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NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing this action pursuant to the authorities under section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manages summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish as a part of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Bluefish FMP.  At their February 2025, the Council voted to request that NOAA Fisheries establish control dates for federally permitted recreational for-hire participants in the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries.  The control date is a notice to the public that the Council may use the control date as a reference point when determining fishery access criteria as management measures are developed through the current ongoing Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment.  At the time of this publication, the amendment is currently in the public scoping phase.  Control dates are intended to discourage speculative entry or fishing activity while managers consider if, and how, participation in the fishery may be affected.  The Council has requested that the control date be established as soon as possible.  This action proposes no changes to the Federal recreational management measures for any of these species.