Overview
In April 2025, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board (Policy Board) approved modifications to the process for setting recreational measures (bag, size, and season limits), as well as the recreational accountability measures, for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. The Council recommended these changes through a framework action, and the Policy Board adopted these changes through Addendum XXXVI to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Addendum III to the Bluefish FMP. These changes are part of a broader long-term effort by both the Council and Commission to improve recreational management of these jointly managed species. Learn more about the changes approved by the Council and Policy Board.
The Council will submit the framework to the National Marine Fisheries Service for review and implementation, while the Commission’s measures are final for state waters.
Contacts
Julia Beaty, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, jbeaty@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5250
Tracey Bauer, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, tbauer@asmfc.org (703) 842-0740
Chelsea Tuohy, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, ctuohy@asmfc.org (703) 842-0740
Action Development Timeline and Documents
Action Plan (as of August 2024)
August 2023 Council/Policy Board Meeting: The Council and Policy Board reviewed progress and discussed next steps.
December 2023 Council/Policy Board Meeting: The Council and Policy Board refined the range of preliminary alternatives.
July 2024: The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee completed a review of the alternatives under consideration through this framework/addenda.
August 2024 Council/Policy Board Meeting: The Council and Policy Board reviewed a revised range of alternatives and endorsed several modifications recommended by the Fishery Management Action Team/Plan Development Team.
October 2024 Council/Policy Board Meeting: The Council and Policy Board approved a draft document for public hearings through the Commission process.
Next Steps - January/February 2025: The Commission held five public hearings between January 14 and January 29, 2025. Written comments were accepted through February 15, 2025.
April 2025 Council/Policy Board Meeting: The Council and Policy Board took final action on the framework/addenda.