New Rules Aim to Save Monkfish While Keeping Fishermen Hooked
Published Date: 4/23/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
Fishermen and seafood businesses in the Northeast will see new rules for catching monkfish starting in 2026. These changes set catch limits for the next three years, simplify how overfishing is handled, and add backup plans to keep the fishery healthy. The goal? Protect monkfish populations while keeping the fishing industry strong—so everyone can enjoy seafood for years to come!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Pound-for-Pound ACL Overage Deduction
If the ACL for a monkfish stock is exceeded in a year, the proposed rule requires that the ACT for that stock in the second fishing year following the overage be revised to deduct the ACL overage on a pound-for-pound basis. The rule also states that, if necessary based on the scale of the deduction, management measures (DAS and trip limits) may be revised after Council consultation.
2026–2028 Monkfish Catch Limits
If you fish for monkfish or run a seafood business in the Northeast, NMFS proposes catch limits for 2026 and projected quotas for 2027–2028. Proposed numbers include ABC/ACL of 6,224 mt (Northern) and 5,861 mt (Southern); TALs of 5,309 mt (Northern, a 3% decrease) and 3,487 mt (Southern, a 0.2% increase); and ACTs of 6,038 mt (Northern) and 5,685 mt (Southern).
Regional Administrator Triggers AMs
If an ACL overage occurs, the proposed rule makes the Regional Administrator — not the Councils — responsible for triggering the annual catch limit (ACL) overage accountability measures (AMs). NMFS says this will simplify the process and reduce disruption to Council workplans when AMs must be implemented.
Default Rollovers Keep Prior Year Limits
If final OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs are not published before a fishing year starts, the proposed rule makes that year's specifications equal to the prior fishing year's specifications until a final rule supersedes them. The rule adds these default rollover specifications to Sec. 648.96 so catch levels would remain consistent with the previous year if defaults are used.
Effort Controls Left Unchanged
Under the proposal, effort controls such as Monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) and possession limits would remain unchanged from fishing years 2023–2025. That means current DAS and trip limit rules would continue under the proposed 2026–2028 specifications.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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