Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program
The Regional Administrator has allocated zero trips to common pool vessels in the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock SAP to target yellowtail flounder and has made a determination that the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Area is instead open in Fishing Year 2026 to target haddock, from August 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027. Northeast multispecies vessels fishing in the SAP must fish with a haddock separator trawl, a Ruhle trawl, or hook gear.
This determination is made based on whether there is sufficient quota available to support at least 150 fishing trips with a 15,000-lb trip limit of Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder, which equals a total catch of 2,250,000 lbs. The commercial groundfish sub-ACL for yellowtail flounder for fishing year 2026 is 167,551 lb, which equals 11 trips landing a 15,000 lb trip limit. As such, there is insufficient GB yellowtail flounder to allocate any trips to the SAP.
Regular B Days-at-Sea Program Closure
The Regular B Days-at-Sea (DAS) Program is closed for fishing year 2026, through April 30, 2027. During this closure, Northeast Multispecies Vessels may not use or declare B DAS.
Questions?
Contact Spencer Talmage, Regional Office, (978) 281-9232, Spencer.Talmage@noaa.gov
