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

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2026 and Projected 2027 Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications

Effective February 19, 2026, NOAA Fisheries is implementing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended 2026 summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish specifications and 2026-2027 bluefish recreational fishery management measures. This rule also announces the projected 2027 specifications. The catch limits are based on the results of recently conducted stock assessments and the recommendations of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee for all four species. These final specifications include any adjustments required by the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish accountability measures based on available catch data. 

• Bulletin

• Final Rule

February 2026 Council Meeting Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met by webinar February 10-11, 2026. 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 February 2026 meeting page.    

PDF Version: February 2026 Council Meeting Summary

Highlights

During this meeting, the Council:

• Received an update on revisions to the Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey*

• Provided feedback on plans for the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment Workshop and agreed to hold the workshop in September 2026*

• Agreed to postpone further development of a white paper on recreational data collection and use*

• Received an update on development of new models and methods to help fishermen predict and avoid river herring bycatch

• Directed staff to solicit input from its Scientific and Statistical Committee on the biological linkages between the current U.S. catch limits and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization quota

• Received an update on the New England Fishery Management Council’s risk policy and strategic planning work

• Appointed Dr. Ming Sun and Dr. Jennifer Bigman to the Scientific and Statistical Committee

• Discussed a risk/value matrix developed by NOAA Fisheries to inform prioritization of fisheries management and science activities nationwide

• Reviewed a summary of public comments received by NOAA Fisheries on Executive Order 14276 and concluded that no revisions to the Council’s previous recommendations are needed

* Items denoted with an asterisk (*) were undertaken during joint meetings with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

Recreational Fisheries Issues

The Council met jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board (Policy Board) to receive updates on several recreational fisheries related issues.

Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey

Dr. Katherine Papacostas, Branch Director for NOAA Fisheries Recreational Statistics, provided an update on revisions to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey (FES). The FES is a mail-based survey that collects data on recreational saltwater fishing activity, specifically measuring the number of fishing trips taken by anglers in private boats or from shore.  

Following a 2023 pilot study that identified potential sources of bias in the FES, a large-scale evaluation of survey design was conducted in 2024. Peer reviews of the revised methodology and associated recalibration approaches were conducted in 2025 and are currently under internal review at NOAA Fisheries. Calibrated catch estimates are expected to be released in summer 2026. Delivery of these estimates was delayed by the fall 2025 government shutdown. Additional information and updates are available here. 

Recreational Sector Separation Amendment Workshop Plans

The Council and Policy Board provided feedback on plans for a stakeholder workshop to seek input on draft alternatives for the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment. The amendment considers separate management strategies for the for-hire and private angler modes, as well as for-hire permitting and reporting requirements for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish.

The workshop was first proposed in December 2025 after the groups reviewed draft alternatives and determined that additional stakeholder input was needed to develop the management options. At the February meeting, the Council and Policy Board agreed to hold the workshop in September 2026. While originally planned for spring or summer, that timing was expected to pose major challenges for recreational stakeholder participation.

The workshop will convene a small group of for-hire and private recreational stakeholders to provide input on, and help refine, the range of draft options. Discussions will focus primarily on the existing draft options; however, the Council and Policy Board also directed the Fishery Management Action Team and Plan Development Team (FMAT/PDT) to develop a variation on the draft alternative for regional for-hire management measures for discussion as part of the workshop. This “for-hire baseline measures” option would create a process for setting regional measures tailored specifically to the needs of the for-hire mode. Private/shore measures would then be developed after evaluating expected for-hire catch, to ensure the overall harvest target is not exceeded. 

The groups also reviewed a revised amendment timeline, with final action tentatively scheduled for August 2027. This timeline may be adjusted based on feedback received at the workshop and subsequent direction from the Council and Policy Board.

Recreational Data Collection and Use White Paper Outline

The Council and Policy Board reviewed a draft outline for a white paper on improving recreational data collection and use in the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries. This issue was originally included in the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment; however, in April 2025, the groups agreed to address it separately through a white paper. Council staff developed the draft outline as an initial step, with full development planned for the rest of 2026.

