New England Fishery Council Meeting on Skate and Monkfish Rules
Published Date: 3/5/2025
Notice
Summary
The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a public meeting on March 20, 2025, to plan fishing rules for skate and monkfish in New England waters. Fishermen, seafood businesses, and ocean lovers will see updates on fishing limits and management strategies for 2026-2028. This meeting sets the stage for smarter fishing that balances business and ocean health, with no immediate costs but important future impacts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Monkfish 2026–2028 Specifications
The Council will develop and consider monkfish fishing specifications for fishing years 2026–2028 and will initiate Framework Adjustment 17. These actions could lead to formal rules that affect how monkfish fishing is managed beginning in those fishing years.
Skate 2026–2027 Specifications
The Council will develop and consider skate fishing specifications for fishing years 2026–2027. These specifications may change skate catch limits or other rules that govern skate fishing during those years.
Possible Possession Limits & Days-At-Sea
The committees will consider a range of potential measures, explicitly including monkfish and skate possession limits and Monkfish Days-At-Sea. If adopted later, these measures would directly affect how much fish can be kept and how many days vessels may fish.
Joint Analyses on Fishery Overlap
Plan Development Teams will develop joint analyses on monkfish and skate fisheries overlap to inform management decisions. These analyses will be used to shape future specifications and measures for the two fisheries.
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