Final Rule for the 2024 and Projected 2025 Specifications for the Summer Flounder and Scup Fisheries, and 2024 Specifications for the Black Sea Bass Fishery
Summary
We are implementing the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended 2024 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass specifications, and projected 2025 specifications for summer flounder and scup. The catch limits are based on the results of recently conducted stock assessments for summer flounder and scup, and the recommendations of the Council’s Science and Statistical Committee for all three species.
| 2024 Specifications | Scup | Black Sea Bass | Summer Flounder |
| Overfishing Limit (OFL) | 44.74 | 17.01 | 22.98 |
| Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 43.82 | 16.66 | 19.32 |
| Commercial ACL = Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 28.48 | 7.50 | 10.62 |
| Commercial Quota | 21.15 | 6.00 | 8.79 |
| Recreational ACL = ACT | 15.34 | 9.16 | 8.69 |
| Recreational Harvest Limit | 13.18 | 6.27 | 6.35 |
| Projected 2025 Specifications | Scup | Summer Flounder |
| Overfishing Limit (OFL) | 40.58 | 24.97 |
| Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 39.74 | 19.32 |
| Commercial ACL = Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 25.83 | 10.62 |
| Commercial Quota | 18.80 | 8.79 |
| Recreational ACL = ACT | 13.91 | 8.69 |
| Recreational Harvest Limit | 11.84 | 6.35 |
The final rule also approves the final summer flounder commercial state quotas.
| State | Final 2024 State Quotas (lb) |
|---|---|
| ME | 4,180 |
| NH | 40 |
| MA | 599,507 |
| RI | 1,378,507 |
| CT | 198,394 |
| NY | 672,157 |
| NJ | 1,470,098 |
| DE | 1,564 |
| MD | 179,233 |
| VA | 1,873,707 |
| NC | 2,412,443 |
| Total | 8,789,831 |
There are no changes to the federal commercial management measures.
Through this action, we are removing the January 1-April 30 federal recreational scup closure. States will implement more restrictive recreational management measures for 2024 and 2025 to achieve the required harvest reduction.