June 2026 Council Meeting Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met June 16-18, 2026 in Alexandria, VA. The following is a summary of actions taken and issues considered during the meeting. Presentations, briefing materials, motions, and webinar recordings are available on the Council’s June 2026 meeting page. Download a PDF version of this meeting report here.

Highlights

During this meeting, the Council:

• Reviewed and provided feedback on a draft range of alternatives for the Scup Winter I Framework

• Adopted 2027-2029 specifications for blueline tilefish

• Reviewed previously adopted 2027 specifications for golden tilefish and recommended no changes

• Received an update on the joint Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils’ evaluation of vessel baseline restrictions

• Reviewed the 2026 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report and the EAFM risk assessment summary report

• Reviewed an annual report on commercial landings of unmanaged species

• Received a presentation on upcoming Atlantic mackerel cooperative research

• Received updates on a variety of topics from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Fishery Monitoring and Research Division

Scup Winter I Framework

The Council reviewed a draft range of alternatives for the Commercial Scup Winter I Framework. This action considers options to provide additional management flexibility to the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) during the Winter I quota period, and to preserve harvest opportunities across all three quota periods (Winter I, Summer, and Winter II) when practicable.

Currently, the Winter I possession limit is reduced from 50,000 pounds to 1,000 pounds once 80 percent of the Winter I quota is landed. This system was designed to distribute landings more evenly across the period and prevent quota overages. An analysis presented at the April 2026 Council meeting highlighted how certain factors prevented timely implementation of the trip limit reduction in recent years (2023-2026), and 2026 experienced an unprecedented overage of the Winter I quota. Under current Accountability Measures (AMs), this overage must be deducted from the 2027 Winter I quota. 

The range of alternatives presented to the Council included options that would modify 1) Winter I trip limit requirements, 2) catch reporting requirements for limited access scup permits and/or dealers, and 3) landings-based AMs for the commercial scup fishery. To streamline the framework for expedient implementation, the Council agreed to remove two reporting alternatives from further consideration. Alternative 2D, which would require federally permitted commercial vessels to report scup catch through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, was removed because it would be duplicative with Alternative 2C, which would require reporting through the Vessel Monitoring System. The Council also removed Alternative 2B, which would require vessels and/or dealers to report scup catch on a shortened timeline, noting that other alternatives under consideration would provide the tools and information needed to avoid future Winter I quota overages.

The Council also requested that staff add language to the framework document emphasizing that the combined use of alternatives 1B and 1C would provide the Regional Administrator with the greatest level of flexibility to manage the Winter I quota.

The modified range of alternatives will be further developed, with final action tentatively scheduled for August 2026. Updates on this action can be found here.

2027-2029 Blueline Tilefish Specifications

The Council reviewed the stock status and performance of the blueline tilefish fishery and adopted multi-year specifications (catch and landings limits) for 2027-2029, as summarized in the table below.

Blueline tilefish are considered a single stock along the U.S. Atlantic Coast, and the assessment is conducted through the Southeast Data and Assessment Review (SEDAR) process; however, due to limited data for the portion of the stock north of Cape Hatteras, NC, the assessment evaluates areas north and south of Cape Hatteras separately. The stock was last assessed in 2025 (SEDAR 92) using the data limited methods (DLM) toolkit. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) concluded that new information was insufficient to alter the previous Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and therefore recommended maintaining the ABC at 205 metric tons for 2027-2029. The Council endorsed this recommendation and agreed to maintain the previously approved catch and landing limits with the updated estimates of dead discards for 2027-2029. The Council recommended no changes to commercial or recreational management measures.

During the discussion, the Council noted several sources of uncertainty, including the lack of stock status information and the high uncertainty in private recreational catch estimates. The Council agreed to write a letter to NOAA’s Highly Migratory Species (HMS) requesting they add a short description related to the private recreational tilefish permit and reporting on their HMS permit webpage, given the high overlap between the two fisheries.

Summary of Blueline Tilefish 2027-2029 Specifications
Acceptable Biological Catch	452,200 pounds
Recreational Total Allowable Landings	313,601 pounds
Recreational Trip Limits	Private vessel: 3 fish USCG uninspected for-hire vessel: 5 fish USCG inspected for-hire vessel: 7 fish
Commercial Total Allowable Landings	109,885 pounds
Commercial Trip Limits	500 pounds (reduced to 300 pounds once 70% of the quota has been landed)

2027 Golden Tilefish Specifications

In 2027, golden tilefish will be in year 3 of multiyear specifications previously adopted for the 2025-2027 fishing years. After reviewing updated fishery information and considering recommendations from its SSC, Tilefish Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff, the Council recommended no changes to the 2027 specifications. Additional details about these specifications are provided in the August 2024 Meeting Summary.

