Final Rule for 2022 and Projected 2023 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Specifications
Summary
NOAA Fisheries is approving the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended 2022 and projected 2023 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass specifications. The catch limits are based on the results of recently conducted stock assessments for all three species and the recommendations of the Council’s Science and Statistical Committee. No changes to the federal commercial management measures are being made.
|
2022 Specifications |
Scup |
Black Sea Bass |
Summer Flounder |
|
Overfishing Limit (OFL) |
32.56 |
19.26 |
36.28 |
|
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) |
32.11 |
18.86 |
33.12 |
|
Commercial ACL = Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) |
25.05 |
10.10 |
18.48 |
|
Commercial Quota |
20.38 |
6.47 |
15.53 |
|
Recreational ACL = ACT |
7.06 |
8.76 |
14.64 |
|
Recreational Harvest Limit (RHL) |
6.08 |
6.74 |
10.36 |
|
Projected 2023 Specifications |
Scup |
Black Sea Bass |
Summer Flounder |
|
OFL |
30.09 |
17.01 |
34.98 |
|
ABC |
29.67 |
16.66 |
33.12 |
|
Commercial ACL = Commercial ACT |
23.15 |
8.93 |
18.48 |
|
Commercial Quota |
17.87 |
5.71 |
15.53 |
|
Recreational ACL = ACT |
6.53 |
7.74 |
14.64 |
|
RHL |
5.41 |
5.95 |
10.36 |
Final 2022 Summer Flounder State-by-State Commercial Quotas
|
State |
Final 2022 Quotas (lb) |
Final 2022 Quotas (mt) |
|
ME |
24,488 |
11.11 |
|
NH |
19,990 |
9.07 |
|
MA |
1,391,846 |
631.33 |
|
RI |
2,238,216 |
1015.24 |
|
CT |
956,043 |
433.65 |
|
NY |
1,470,779 |
667.13 |
|
NJ |
2,337,728 |
1060.38 |
|
DE |
-19,173 |
-8.70 |
|
MD |
935,226 |
424.21 |
|
VA |
2,776,242 |
1259.28 |
|
NC |
3,361,569 |
1524.78 |
|
Total |
15,512,127 |
7036.18 |
Note: Summed not including Delaware.