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

Overview

Fishing Type
Commercial, Recreational
Action Status
Final Rule
Effective
01/01/2025
Point of Contact
Laura Deighan, 978-281-9184 or laura.deighan@noaa.gov

Summary

This action implements 2025 catch limits for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries. This rule implements 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 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.

This rule also implements 2025 catch limits for black sea bass in compliance with the implementing regulations of the Federal Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. These regulations require us to take action to mitigate impacts on Federal permit holders in the event of different specifications between the Council and Commission.

2025 Specifications

Scup

Black Sea Bass

Summer Flounder

Bluefish

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 rule also approves the final summer flounder commercial state quotas.

State

Quota (lb)

ME

4,180

NH

40

MA

571,147

RI

1,378,507

CT

198,393

NY

672,157

NJ

1,470,098

DE

1,564

MD

179,233

VA

1,873,707

NC

2,412,443

Total

8,761,471

There are no changes to the Federal commercial or recreational management measures.

Federal Register

Bulletins

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

NOAA Fisheries Announces Final 2025 Specifications for the Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Fisheries
December 10, 2024 -

Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish 2025 Specifications Proposed Rule

NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed 2025 Specifications for the Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Fisheries
October 16, 2024 -

Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on 12/10/2024