Vessel Baseline Evaluation

The Council received an update on the joint Mid-Atlantic and New England Council evaluation of vessel baseline restrictions, including a summary of permit data and input received during three recent Advisory Panel meetings and an associated comment period. Council members shared differing opinions on the costs and benefits of vessel baseline restrictions and discussed how considerations vary by fishery and gear type.

Current regulations require that, for most limited access fisheries managed by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils, a vessel or engine replacement or upgrade cannot exceed 10% of the length and 20% of the horsepower of the permit's baseline specifications. The evaluation is intended to inform whether the Councils should consider initiating a management action to revise these restrictions.

The evaluation is expected to be completed in time for the October Council meeting, when the Council will discuss its draft priorities for 2027.

2026 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report

Dr. Abby Tyrell, Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), presented key findings from the 2026 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem (SOE) report. This report gives information on the status and trends of relevant ecological, environmental, economic, and social components of the Mid-Atlantic Bight ecosystem. The report evaluates the performance of different ecosystem indicators relative to management objectives and the potential climate and ecosystem risks to meeting management objectives. For the first time, the 2026 report included seasonal bottom temperature forecasts that are predicting normal to below average temperatures throughout most of the Northeast shelf in 2026. Other highlights from the 2026 report include:

• Globally, 2025 was the third warmest year on record but the seasonal surface and bottom temperatures for the Northeast shelf were similar to or cooler than the long-term average.

• The Cold Pool, an important oceanographic feature in the Mid-Atlantic for fish spawning and nursery habitat, had been getting warmer and shrinking but saw a return to near normal conditions in 2025.

• Commercial landings in 2024 were at a historic low and total commercial revenue continues to decline and near an all-time low.

• Recreational landings continued to decline in 2024, while recreational effort was near average.

• There are long-term changes in zooplankton biomass and composition, fish community composition, and reduced fish productivity for many managed stocks suggests a potential change in the ecosystem to faster growing and lower trophic level species.

The NEFSC continues to look for fishing industry input to help inform future SOE reports. Fishing community observations on unusual events, including high/low abundance or differences from recent conditions, are encouraged and can be provided at northeast.ecosystem.highlights@noaa.gov.

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Risk Assessment Report

The Council reviewed the 2026 EAFM risk assessment summary report. The risk assessment is updated annually and is a tool that allows the Council to look across all species and sectors to identify high risk interactions in which to prioritize for further consideration and evaluation. The 2026 risk assessment utilizes the most recent information, new analyses, and updated indicators to inform the level of risk for 28 risk elements across ecological, socioeconomic, and management factors. Nearly 79% of all risk elements are low or low-moderate risk, an increase by over 6% from 2025 indicating lower risk, in general, across all Council managed stocks relative to the previous year. Both the State of the Ecosystem and risk assessment reports indicate that conditions and risk at the species/stock level are generally positive, but when looking at broader ecosystem both reports show declining trends and higher risk and there may be some underlying dynamics at play that may be worth investigating.

Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report

The Council reviewed an annual report that summarizes commercial landings of species in locations where they are not managed at the state or federal level with a possession limit, size limit, seasonal closure, or limited access. The report also summarizes commercial landings of the species designated as Ecosystem Components through the Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. The goal of this report is to look for signs of developing commercial fisheries. This year’s report included new data visualizations and statistical analyses. Unmanaged commercial landings have been generally declining in recent years; however, a few species had statistically significant increases in landings in the most recent 5 years (2021-2025) compared to the prior 15 years (2006-2020), including Atlantic cutlassfish, ribbonfish, silversides, and mantis shrimps. The Council did not express any concerns with the landings trends shown in this year’s report.  

NEFSC Atlantic Mackerel Cooperative Research Initiative (“MackPack”)

Dr. Anna Mercer, NEFSC Cooperative Research Branch Chief, provided an overview of upcoming Atlantic mackerel cooperative research to be conducted in 2026, 2027, and 2028. The results of the research are expected to inform future mackerel assessments, possibly in 2029 (results would likely not be available soon enough to inform the scheduled 2027 assessment). Key research elements include acoustic detection, egg survey uncertainty/spawning timing refinements, U.S. - Canada movement/mixing, and ecosystem drivers. Industry collaboration will occur across all elements. For more information, contact Dr. Mercer at anna.mercer@noaa.gov.

