View Rule

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has developed and recommended proposed 2020-21 bluefish fishery specifications. This action would revise bluefish fishery catch limits for fishing years 2020 and 2021, as well as recreational management measures to constrain catch to these new limits and prevent overfishing. The August 2019 operational assessment incorporated revised Marine Recreational Information Program estimates into its analyses and biological reference points. This assessment determined that the bluefish stock is overfished but not subject to overfishing. Using this new information, the Council recommends revising bluefish catch specifications to prevent overfishing from occurring. This action also proposed Council-recommended reductions in recreational bag limit or private anglers and for for-hire (charter/party). All other management measures, including recreational season and minimum fish size would remain unchanged.  Given the stock status, the fishery will be operating under interim measures promulgated under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act until this action is finalized.