Initial 2020 Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Commercial Quotas and Recreational Harvest Limits

NOAA Fisheries is implementing interim 2020 scup, black sea bass, and bluefish specifications and 2020–2021 summer flounder specifications. This action becomes effective January 1, 2020.

The interim 2020 scup, black sea bass, and bluefish specifications will be in place for the first few months of the fishing year while NOAA Fisheries works to address the results of operational stock assessments for all three species incorporating revised Marine Resource Information Program estimates. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will recommend revised specifications at a joint October 2019 meeting. 

Initial 2020 Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications and 2020-2021 Summer Flounder Specifications, in millions of pounds.*

* Final 2020 specifications incorporating any previous years’ overages will be announced in late 2019.

Scup Initial Commercial Quota Allocations for 2020 and Initial Trip Limits, in pounds.

^*The Winter I possession limit will drop to 1,000 lb upon attainment of 80 percent of that period’s allocation.  The Winter II possession limit may be adjusted (in association with a transfer of unused Winter I quota to the Winter II period) via notification in the Federal Register.

Commercial Summer Flounder State Quotas*

*We will announce any adjustments necessary to address any long-standing overages or potential 2018 overages prior to the January 1 start of the 2020 fishing year.