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| DOC/NOAA | RIN: 0648-BO09 | Publication ID: 2026 |
| Title: ●2026 and Projected 2027 Summer Flounder and Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications | |
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Abstract:
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing this action, which will increase flexibility and provide significant economic benefits for some of the region’s highest value commercial and recreational fisheries, pursuant to the authorities under sections 303(c) and 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission jointly manage summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass as a part of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and bluefish as part of the Bluefish FMP. At a joint meeting in August 2025, the Council and the Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board recommended 2026 and projected 2027 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass specifications. The Council and the Commission’s Bluefish Board recommended 2026 and projected 2027 bluefish specifications. This action would set the acceptable biological catch limits, as well as the recreational and commercial annual catch limits, annual catch targets, commercial quotas, and recreational harvest limits for all four species. Overall, the proposed catch limits provide an up to $36 million (in 2024 dollars) increase in the value of the commercial fishery and an unquantified economic benefit in the recreational fishery over the 2-year period. No changes to the commercial management measures are being proposed. This action proposes to increase the possession limits in the recreational bluefish fishery. Recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass will be implemented at a later date through a separate action. |
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| Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC) | Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant |
| RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage |
| Major: No | Unfunded Mandates: No |
| EO 14192 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt | |
| CFR Citation: 50 CFR 648 | |
| Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 | |
Legal Deadline:
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Timetable:
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| Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No | Government Levels Affected: None |
| Small Entities Affected: Businesses | Federalism: No |
| Included in the Regulatory Plan: No | |
| RIN Data Printed in the FR: No | |
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Agency Contact: Michael Pentony Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone:978 281-9283 Email: michael.pentony@noaa.gov |
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