No More Mackerel: Fishery Shuts Down for 2025
Published Date: 9/17/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting now and through the end of 2025, commercial fishermen can’t catch Atlantic mackerel because most of the yearly limit has already been caught. This pause helps protect the mackerel population and keeps the fishery healthy for the future. If you’re in the fishing business, plan ahead to avoid any surprises and keep the ocean happy!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Commercial mackerel fishery closed
If you fish for a living, you cannot commercially catch Atlantic mackerel through December 31, 2025. NMFS is closing the commercial Atlantic mackerel fishery because it projects that 80 percent of the domestic annual harvest has been caught.
Closure intended to prevent overharvest
The closure is intended to prevent overharvest and help protect the Atlantic mackerel population for the future. NMFS states the action is required by the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan after about 80 percent of the annual domestic harvest was projected to be caught.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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