Fishers: Webinar to tweak flounder and bass rules soon
Published Date: 2/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is hosting a public webinar on March 13, 2025, to talk about new rules for fishing summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. This meeting affects recreational fishers by reviewing possible changes to bag limits, size limits, and fishing seasons. The goal is to gather advice and public feedback before making final decisions that could impact how and when people fish these popular species.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Possible changes to recreational fishing limits
You may see rule changes for recreational fishing of summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. On March 13, 2025, advisors will review alternatives for bag limits, size limits, and fishing seasons and provide recommendations before final decisions are made.
Accessibility for meeting participants with disabilities
The meeting location is physically accessible and people who need sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should contact Shelley Spedden at (302) 526-5251 at least 5 days before March 13, 2025 to request them.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-07536, Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America
Starting April 20, 2026, NOAA is setting new rules for companies doing geophysical surveys in the Gulf of America to protect marine mammals. These rules let companies get permission to accidentally disturb marine mammals but require them to minimize harm and report what they find. This plan lasts five years and helps balance ocean research with saving sea life.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-20435, Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; Amendment 62
Starting October 2, 2026, new rules change how much red grouper fishermen in the Gulf of America can catch and how the catch is shared. Plus, the winter break for catching shallow-water grouper is gone, so anglers get more fishing days. These updates help keep fish healthy while giving fishermen and fish lovers better chances to enjoy the Gulf’s reef fishery.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-02948, Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is hosting a free online meeting on March 11, 2025, to talk about their Citizen Science Program. This meeting affects volunteers and fishery experts who help collect data to protect ocean life. They’ll share updates, discuss new ideas, and plan how to get more people involved—all to make fishing smarter and more sustainable.
Next: 2025-02950, Presidential Declaration Amendment of a Major Disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of California
California’s wildfire and wind disaster declaration just got an update! The disaster period now officially covers January 7 to January 31, 2025, giving affected communities more time to qualify for help. If you need a loan to recover, physical damage applications are due by March 17, and economic injury loans by October 15, 2025—so don’t wait!