At the February meeting, Council staff requested feedback on the outline and recommended postponing further development of the white paper. Staff noted potential overlap with the ongoing Recreational Sector Separation Amendment – particularly the draft alternatives related to modifying for-hire permitting and reporting requirements at the state and/or federal levels – as well as anticipated revisions to the MRIP FES. The revised FES methodology will result in re-calibrated MRIP estimates, which may need to be accounted for in the white paper.

Without objection, the groups agreed to postpone further development of the white paper, citing uncertainty about when calibrated MRIP estimates will be released. The project will be revisited once calibrated MRIP estimates become available.

River Herring Bycatch Risk Prediction Project

Researchers from the University of North Carolina presented Species Distribution Models (SDMs) that forecast where river herring, Atlantic herring, and Atlantic mackerel are likely to be found—one week into the future. Three forecasts are currently being provided to fishermen:

• Areas with high probabilities of encountering the target species, either Atlantic herring or Atlantic mackerel

• Areas where river herring are likely to be present

• The joint probability of encountering both the target species and river herring at the same time

The risk predictions are intended as a tool in fishermen’s toolboxes as they evaluate where to fish to avoid river herring and triggering river herring/shad bycatch cap closures. Feedback is being collected in 2026, with improvements planned for 2027. See https://www.rhapcast.org/ for prediction maps and additional information.

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Illex Squid Quota Issue

Council staff described a proposal to evaluate and potentially develop a framework adjustment for the Illex squid fishery that would consider adding NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator authority for a new potential in-season action to increase the U.S. commercial Illex quota under certain conditions (when U.S. landings reach a specified threshold and catch in the NAFO Regulatory Area remains below a specified threshold). The Council directed staff to solicit input from its Scientific and Statistical Committee on the biological linkages between the current U.S. catch limits and the NAFO quota. Once the SSC has provided guidance and the Council considers that information, the Council can consider next steps.

New England Fishery Management Council Planning Update

The Council received informational updates on two projects under development by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC).

Risk Policy: Work is moving forward on a management tool that uses a scoring approach to integrate biological, environmental, and socioeconomic risk factors to support management decisions. NEFMC members will finalize the “weightings” in June, which when combined with the “scoring” for each fishery plan, creates a “Z score” reflecting the NEFMC’s risk tolerance. This input will be used in a host of NEFMC management decisions including setting Acceptable Biological Catch and harvest control rules. Learn more here.

Holistic Strategic Planning: The NEFMC is developing its first holistic strategic plan to improve NEFMC operations and enhance the long-term viability and sustainability of managed fisheries. A strategic planning workshop was held in January, with participation from NEFMC members, key staff, and external facilitators. Participants emphasized the need to proactively address changing ocean conditions, resource constraints, and stakeholder engagement, with a shared goal of moving toward a more forward-looking and adaptive management approach. Learn more here.

Scientific and Statistical Committee Appointments

The Council appointed two new members to its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC):

• Dr. Ming Sun is an Assistant Professor of Fisheries Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Dr. Sun’s research focuses on quantitative fisheries science, stock assessment, fisheries management, and marine ecosystem dynamics, as well as their implications for Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM) and socioeconomics.  

• Dr. Jennifer Bigman is an Assistant Professor of Fisheries and Conservation at the University of Delaware, where her research uses quantitative and computational approaches to examine how climate change affects the life histories, population dynamics, and ecology of commercially-important fishes.

The Council also approved reappointment of five existing SSC members whose three-year terms will expire this year. All new and reappointed members will begin serving a three-year term effective March 1, 2026.

NOAA Fisheries Risk/Value Matrix

NOAA Fisheries has finalized a risk/value matrix and supporting methodology intended to help prioritize fisheries management and science activities nationwide. A baseline assumption guiding this effort is that NOAA Fisheries cannot continue to manage the 500+ stocks and stock complexes currently included in federal fishery management plans.

Under the proposed framework, stocks would be evaluated based on measures of “value” (e.g., commercial, recreational, or social importance) and “risk” (e.g., relative stock status, environmental vulnerability, ecosystem role, effectiveness of management) to inform potential reprioritization of science and management resources.

