There are no under development actions associated with this management plan.
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Results
Spiny Dogfish Management Plan
About
The spiny dogfish fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region operates from Maine to Florida and from inshore to offshore waters on the edge of the continental shelf. The spiny dogfish fishery uses predominantly bottom gillnets, with lesser amounts caught by trawls and hook gear. There is little consumer demand for spiny dogfish in the United States, but it is commonly used in Europe as the fish in fish-and-chips.
Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart L. Find out more about Managing Sustainable Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region.
SAFE Reports
Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports are documents or sets of documents that summarize the best scientific information available for federally managed fish stocks. This includes information concerning the biological condition of stocks and marine ecosystems, essential fish habitat (EFH), and the socioeconomic condition of commercial and recreational fisheries. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires that SAFE reports be made available on a publicly accessible website to facilitate use of the information. Atlantic Spiny Dogfish SAFE report documents are available on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's website.
Species Managed
More Information
Actions
2025 Specifications for Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
2025 Specifications for Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Published
05/12/2025
Framework Adjustment 15 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan/Framework Adjustment 6 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan
NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule for Framework 15/6 that implements measures in the monkfish and spiny dogfish fisheries to reduce Atlantic sturgeon bycatch by gillnet vessels in those fisheries. Effective May 1, 2025
Published
12/18/2024
2024 Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Specifications
Extension of an Emergency Rule to Implement 2024 Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Specifications
Published
09/30/2024
2023 Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Specifications
Final 2023 specifications for the Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan
Effective
05/01/2023
Final Atlantic Spiny Dogfish 2022 Specifications and Trip Limit Adjustment
NOAA Fisheries announces 2022 Specifications and Trip Limit Adjustment for the Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Fishery.
Effective
05/01/2022
Final Rule to Implement Revised 2021 and Projected 2022 Specifications for the Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Fishery
NOAA Fisheries announces revised specifications for the 2021 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery and projected status quo specifications for fishing year 2022 based on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's updated risk policy.
Effective
05/01/2021
2020 and Projected 2021 Specifications for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery
NOAA Fisheries announces specifications for the 2020 spiny dogfish fishery and projected specifications for 2021. These are necessary to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield.
Effective
05/01/2020
Monkfish Management Plan
About
The commercial monkfish fishery is conducted from North Carolina to Maine primarily using trawl gear in northern waters and gillnet gear in southern waters.
The fishery is managed using a days-at-sea and trip limit management system. There is no known directed recreational fishery for monkfish.
Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart F. Find out more about Managing Sustainable Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region.
SAFE Reports
Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports are documents or sets of documents that summarize the best scientific information available for federally managed fish stocks. This includes information concerning the biological condition of stocks and marine ecosystems, essential fish habitat (EFH), and the socioeconomic condition of commercial and recreational fisheries. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires that SAFE reports be made available on a publicly accessible website to facilitate use of the information. Monkfish SAFE report documents are available on the New England Fishery Management Council's website.
Species Managed
More Information
Actions
Proposed Rule for Southern New England Habitat Area of Particular Concern
NOAA is requesting comment on Proposed Rule for Southern New England Habitat Area of Particular Concern
Published
09/26/2023
Final Rule to Implement 2025 Monkfish Fishing Year Quotas
NOAA Fisheries is implementing monkfish quotas for the 2025 fishing year based on specifications approved by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.
Effective
05/07/2025
Framework Adjustment 15 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan/Framework Adjustment 6 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan
NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule for Framework 15/6 that implements measures in the monkfish and spiny dogfish fisheries to reduce Atlantic sturgeon bycatch by gillnet vessels in those fisheries. Effective May 1, 2025
Published
12/18/2024
Final Rule to Implement 2024 Monkfish Fishing Year Quotas
NMFS is implementing specifications for the 2024 monkfish fishery. This action is necessary to ensure allowable monkfish harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield.
Effective
05/01/2024
Framework Adjustment 13 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan
NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule for Framework 13 to the Monkfish FMP that implements specifications for fishing years 2023 - 2025, adjustments to the annual days-at-sea allocation and an increase the minimum mesh size for gillnet vessels.
Effective
08/11/2023
Final Rule to Implement 2022 Monkfish Fishing Year Quotas
NOAA Fisheries is implementing monkfish quotas for the 2022 fishing year based on specifications approved by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and announced on September 2020.
Effective
05/01/2022
Final Rule to Implement 2021 Monkfish Fishing Year Quotas
2021 monkfish specifications, 2021 monkfish quotas
Effective
05/01/2021
Framework Adjustment 12 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan
2021-2022 monkfish specifications
Effective
10/19/2020
Monkfish Fishery: 2019 Specifications
We are implementing specifications for the 2019 monkfish fishery. This action is necessary to ensure allowable monkfish harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish the allowable
Effective
05/01/2019
Final Action to Close Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to Gillnet Gear
NOAA Fisheries closes Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to gillnet gear.
Effective
12/17/2018
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Monkfish Fishery; 2018 Monkfish Specifications
We are implementing specifications for the 2018 monkfish fishery, including total allowable landings limits, trip limits, and day-at-sea limits. This action is necessary to ensure allowable monkfish harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow h
Effective
06/04/2018
Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2
This action implements approved regulations for the New England Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. This rule revises essential fish habitat and habitat area of particular concern designations, revises or creates habit
Effective
04/09/2018