NEFSC Fisheries Monitoring and Research Division (FMRD) Programs

KB McArdle, NEFSC Fishery Monitoring Research Division Director, provided an update on the NEFSC Fishery Monitoring and Research Division, including FMRD’s role in collecting commercial fishery information for use in fisheries science and management. The presentation covered the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology, 2025 NEFOP and Industry-Funded Scallop coverage accomplishments, biological port sampling, and the NEFOP/NEPBSP contract merge. Key updates included the upcoming 2026 SBRM 3-year review, observer coverage accomplishments, spiny dogfish sampling changes, expanded biological port sampling coordination, and future efforts to improve sampling efficiency and flexibility. For more information, contact KB at Katherine.McArdle@noaa.gov.

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Departing Council members Sonny Gwin and Michelle Duval

Other Business

Departing Council Members

The Council bid farewell to two Mid-Atlantic Council members, Sonny Gwin (Maryland) and Michelle Duval (Pennsylvania). Mr. Gwin completed nine years of service on the Council after his appointment in 2017. He chaired the Spiny Dogfish Committee for the past six years, helping guide discussions on dogfish specifications and the development of revised accountability measures intended to provide greater stability for the fishery. He also served as the Council’s liaison to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council for three years. Dr. Duval completed six years of service on the Council after being appointed in 2020. During her tenure, she chaired both the Research Steering Committee and the Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee, helping advance several important ecosystem initiatives, including reviews of ecosystem risk assessment processes, exempted fishing permit policies, and the Essential Fish Habitat review process. The Council thanked both members for their years of dedicated service to the Council.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Shellfish” Definition

Dr. Jenifer Chatfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would soon be publishing a final rule to amend the definition of “shellfish” in the Code of Federal Regulations by removing the phrase “having a shell” and adding specific taxa. This change would clarify that squid and other cephalopods are included within the regulatory definition of shellfish. This change brings the definition in line with current biological understanding and addresses a long-standing concern of the Mid-Atlantic Council and the U.S. squid industry.

Next Council Meeting

The next Council meeting will be held August 11-13, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA. A complete list of upcoming meetings can be found at https://www.mafmc.org/council-events.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finalizes Rule Clarifying Squid as “Shellfish”

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council welcomed a final rule published today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) which clarifies that squid and other cephalopods are included within the regulatory definition of “shellfish.” This change brings the definition in line with current biological understanding and addresses a long-standing concern of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the U.S. squid industry.

Previously, squid were not recognized by USFWS as “shellfish” or “fishery products” and therefore did not qualify for an exemption from certain import and export rules intended to prevent the unauthorized trade of endangered and protected wildlife. While virtually all other U.S. commercial fishery products qualified for the exemption, the U.S. squid industry remained subject to additional licensing, inspection, and user fees that industry members described as duplicative and costly.

The Council has long maintained that these requirements placed U.S. squid producers at a competitive disadvantage in international markets. The issue was identified as a top priority in the Council’s responses to both Executive Order 13921 on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth (2020) and Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness (2025). The Council has detailed the economic impacts of the previous definition in multiple communications to leadership at the Department of the Interior, USFWS, and NOAA Fisheries, including a comprehensive request for action sent to the Secretary of Interior in December 2020.

“We are pleased to see this final rule published,” said Council Executive Director Chris Moore. “This is a common-sense change that will reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on the U.S. squid industry while improving consistency and clarity in federal regulations. We appreciate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's responsiveness to stakeholder concerns, as well as the support from our partners at NOAA Fisheries in helping to achieve this outcome.”

The Mid-Atlantic Council manages Atlantic longfin squid and Illex squid fisheries in federal waters off the U.S. East Coast as part of its Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. For additional background information related to this issue, visit the Council’s website.

50 Years of Regional Fisheries Management Sustaining Fisheries and Fishing Communities Since 1976

The nation’s eight Regional Fishery Management Councils commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Council system this week during the Council Coordination Committee meeting in Homer, Alaska. The Council system was established by Congress through the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act signed on April 13, 1976. For five decades, the Councils have played a central role in conserving marine resources while supporting fishing communities and a vibrant U.S. seafood economy.

