specifications. Effective February 23, 2026, the specifications that rolled over from 2025 will be replaced by the new 2026 specifications in Table 1 below.
Table 1. 2025 and Revised 2026 Mackerel Fishery Specifications (mt).
|
Specification
|
2025
|
New 2026
|
|
Acceptable biological catch
|
3,200
|
10,714
|
|
Canadian catch deduction
|
74
|
500
|
|
U.S. ABC/annual catch limit
|
3,126
|
10,214
|
|
Recreational catch deduction
|
2,143
|
2,500
|
|
Management uncertainty buffer
|
0
|
610
|
|
Commercial annual catch target
|
983
|
7,104
|
|
Commercial discards
|
115
|
287
|
|
Domestic annual harvest/domestic annual processing
|
868
|
6,817
|
|
River herring/shad catch cap
|
129
|
129
|
This action does not revise existing commercial or recreational possession limits for mackerel.
For additional information, read the interim final rule as published in the Federal Register today and our bulletin. The comment period is open through March 25, 2026. Submit your comments through the e-rulemaking portal.
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