Final Rule for 2021 Mid-Atlantic Blueline Tilefish Specifications
Summary
NOAA Fisheries is finalizing blueline tilefish quotas for the 2021 fishing year, which began on January 1, 2021. Approved measures include acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), and total allowable landings (TAL) for the commercial and recreational fisheries, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
In 2020, the commercial sector landed 108% of the commercial TAL. By regulation, a commercial overage is deducted from the quota the following year. As a result, the commercial quota has been adjusted because of the overage in 2020. The recreational TAL was not exceeded so the recreational quota remains status quo.
Blueline Tilefish Specifications for Fishing Year 2021
|
Specifications |
2021 |
|
ABC – North of NC/VA line |
100,520 lb |
|
Recreational ACL |
73,380 lb |
|
Assumed Recreational Discards |
1,468 lb |
|
Recreational TAL |
71,912 lb |
|
Commercial ACL |
27,140 lb |
|
Assumed Commercial Discards |
271 lb |
|
2020 Commercial Overage |
1,965 lb |
|
Commercial TAL |
24,924 lb |
All other requirements remain the same.