Since their creation, the Councils have promoted sustainable management of U.S Fisheries, in partnership with NOAA Fisheries, states, tribes, and communities. The Councils have rebuilt fish stocks, reduced bycatch, and protected essential fish habitat all while supporting sustained harvest with the goal of maximizing benefits to fishing communities and consumers. The Councils are proud to celebrate 50 years dedicated to:

• Supporting Economies and Coastal Communities: Commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries are vital to coastal communities and the nation’s economy. U.S. fisheries support millions of jobs, generate billions of dollars in economic activity, and provide seafood to domestic and global markets. Recreational fishing contributes to tourism and outdoor leisure, while subsistence fisheries remain critical to food security and cultural traditions in many regions. Fisheries are more than an industry—they are a way of life deeply tied to the identity of coastal communities nationwide.

• A Transparent, Stakeholder-Driven System: The Council system is built on open and inclusive governance. Councils consist of members from each regional maritime state or territory, and represent the commercial and recreational fishing industry, scientists, managers, tribal and Indigenous representatives. Through meetings, advisory bodies, and a robust system for incorporating public comment, community members help shape fishery management measures. This transparent process ensures decisions are grounded in the best available science and informed by on-the-water experience.

• Regionally Tailored, Adaptive Management: By design, the Councils provide flexibility to address the unique fisheries, ecosystems, and challenges of each region. From Alaska to the Caribbean, Councils develop management strategies tailored to regional conditions while meeting national conservation standards. The system continues to evolve through adaptive and innovative approaches that respond to changing environmental, economic, and social conditions.

As the Councils look towards the future, they remain committed to sustaining productive fisheries and healthy marine ecosystems for generations to come. Continued investment in collaborative management is essential to supporting the fisheries, communities, and economies that depend on them.

To mark the anniversary, the Councils developed an interactive timeline highlighting major milestones in U.S. fisheries management over the past five decades. Check out the timeline and learn more about the Councils at https://www.fisherycouncils.org/50th-anniversary.

NOAA Fisheries Approves Conservation Equivalency for the Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fisheries, as well as Coastwide Measures for the Scup Recreational Fishery, for 2026 and 2027

NOAA Fisheries implemented the Recreational Measures Setting (RMS) Process Framework to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Fishery Management Plans on April 28, 2026. The framework implements the process used to set recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The changes also include modifications to the recreational accountability measures for all four species. Details on how the RMS Process works are available in the interim final rule. 

In addition, NOAA Fisheries is announcing the 2026 and 2027 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fishery management measures. This rule filed with the Federal Register today, and is expected to publish and be effective on April 30, 2026. 

Management measures for 2026 and beyond could not be finalized until the RMS Process Framework was approved and effective. The RMS Process aims to provide continued stability and predictability in recreational measures from year to year while accounting for uncertainty in recreational catch estimates. 

For 2026 and 2027, we are implementing the following recreational management measures:

• Scup: Maintaining the status quo coastwide measures for recreational fishing in Federal waters and by federally permitted for-hire vessels; 

• Summer Flounder: Federal coastwide measures are waived through the continued use of conservation equivalency, allowing for status quo levels of harvest managed through state or regional measures; and 

• Black Sea Bass: Federal measures are waived through the continued use of conservation equivalency for black sea bass, allowing for a 20-percent increase in harvest collectively through state or regional measures.

As in prior years, we are approving the use of conservation equivalency for the summer flounder and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Under conservation equivalency, Federal coastwide measures are waived in favor of state- or region-developed measures. The states or regions have developed minimum sizes, possession limits, and fishing seasons that, in combination across all participating states, will achieve the necessary level of conservation. 

Individuals seeking information regarding the measures for individual states should contact the marine fisheries agency in the state of interest.

Read the interim final rule for the RMS Process Framework as published in the Federal Register. We will be accepting public comment on this interim final rule through May 28. 

Read the interim final rule for 2026 and 2027 Recreational Management Measures. These regulations are effective when the rule is published on April 30, and is available for public inspection today, April 29. The public comment portal opens upon publication and comments will be accepted through May 15. 

For more information, please see the Fisheries Bulletin. 

Council Presents Ricks E Savage Award to Peter Hughes

Award Recipient Peter Hughes

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has named Peter Hughes, longtime industry representative and former Council member, as the recipient of the 2025 Ricks E Savage Award. The Council established the award in 2006 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the management and conservation of fishery resources in the mid-Atlantic region. The award was presented to Hughes during the Council's meeting last week in New York City.

A native of Elyria, Ohio, Hughes first discovered his love of fishing during family vacations on Long Beach Island. That early passion eventually led him to Cape May, New Jersey, in 1986, where he began his career in commercial fisheries aboard the F/V Atlantic Prince. In 1990, he transitioned to a shoreside role at Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc., where he has worked for more than 35 years and now serves as Director of Sustainability. Hughes was appointed to the Council in 2016 and served with distinction for nine years before completing his service in 2025. During this time, he became one of the Council’s most steadfast leaders, bringing broad, practical knowledge of fisheries to every discussion.

