NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on proposed 2026 Blueline and Golden Tilefish Specifications.
This action would implement increased specifications for blueline tilefish for fishing year 2026. These specifications are consistent with the recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and are based on the most recent blueline tilefish assessment, completed in March 2025. The proposed specifications are below:
Specification | 2025 | Proposed 2026 |
ABC – North of NC/VA line | 100,520 lb | 452,200 lb |
Recreational ACL | 73,380 lb | 330,106 lb |
Recreational TAL | 71,912 lb | 323,504 lb |
Commercial ACL | 27,140 lb | 122,094 lb |
Commercial Overage Adjustment | -5,975 lb | -617 lb |
Adjusted Commercial ACL | 21,165 lb | 121,477 lb |
Commercial TAL | 20,894 lb | 109,330 lb |
This action would implement status quo specifications for golden tilefish. We previously projected 2026 golden tilefish specifications in the final rule for 2025 golden tilefish specifications (June 26, 2025; 90 FR 27257), and no changes are proposed. This is consistent with Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council recommendation for status quo golden tilefish specifications for fishing years 2025 through 2027. The proposed golden tilefish specifications are below:
Specification | 2026 |
ABC | 1,878,338 lb |
ACL | 1,878,338 lb |
IFQ ACT | 1,733,109 lb |
Incidental ACT | 91,216 lb |
IFQ TAL | 1,728,590 lb |
Incidental TAL | 68,949 lb |