Each Council has been asked to work with their Regional Office and Science Center to co-develop a regional matrix by June 30 and to identify any potential management adjustments that may be needed. On February 2, the regional fishery management councils sent a joint letter to NOAA Fisheries expressing concerns about the proposed methodology and requesting several clarifications.

Public Comments on Executive Order 14276

The Council received a summary of public comments received by NOAA Fisheries on Executive Order 14276: Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. The agency solicited public input from August 27 to October 14, 2025, and subsequently reopened the comment period from December 1-15, 2025. After reviewing the comments, the Council did not identify any issues that warranted revisions to the recommendations and work plan it submitted to NOAA Fisheries in September 2025.

Next Council Meeting

The next Council meeting will be held April 7-9, 2026 in New York, NY. A complete list of upcoming meetings can be found at https://www.mafmc.org/council-events.

Request for Proposals: Strategies for Improving Access and Quota Utilization in the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog ITQ Fisheries – Proposals due March 31

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking proposals to develop recommendations that modify the Individual Transferrable Quota (ITQ) Programs for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries in federal waters. These recommendations would identify ways to remove barriers to entry and increase the utilization of quotas.

Background

Established in 1976 under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Mid-Atlantic Council is one of eight regional U.S. councils responsible for developing Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) to prevent overfishing and rebuild stocks in federal waters. In 1977, the Council developed an FMP for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. This plan initially relied on a combination of limited entry, quotas, and time limits to constrain landings and effort. This regulatory approach evolved, and in 1990, the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog ITQ Programs became the first Limited Access Privilege Program (LAPP) established in the U.S.

Despite the ITQ program's design—where transferability rules theoretically facilitate new entry via the open transfer of allocation permits and quota shares—a recent program review noted significant consolidation over time (fewer vessels and processors) and persistent barriers to entry. This process has been described as a "one-way trip," with virtually no new entrants into these fisheries over the last few decades. Current quota utilization rates are low: in 2025, only 34 percent of the Atlantic surfclam ITQ quota and 35 percent of the ocean quahog ITQ quota were utilized. While these ITQ quotas were set at sustainable levels to meet expected market demand and achieve optimum yield, they are currently heavily underutilized.

On April 17, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. The EO directs federal agencies to “address unfair trade practices, eliminate unsafe imports, level the unfair playing field that has benefited foreign fishing companies, promote ethical sourcing, reduce regulatory burdens, and ensure the integrity of the seafood supply chain.”  Specifically, Section 4 of EO 14276 directs the eight regional U.S. councils to identify actions to “stabilize markets, improve access, enhance profitability, and prevent fishery closures.” As a direct result of this mandate, the Council has committed to developing a document that explores modifications to its ITQ programs for both Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog.

Scope of Work

The contractor(s) shall develop a comprehensive report containing specific, actionable recommendations for modifying the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog ITQ programs to effectively eliminate barriers to entry and maximize quota utilization in these fisheries. The final submission must include an Executive Summary that succinctly presents the key findings and recommendations to the Council. The core of the report is expected to provide thorough background, relevant literature, and rigorous analysis to substantiate all proposed recommendations. The contractor should expect to present the final report in-person at a Council Meeting, with the specific meeting to be determined upon report completion.

The contractor(s) will regularly meet with a project oversight team comprised of Council and NOAA Fisheries staff, to ensure the scope of work proposed under this contract is addressed and to ensure product utility. This team will provide any technical input needed, facilitate data access agreements (if needed), direct the contractor to any regional or fishery specific expertise, and assist the contractor with details needed to support the contractor's completion of this project.

Contractor Qualifications

Minimum qualifications require experience in fisheries economics, social sciences, or natural resource economics, coupled with both theoretical and empirical expertise in fisheries management and demonstrated strong skills in data analysis.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a proposal to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, by email (admin@mafmc.org) by 11:59 pm on March 31, 2026. Proposals should not exceed 20 pages total (excluding curriculum vitae) and should include the following elements:

1. Executive Summary: A summary of the proposed scope of work as well as a brief overview of the applicant’s qualifications.

2. Proposed Scope of Work: A detailed plan for addressing the scope of work described above. This should include a summary of potential analysis approaches, a project schedule, a summary of how the project will be managed, and a list of all personnel who may work on the project.