As Chair of the Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee for eight years, Hughes guided the Council through the development of several challenging management actions, including two Atlantic mackerel rebuilding actions, an amendment to establish long-term management of chub mackerel, and a framework that established measures to limit future capacity increases in the Illex squid fishery. He also served as Chair of the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee for five years, providing steady leadership throughout the development of a major amendment to modify species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries.

Hughes also served as the Council's liaison to the New England Fishery Management Council throughout his entire tenure, representing the Mid-Atlantic Council on several New England committees. In that role, he ensured clear communication between the Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils, conveying priorities, decisions, and concerns in both directions.

Hughes was also recognized for his approach to public engagement. “Peter took public comment very seriously and was sensitive to the competing interests of recreational and commercial stakeholders, as well as differing sectors within the industry,” said Joe Cimino, Council Chair. “He always came to the table with the goal of finding the best possible solutions for all parties.” One notable example came during the development of the Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding Amendment, when the Council was considering a federal recreational possession limit for mackerel. Early options ranged from 10 to 15 fish. After reviewing public comments and input from the New England states regarding the potential impacts on for-hire businesses that rely on mackerel for bait, Hughes proposed expanding the range to include a 20-fish limit. The Council ultimately adopted that option, which reduced the burden on those businesses while still meeting rebuilding objectives.

The Council extends its gratitude to Peter Hughes for his years of dedicated service and congratulates him on this well-deserved honor.

New England Council to Hold Monkfish and Skate Listening Sessions

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold five listening sessions to solicit comments on ideas for fishery improvements in the monkfish and skate fisheries. These sessions are designed to identify the challenges the monkfish and skate fishing sectors are grappling with and to identify possible management measures for the Council to address those challenges in the future. Additional details, including the listening session schedule and instructions for submitting written comments, can be found at the link below.

Mid-Atlantic Council Warns of Consequences for 2026 Recreational Black Sea Bass and Summer Flounder Fisheries Due to Federal Rulemaking Delay

Update: On April 28, 2026, NOAA Fisheries published an interim final rule implementing the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework. An interim final rule is scheduled to publish on April 30, 2026, implementing 2026-2027 recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. This rule approves conservation equivalency for summer flounder and black sea bass, waiving Federal coastwide measures as of April 30, 2026, and maintains status quo scup regulations for 2026 and 2027.

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The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has expressed serious concern to the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries regarding significant delays in the rulemaking process for the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework. Despite the final framework being submitted over eight months ago, a proposed rule has yet to be published.

In a letter to Secretary Howard Lutnick and Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, the Council expressed serious concern that the delay threatens the implementation of the 2026 recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for black sea bass and summer flounder.

Impacts on the 2026 Season

Without the framework in place, NOAA Fisheries has indicated it intends to enforce "non-preferred coastwide measures" instead of the state-tailored measures developed by the Council, Commission, and individual states. This would have several immediate consequences for the fishing community:

• The highly anticipated 20% liberalization for black sea bass will not be realized. The black sea bass stock has been increasing for many years and is currently more than double the target level. In December, the Council and Commission agreed to allow states to liberalize measures to achieve a 20% increase in expected harvest—the first such increase since 2012. This change would have expanded angler access, reduced regulatory discards, and supported for-hire businesses. However, these benefits will not be realized if the non-preferred coastwide measures are implemented.

• Measures in some states will be severely restricted. The non-preferred coastwide measures for both summer flounder and black sea bass are not tailored to individual state needs or regional differences. As such, the non-preferred measures for both species are much more restrictive than the recommended 2026 measures for multiple states. 

• There will be widespread confusion among the recreational fishing public and increased non-compliance. Non-preferred coastwide measures have never been implemented for these species and are therefore largely unknown to the recreational fishing public. With the fishing season opening in less than three weeks in some states, imposing these measures will generate confusion, frustration, and non-compliance.

Proposed Solutions

The Council’s letter urges the Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries to approve the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework and the 2026 recreational measures adopted through the Council, Commission, and state process as soon as possible. To avoid disrupting the upcoming season, the Council also requests that the agency consider expedited implementation methods, such as an interim final rule or emergency rulemaking.

The Council remains committed to working with its partners to resolve this delay and provide stability for the recreational fishing public.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Management Partner Letters

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

April 2026 Council Meeting Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met April 7-9, 2026, in New York, NY. The following is a summary of actions taken and issues considered during the meeting. Presentations, briefing materials, motions, and webinar recordings are available on the Council’s April 2026 meeting page.    Download a PDF version of the meeting summary here.

Highlights

During this meeting, the Council:

• Approved the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment for submission to NOAA Fisheries, including revised EFH designations for 14 Council-managed species and new Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs) based on updated habitat information.

• Took final action on the Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Framework, selecting preferred alternatives to streamline reporting requirements, reduce unnecessary burden, and improve clarity and enforceability of the recreational tilefish permitting program.

• Agreed to initiate a framework action to address scup Winter I quota management, following a review of trip limit performance and a 2026 Winter I quota overage of approximately 22 percent; the framework will consider revisions to trip limit regulations, commercial accountability measures, and additional reporting requirements.

• Agreed to initiate an omnibus FMP amendment on multi-year specifications, to consider revisions to specifications frequencies, documentation requirements, and other measures to improve efficiency, with most work planned for 2027.

• Endorsed a Committee recommendation to discontinue the scoping process for a potential monkfish and/or skate wings IFQ program, deferring to the New England Fishery Management Council on next steps.

• Received updates on two Council-sponsored projects focused on spiny dogfish ageing and sturgeon bycatch reduction in the dogfish gillnet fisheries.

• Received updates on habitat activities of interest in the region.

• Recognized Peter Hughes as the recipient of the 2025 Ricks E. Savage Award for his exceptional contributions to fishery management and conservation in the Mid-Atlantic region.

• Agreed to send a letter to NOAA Fisheries and Department of Commerce leadership expressing serious concern about the delay in finalizing the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework.

• Clarified its intent on the Atlantic mackerel possession limit for crew on for-hire trips.

Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment

The Council approved its Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment for submission to NOAA Fisheries. The Council-preferred action alternatives include revisions to EFH for 14 Council-managed species and recommends new Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs), as a subset of EFH. The new EFH text and mapping approaches included in this amendment vastly improve the designations with up-to-date, enhanced habitat information and will amplify the impact that HAPCs have on the EFH consultation process by designating several new HAPCs, in addition to the two HAPCs that are already in place. Visit the EFH Amendment page for additional information and updates.

Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Framework

The Council took final action on the Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Framework. After reviewing public comment received during the March 2026 Public Input meeting as well as recommendations from the Tilefish Committee, the Council selected Sub-Alternatives 4.1 (remove requirement to report effort-only trips), revised Sub-Alternative 4.2 (simplify the required reporting fields with the ‘species’ field maintained), and Sub-Alternative 4.5 (require eVTR submission before offloading fish) as their preferred alternatives. The preferred alternatives are expected to improve recreational tilefish permitting and reporting program to ensure that the regulatory approach is appropriate, effective, and proportionate to the data needs for managing blueline and golden tilefish. This action is intended to reduce unnecessary burden, improve clarity and enforceability, and supports the collection of reliable information needed for stock assessment and management.

During the Council discussion, NOAA fisheries indicated that the implementation of Sub-Alternative 4.2 would require substantial revisions to the current reporting system structure. They noted that under current circumstances of competing resources coupled with the substantial lift that would be required under Sub-Alternative 4.2 that changes to the current reporting fields would be highly unlikely to occur prior to 2028 at the earliest.

As a reminder to all tilefish anglers, current permitting and reporting requirements will remain in place until NOAA Fisheries approves and implements the Council’s proposed regulatory changes. Visit our tilefish permitting and reporting page to learn more about how to apply for a permit or submit a trip report.

Scup Winter I Quota Period Landings Threshold Analysis

The Council reviewed an evaluation of Winter I scup trip limit reduction performance and recent landing patterns. Following the staff presentation, the Regional Administrator provided additional details regarding the impact of late dealer reports on in-season management of the 2026 Winter I fishery. The Winter I trip limit reduction was not implemented as required; delayed data availability, compounded by late dealer reports and an unusually rapid pace of landings compared to recent years, contributed to an early closure of the fishery on March 16. Based on preliminary data, the 2026 Winter I quota allocation was exceeded by about 22 percent.

The Council agreed to initiate a framework action to consider building management flexibility into the scup Winter I regulations. The framework will consider the following options: 1) revisions to the Winter I trip limit regulations, 2) adjustments to the scup commercial accountability measures, and 3) an additional reporting requirement for federal limited access scup permits (e.g., daily catch reports via VMS or an IVR system). Potential modifications to the Winter I commercial measures (i.e., initial 50,000-pound trip limit, 80 percent quota threshold activating a trip limit reduction, reduced 1,000-pound trip limit) would be addressed separately through the annual specifications process.