3. Qualifications of Applicant: A summary of the qualifications of the applicant and other team members, if applicable. Curriculum vitae should be included for all individuals who will work on the project.

4. Proposed Budget: A detailed budget, including the basis for the charges (e.g., hourly rates, fixed fees).

Timeline

• January 7, 2026: Issuance of RFP 

• March 31, 2026: Deadline for proposal submission

• May 1, 2026: Notify selected contractor

• May 29, 2026: Contract execution (by this date or prior)

• June 1, 2026: Project begins

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on prior experience, references and qualifications, and proposal costs. The Council may request additional information as deemed necessary to clarify or negotiate modifications to the proposal.

Requests for Further Information/Contact

Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
800 North State Street, Suite 201
Dover, DE 19901
tel: 302-526-5255
email: cmoore@mafmc.org

Disclaimer

1. All costs associated with preparation and presentation of the proposal will be borne by applicants.

2. Proposals and their accompanying documentation will not be returned.

3. Respondents must disclose any relevant conflicts of interest and/or pending civil/criminal legal actions.

4. The Council reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, negotiate with all qualified applicants, cancel or modify this request for proposals in part or in its entirety, or change the application guidelines, when it is in its best interests.

December 2025 Council Meeting Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met December 16-18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 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 December 2025 meeting page.

PDF Download: December 2025 Council Meeting Summary

Highlights

During this meeting, the Council:

• Adopted a revised rebuilding plan and 2026-2027 specifications for the Atlantic mackerel fishery

• Revised a component of previously proposed changes to spiny dogfish accountability measures to align with the New England Fishery Management Council’s final action

• Adopted status quo recreational summer flounder management measures for 2026-2027*

• Adopted status quo recreational scup management measures for 2026-2027*

• Approved a 20% liberalization in recreational harvest of black sea bass in 2026-2027*

• Reviewed and provided guidance on revised draft alternatives for the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment*

• Reviewed a draft range of alternatives for the Recreational Tilefish Reporting Framework and recommended several modifications

• Approved a 2026 Implementation Plan

• Received an overview of governance-related IRA projects across the three East Coast Councils

* Items denoted with an asterisk (*) were undertaken during joint meetings with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Management Board or Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding and Specifications Framework

The Council adopted a revised rebuilding plan and 2026-2027 specifications for the Atlantic mackerel fishery. Based on a 2025 assessment showing improved stock trends, the revised plan will allow higher catches while continuing to rebuild the stock by 2032. This action reflects the Council’s efforts to expand fishing opportunities where stock conditions allow, consistent with the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

Under the modified rebuilding plan, commercial quotas would increase to 11,237 metric tons (24.8 million pounds) for 2026 and 13,210 metric tons (29.1 million pounds) for 2027. Once approved and implemented by NOAA Fisheries, the new commercial quotas will allow substantially higher initial Atlantic mackerel trip limits, including a 200,000-pound trip limit for Tier 1 permitted vessels. While the higher quota may be implemented relatively quickly, associated trip limit changes may take longer to clear various NOAA regulatory processes.    

The Council also voted to increase the federal recreational possession limit to 25 fish for private boats and 50 fish for for-hire patrons (currently 20 fish for all). The higher for-hire possession limit responds to industry comments that customers are discouraged from booking trips at lower possession limits. States may or may not increase their possession limits, and boats are subject to state rules whenever in state waters.    

Atlantic mackerel assessments have regularly overestimated the number of fish entering the population in the assessment’s last year of data, referred to as the “terminal year recruitment.” To ensure the stock remains on track to rebuild even if a future assessment concludes that 2024 recruitment was lower than initially estimated, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) replaced the assessment’s very high estimate of 2024 recruitment (1.3 billion) with a much lower value based on the median recruitment from 2009 to 2023 (91 million).

The Council did not recommend any modifications to the existing 129-metric-ton (284,396 pounds) cap on incidental catch of river herring and shad (RH/S). To fully utilize the Atlantic mackerel quota, the fishery must stay below a combined RH/S bycatch rate of about 0.75% (i.e., less than one percent) on typical mackerel trips. From 2015 through 2023, this threshold was exceeded in 3 of 9 years, resulting in fishery closures in two of those years. Accordingly, the current cap continues to provide a strong incentive to avoid RH/S bycatch. The Council has also sponsored development of a RH/S bycatch risk prediction tool that will help industry identify areas where RH/S are more likely to be encountered. This tool will be available to the fleet starting in early 2026.  

The Council will work with NOAA Fisheries to facilitate timely implementation of the revised quotas and trip limits. Details on pending trip limit changes and updates on the implementation process may be found on the action page for this framework.

Spiny Dogfish Accountability Measures and Specifications Framework

The Council revisited the joint spiny dogfish framework action following action taken by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC). The spiny dogfish fishery is jointly managed by the two Councils, and any framework measures must be adopted by both.

The framework addresses modifications to fishery’s accountability measures and sets 2026–2027 specifications for the fishery. The Mid-Atlantic Council selected preferred alternatives and approved the framework for submission to NOAA Fisheries at its October 2025 meeting. During that meeting, the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator raised concerns that aspects of the combined accountability measure approach could result in insufficient catch accountability, particularly related to the treatment of commercial landings overages. Despite these concerns, the Mid-Atlantic Council concluded that the full suite of adopted measures was appropriate to conserve and manage the fishery.

At the NEFMC’s December 2025 meeting, the Regional Administrator provided additional clarification, noting that the combination of not always paying back commercial landings overages and closing the fishery at 105 percent of the commercial quota could allow for repeated uncorrected overages. The Regional Administrator indicated that removing one of these two measures would alleviate major concerns. NEFMC ultimately adopted the same framework measures as the Mid-Atlantic Council with one exception: it did not adopt the 105 percent fishery closure provision, instead voting for no action on that measure.

Given NEFMC’s action and the requirement for consistent measures under a joint framework, the Mid-Atlantic Council reconsidered the action at its December meeting. The Council voted to align with NEFMC by not adopting the 105 percent closure measure, thus allowing the remaining elements of the framework to move forward jointly. Additional information on the final joint action is available in the Councils’ press release: Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils Take Joint Action on Spiny Dogfish Framework.

2026-2027 Recreational Management Measures for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

The Council met jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board (Board) to discuss 2026 and 2027 recreational management measures (i.e., bag, size, and season limits) for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. For all three species, the Council and Board followed the Percent Change Approach as outlined in Framework 19/Addendum XXXVI. The first step of the Percent Change Approach is to compare the upcoming two-year average recreational harvest limit (RHL) to a confidence interval around an estimate of expected harvest in the upcoming two years if the current measures were to remain in place. The Recreation Demand Model developed by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center was used to calculate the estimates of harvest under current measures and the associated confidence intervals. The Percent Change Approach also requires consideration of biomass compared to the target level when determining the required overall percent change in expected harvest.

Summer Flounder

The Council and Board agreed the Percent Change Approach requires no change in recreational harvest of summer flounder in 2026 and 2027. This is because the 2026-2027 RHL (8.79 million pounds) falls above the confidence interval around estimated harvest for these years, and stock biomass is greater than 50% but less than 90% of the target level.

The Council and Board approved the use of regional conservation equivalency in 2026 and 2027. Non-preferred coastwide measures, which are written into the federal regulations but waived in favor of state measures, include an 18.5-inch minimum size, 3 fish possession limit, and open season from May 8-September 30. Precautionary default measures include a 20-inch minimum size, 2 fish possession limit, and open season from July 1-August 31. These measures are only intended to be used for states/regions which do not comply with the conservation equivalency process.

Under the no change in harvest outcome, the current measures are expected to remain in place for states/regions in 2026. Measures for 2027 will be reviewed in 2026 but are expected to remain unchanged unless new information suggests a major change in the expected impacts of those measures on the stock or the fishery. If states/regions would like to make minor changes to their 2026 measures (e.g., to maintain a Saturday opening), those changes will need to be approved through the Commission process in early 2026.

Scup

The Council and Board agreed the Percent Change Approach requires no change in recreational harvest of scup in 2026 and 2027. This is because the average 2026-2027 RHL (12.38 million pounds) falls below the confidence interval around estimated harvest for these years, and the stock is greater than 150% of the target level.