Multi-Year Specifications

The Council reviewed a staff memorandum on multiple-year specifications frequencies and agreed to initiate an omnibus FMP amendment. This amendment will consider the following topics: 1) potential revisions to the multi-year specifications frequencies,  2) clarification on the meetings and documentation required each year to support the specifications process, 3) potentially expanding the lists of measures which can be modified through a framework adjustment for several species, and 4) other measures to improve efficiency. Most work on this amendment will take place in 2027.

Individual Fishing Quota Program Scoping for Monkfish and/or Skate Wings

Monkfish is jointly managed by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils, with the New England Council serving as lead. In December, the New England Council voted to initiate scoping for a potential individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the monkfish and/or skate wing fisheries. At this meeting, Ms. Jenny Couture (New England Council staff) presented a draft scoping document, along with a summary of recommendations from a March 19, 2026 joint meeting of the Monkfish and Skate Committees and Advisory Panels. Among Committee and Advisory Panel members, there was near-unanimous support for discontinuing development of this action. The Committees concluded that an IFQ program would not address the primary challenges facing these fisheries and that monkfish and skate issues may require different management approaches. Advisory Panel members and public commenters similarly expressed a lack of support for continuing the scoping process. After considering this input, the Council passed a motion endorsing the Monkfish and Skate Committee’s recommendation to discontinue further scoping for an IFQ program for these fisheries.

Because scoping meetings have already been scheduled, New England Council staff proposed pivoting these meetings to a series of structured listening sessions to gather input on potential improvements in the monkfish and skate fisheries. The Council agreed to defer to the New England Council on next steps, while expressing general support for obtaining additional input from industry on ways to improve monkfish and/or skate management. Council staff also communicated to the New England Council that it may be beneficial to hold a workshop with fishery participants from across regions before initiating any additional management actions.

Habitat Activities Update

Karen Green (NOAA Fisheries GARFO Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division) provided an update on regional habitat activities of interest to the Council. She highlighted several major infrastructure projects, including the Key Bridge replacement, Chesapeake Bay Crossing, and other port and navigation projects. She also noted ongoing efforts such as the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Coastal Storm Risk Management projects, NASA’s Wallops Island Shoreline Protection Program, offshore sand borrow areas for beach renourishment, and proposals to place dredge materials for beneficial habitat use. The division recently provided conservation recommendations on the Aurora Submarine Fiber Optic Cable, which will run from New Jersey to Denmark, and a technical assistance letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a proposed blue mussel mariculture operation in federal waters. In addition, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management received an unsolicited mineral lease sale for mining heavy mineral sands and phosphorites in offshore Virginia. The next anticipated step is publication of Request for Information in the Federal Register to solicit public comment. Lastly, she noted the public can track NOAA Fisheries Essential Fish Habitat and Endangered Species Consultations through the Environmental Consultations Organizer (ECO).

Council-Sponsored Projects

Spiny Dogfish Ageing

Dr. Michelle Passerotti (NOAA) and Ms. Madison Philipp (Formerly A.I.S., Inc. in support of NOAA), presented the results of a multi-year effort to advance spiny dogfish age determination using dorsal spines. This work addressed a gap in ageing expertise, reduced a backlog of archived samples, created instructional and reference materials, and modernized cleaning procedures, workflows, and data management systems. Project deliverables included proceedings from an ageing workshop that included scientists from multiple countries, a curated reference collection of aged spines, a comprehensive guide on cleaning, storage, and ageing of spiny dogfish dorsal spines, and approximately 9,000 new ages from dogfish collected between 2006 and 2024.

Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction

Dr. Dewayne Fox (Delaware State University) presented the results of cooperative research trials of modified low profile sink gill nets for smooth and spiny dogfish, designed to minimize catch of endangered Atlantic sturgeon. While statistical analyses are still underway, preliminary results indicate that gear performance differed between fisheries. In the spiny dogfish fishery, the modified nets substantially reduced Atlantic sturgeon bycatch with only minor impacts on target catch. In the smooth dogfish fishery, there was no measurable reduction in sturgeon bycatch, but the experimental net increased smooth dogfish catch. As the research team analyzes the results fully, they will also reach out to fishery participants to evaluate these and other potential gear modifications to refine gear solutions to reduce Atlantic sturgeon bycatch.