Under the no change in harvest outcome, the Council and Board agreed to status quo federal water measures. Status quo state water measures are also expected to remain in place in 2026. Measures for 2027 will be reviewed in 2026 but are expected to remain unchanged unless new information suggests a major change in the expected impacts of those measures on the stock or the fishery. If states would like to make minor changes to their 2026 measures (e.g., to maintain a Saturday opening), those changes will need to be approved through the Commission process in early 2026.

Black Sea Bass

The Council and Board discussed application of the Percent Change Approach for setting 2026 and 2027 recreational measures for black sea bass, including consideration of the appropriate confidence interval. When viewed as a percentage range around the median, the updated confidence interval for black sea bass is much wider than those for summer flounder and scup. It is also wider than the confidence intervals used in the past for all three species. The degree of this difference was not anticipated prior to the availability of updated Recreation Demand Model results but can be explained by differences in the input data. Specifically, the black sea bass stock assessment recently transitioned to the Woods Hole Assessment Model (WHAM), which characterizes uncertainty differently than the assessment model structure used for black sea bass in the past and currently used for summer flounder and scup.

Council and Board members emphasized that Framework 19/Addendum XXXVI calls for consideration of the appropriate confidence interval methodology each specifications cycle. In addition, the Recreation Demand Model, as well as stock assessment models and projections, continue to evolve and improve over time. The Council and Board tasked staff to plan a more comprehensive review of confidence interval methods for all three species to better inform future decision-making.

The Council and Board discussed that use of the prior confidence interval method would have resulted in no liberalization for black sea bass in 2026 and 2027, while a slightly narrower interval would have resulted in a 39 percent liberalization. The Council and Board ultimately approved a 20 percent liberalization. They agreed this is appropriately precautionary, especially as harvest would still be expected to be below the 2026-2027 RHL and biomass has been increasing and has been well above the target level for more than a decade. Consistent with the Percent Change Approach, the 20 percent liberalization will be implemented in 2026, with 2027 measures remaining unchanged unless new information suggests a major change in the expected impacts of those measures on the stock or the fishery.

The Council and Board also agreed to waive federal waters measures in favor of state waters measures, as has been done for black sea bass since 2022. They adopted non-preferred coastwide measures consisting of a 14-inch minimum size, a 5-fish possession limit, and a May 15–September 30 open season. These measures are intended to be waived in favor of state waters measures. Precautionary default measures remain unchanged at a 16 inch minimum size, a 2-fish possession limit, and an open season of June 1 – August 31. These measures will only be implemented if needed for states/regions which do not follow the conservation equivalency process. Measures in individual states/regions will be determined in early 2026 through the Commission process.

Recreational Sector Separation Amendment

The Council met jointly with the Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board to review and provide guidance on revised draft alternatives for the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. This amendment considers two main issues: 1) recreational mode management (separate for-hire and private mode management measures or strategies), and 2) for-hire permitting and reporting requirements.

The Council and Policy Board discussed questions and areas of feedback identified by the Fishery Management Action Team/Plan Development Team (FMAT/PDT). While some of these questions were addressed, the Council and Board recognized that additional stakeholder input and discussion among managers is needed in order to continue development of alternatives. The groups delayed development of a draft amendment/public hearing document in order to hold a workshop in 2026 to further refine the draft alternatives. Staff will prepare draft workshop objectives and logistics for review by the Council and Policy Board in early 2026.

In addition, the Council and Policy Board removed from consideration an option that would have required states to consider or implement state-level mode management during the recreational measures setting process. This option was removed due to concerns about potential administrative burden and stakeholder confusion. However, they intend to further explore an option that would adopt uniform guidelines and best practices for implementing mode management at the state and/or federal levels. Additional guidance is needed on guidelines and best practices that may be included, which will receive further discussion at the workshop.  The workshop will also cover the remaining options related to a for-hire Letter of Authorization (LOA) program, as well as for-hire permitting and reporting requirements.