Ricks E Savage Award

The Council recognized Peter Hughes as the recipient of the 2025 Ricks E Savage Award. The award is given annually to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the management and conservation of fishery resources in the mid-Atlantic region. See the full news release for details:

• Council Presents Ricks E Savage Award to Peter Hughes

Other Business

Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework Delays

During the meeting, the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator informed the Council that the agency cannot approve the 2026 recreational measures for summer flounder and black sea bass, adopted through the Council, Commission, and state process, due to the delay in publication of the proposed and final rules for the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework. As a result, the agency must enforce the 2025 non-preferred coastwide measures. Council members expressed serious concern and frustration about this situation, noting that it has been more than eight months since the Council submitted final documents for rulemaking and that the non-preferred measures for both species are much more restrictive than the recommended 2026 measures for multiple states. The Council agreed to send a letter conveying these concerns to NOAA Fisheries and Department of Commerce leadership. The letter is available here.

Atlantic Mackerel Possession Limit Clarification

NOAA Fisheries is finalizing rulemaking for expanded commercial and recreational opportunities for Atlantic mackerel, per December 2025 Council action. There was some ambiguity about the possession limit for crew on for-hire trips, so the Council passed the following motion to clarify its intent: “When carrying passengers for hire, the recreational Atlantic mackerel possession limit for vessels issued a squid/mackerel/butterfish charter/party permit is 50 Atlantic mackerel per person per trip, including captains and crew.  When not carrying passengers for hire, the recreational Atlantic mackerel possession limit for vessels issued a squid/mackerel/butterfish charter/party permit is 25 Atlantic mackerel per person per trip.”

Next Council Meeting

The next Council meeting will be held June 16-18, 2026, in Alexandria, Virginia. A complete list of upcoming meetings can be found at https://www.mafmc.org/council-events.

NOAA Fisheries to Host Mid-Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Roundtable Webinar on Tuesday, March 31, 2026

NOAA Fisheries is hosting a mid-Atlantic recreational fisheries constituent roundtable on March 31, 2026. The event will take place via webinar.

The meeting will provide NOAA Fisheries' Greater Atlantic leadership and the recreational fishing community an opportunity to connect with one another. Following some brief presentations, this meeting will be an open forum to discuss the priorities, concerns, and topics of interest to recreational fishermen.

Register here

• When: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST

More details can be found here.

If you have any questions about attending, please reach out to Travis Ford at travis.ford@noaa.gov or 978-281-9233.

Cornell Cooperative Extension to Hold Workshop on Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs) - March 31, 2026

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, will hold a workshop to collect industry input on the current scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs). The Council and CCE are particularly seeking input from small mesh trawl fishermen. However, anyone with an interest in the scup GRAs is invited to attend.

When: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: The workshop will be held at three in-person locations with a webinar option available:

• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Office – 423 Griffing Ave., Riverhead, NY 11901

• Superior Trawl – 55 State St., Narragansett, RI 02882

• Lund’s Fisheries – 997 Ocean Drive, Cape May, NJ 08204

• Webinar (Zoom) – https://cornell.zoom.us/j/92898134114?pwd=WojDAscJQtlhiuS1uTcn4yExwPHhWb.1

Workshop Purpose: The workshop will be facilitated by CCE as part of a Council-funded project titled “Utilizing Collaborative Strategies to Assess and Adapt Scup GRAs in Response to Climate Change.” First implemented in 2000 and 2001, the Council’s two scup GRAs are intended to reduce juvenile scup discards in small mesh fisheries during certain times of the year. Recent data suggest there has been a shift in where and when scup discards occur, and it is anticipated that changes may continue with changing ocean conditions and species distributions. During this workshop, preliminary results of mapping and modeling analyses will be presented and industry input will be gathered to evaluate potential changes to the GRAs.

Additional Information: Visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension page to learn more.

Contribute to the 2027 Management Track Fishery Stock Assessments

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center is seeking input from its regional assessment partners, including the commercial and recreational fishing industry, state agency scientists, academic researchers, and interested members of the public, to help inform the 2027 Management Track Assessments for the following stocks:

• Atlantic mackerel

• Black sea bass

• Bluefish

• Scup

• Summer flounder

• Atlantic cod

You can help by identifying new data sources, providing on-the water observations, and flagging emerging issues important to consider during the assessment process. Please refer to the stock-specific community questions to understand the information that will be most helpful to the 2027 Management Track assessments.

There are two ways to participate:

• Attend a virtual meeting on March 18, 2026.

• Submit your comments using the community input form. This form is open through April 30, 2026.

Questions?

Contact: Brian Hooper, NEFSC assessment process lead