The groups also discussed, but did not approve, removing bluefish from the amendment and pursuing further development of the LOA options only for summer flounder and black sea bass. Some members also expressed concern that mode management approaches using separate allocations had been removed from the document in August and discussed whether these types of options should be discussed at the planned workshop, but rejected a motion to do so.

Recreational Tilefish Reporting Framework

The Council reviewed a modified range of alternatives for the Recreational Tilefish Reporting Framework. This action considers options to modify or eliminate the permitting and reporting requirements for private recreational tilefish anglers with the goals of reducing the reporting burden, increasing enforceability of regulations, and improving the accuracy and reliability of self-reported data.

The range of alternatives presented to the Council includes options that would either 1) eliminate the current permit and/or reporting requirements or (2) modify the required reporting fields and/or submission timeframe. An initial range of alternatives was presented to the Council during the October 2025 meeting and further refined based on Council discussion.

The Council discussed the importance of the reporting program given the current data limitations for both blueline and golden tilefish, noting that improved recreational catch data remains a major data gap. However, the Council acknowledged that the existing reporting program has not functioned as intended and that the complexity of the requirements has likely contributed to low participation and poor data quality. As a result, the Council emphasized the need to simplify reporting requirements to improve compliance and increase the likelihood of obtaining usable catch data. The Council also discussed enforceability as a key consideration, recognizing that reporting requirements that are easier to understand and enforce may improve program performance.

Several Council members expressed continued interest in obtaining tilefish length data as well as information on fishing location; however, Council members agreed that the mandatory reporting fields need to be made as simple as possible. To avoid adding complexity, the Council agreed to consider making these fields optional rather than required. The Council noted that optional reporting fields could provide opportunities to collect additional biological or spatial information without increasing the regulatory burden.

Final action by the Council is tentatively planned for April 2026. Updates on this action can be found here.

2026 Implementation Plan

The Council approved a draft 2026 Implementation Plan after making several revisions. The plan outlines anticipated work for the upcoming year in the context of the Council’s 5-year strategic plan. First, the Council added an action to evaluate and provide guidance on the use of confidence intervals and the role of uncertainty in the Percent Change Approach. The Council also agreed to add development and implementation of a mesh selectivity study for the directed Atlantic mackerel fishery to the “Possible Additions” section of the plan, which includes tasks the Council may work on if time and resources allow. In addition, the Council moved review of revised MRIP Fishing Effort Survey data (including associated allocation changes) to the Possible Additions section. Finally, the Council removed a potential action related to development of an omnibus framework for ACL specification regulations and instead requested that the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Regional Administrator address this issue through Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 305(d) rulemaking.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Governance Projects

The Council received an overview of the governance-related IRA projects across the three East Coast Councils. The New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic Councils all have at least one IRA project that will review, evaluate, and potentially recommend modifications to cross-jurisdictional governance processes, advisory body structure and use, and cooperative management agreements. Many of these projects are underway with contractors conducting the work on most project components. A significant amount of work is anticipated in 2026 and Council members, advisors, and staff will be involved in a variety of activities throughout the year to offer their feedback and perspectives to help address the project objectives.

Next Council Meeting

The next Council meeting will be held by webinar February 10-11, 2026. A complete list of upcoming meetings can be found at https://www.mafmc.org/council-events.

Council Adopts Revised Stock Rebuilding Plan for Atlantic Mackerel

During a meeting this week in Washington, D.C., the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council adopted a revised rebuilding plan and 2026-2027 specifications for the Atlantic mackerel fishery. Based on a 2025 assessment showing improved stock trends, the revised plan will allow higher catches while continuing to rebuild the stock by 2032. This action reflects the Council’s efforts to expand fishing opportunities where stock conditions allow, consistent with the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

Under the modified rebuilding plan, commercial quotas would increase to 11,237 metric tons (24.8 million pounds) for 2026 and 13,210 metric tons (29.1 million pounds) for 2027. Once approved and implemented by NOAA Fisheries, the new commercial quotas will allow substantially higher initial Atlantic mackerel trip limits, including a 200,000-pound trip limit for Tier 1 permitted vessels. While the higher quota may be implemented relatively quickly, associated trip limit changes may take longer to clear various NOAA regulatory processes.

The Council also voted to increase the federal recreational possession limit to 25 fish for private boats and 50 fish for for-hire patrons (currently 20 fish for all). The higher for-hire possession limit responds to industry comments that customers are discouraged from booking trips at lower possession limits. States may or may not increase their possession limits, and boats are subject to state rules whenever in state waters.

The Council did not recommend any modifications to the existing 129-metric-ton (284,396 pounds) cap on incidental catch of river herring and shad (RH/S). To fully utilize the Atlantic mackerel quota, the fishery must stay below a combined RH/S bycatch rate of about 0.75% (i.e., less than one percent) on typical mackerel trips. From 2015 through 2023, this threshold was exceeded in 3 of 9 years, resulting in fishery closures in two of those years. Accordingly, the current cap continues to provide a strong incentive to avoid RH/S bycatch. The Council has also sponsored development of a RH/S bycatch risk prediction tool that will help industry identify areas where RH/S are more likely to be encountered. This tool will be available to the fleet starting in early 2026.

The Council will work with NOAA Fisheries to facilitate timely implementation of the revised quotas and trip limits. Details on pending trip limit changes and updates on the implementation process may be found on the Council’s website at https://www.mafmc.org/actions/mackerel-rebuilding-and-2026-27-specs-fw. For more information, contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org or 302-526-5254.

Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils Take Joint Action on Spiny Dogfish Framework

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and New England Fishery Management Council took final action at their respective December 2025 meetings on a framework adjustment to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The framework sets specifications for the 2026-2027 fishing years and proposes several changes to accountability measures. The framework will be submitted to NOAA Fisheries for review and rulemaking.

Accountability Measures

Currently, the Spiny Dogfish FMP requires pound-for-pound payback of any Annual Catch Limit (ACL) overages as an accountability measure. Under the revised measures adopted through this framework, ACL overages would be calculated using a 3-year average of total catch from all sources compared to a 3-year average of ACLs. In addition, payback amounts would depend on biomass levels as follows:

• At or above target biomass: No payback would be required for ACL overages. However, the Councils would still consider management adjustments during the next specifications cycle to prevent future overages.

• At or below 75% of target biomass: Full, pound-for-pound paybacks would be required and deducted from the next available single-year ACL. If the stock becomes overfished, full paybacks would be required until the stock is completely rebuilt.

• Between 75% and 100% of target biomass: The payback amount would be calculated on a sliding, linear scale based on biomass level (for example, a 50% payback would be required when the stock is at 87.5% of the target biomass).

These changes are intended to better align accountability measures with stock status and reduce unnecessary economic impacts from variable landing limits and discards when the stock is healthy.

2026-2027 Specifications

The 2023 Management Track Assessment indicated that the spiny dogfish stock was neither overfished nor experiencing overfishing in 2022. Although the stock is experiencing lower annual productivity, stock levels were slightly above the biomass target in 2022. Projections suggest the stock could be around 113% of its target biomass in the 2026 calendar year.

The Councils voted to maintain the current Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) limit of 7,626 metric tons (16.8 million pounds) for the 2026 and 2027 fishing years. This ABC is slightly below the overfishing limits (OFLs) for 2026 and 2027 and is aligned with advice from the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). After accounting for expected discards, the commercial quota for both years would be 9.2 million pounds, a slight reduction from the 2025 quota of 9.3 million pounds. No changes were recommended to other management measures, including the federal trip limit of 7,500 pounds.

Additional information about this action can be found here. 

Spiny Dogfish Specifications for FY 2026-2027

Specifications	2026-27 (pounds)	2026-27 (mt)
Overfishing Limit (OFL)	17,822,148	8,084
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)	16,812,432	7,626
Canadian Landings	8,818	4
Domestic ABC	16,803,614	7,622
Annual Catch Limit (ACL)	16,803,614	7,622
Management Uncertainty Buffer	0.0%	0.0%
Amount of Buffer	0	0
Annual Catch Target (ACT)	16,803,614	7,622
U.S. Discards	7,359,022	3,338
Total Allowable Landings (TAL)	9,444,592	4,284
U.S. Recreational Landings	246,917	112
Commercial Quota	9,197,675	4,172

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