Mid-Atlantic Council Sets Quotas for Quahogs and Butterfish
Published Date: 6/29/2026
Notice
Summary
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee is meeting July 15-16, 2026, to update fishing limits for Ocean Quahog and Butterfish and review data for other important fish species. These decisions affect fishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities by guiding sustainable catch limits for 2027-2029. The meeting is both in-person and online, making it easy for everyone to join and stay informed.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.
Ocean Quahog ABCs for 2027-2028
The SSC will recommend multi-year acceptable biological catch (ABC) specifications for Ocean Quahog for 2027-2028. These recommendations will guide sustainable catch limits that affect fishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities.
Butterfish ABCs for 2027-2029
The SSC will recommend multi-year acceptable biological catch (ABC) specifications for Butterfish covering 2027-2029. Those recommendations will guide catch limits and thus affect fishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities harvesting Butterfish.
Review of 2027 ABCs for Other Mid‑Atlantic Stocks
The SSC will review the most recent survey and fishery data and the previously recommended 2027 ABCs for Atlantic Surfclam, Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, and Chub Mackerel. This review will inform catch advice that affects fishermen and seafood businesses for those species.
Scup Gear Restricted Areas Evaluation
The SSC will provide guidance on results from a project evaluating the effectiveness of Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs). The evaluation and any guidance could influence gear rules or area protections that affect scup fishermen and related seafood businesses.
Input on Assessment Timing and Priorities
The SSC will provide input on assessment timing and prioritization for Mid‑Atlantic stocks during the July 15–16, 2026 meeting. Those prioritization decisions will guide which stocks are assessed and when, affecting management advice that matters to fishermen and seafood businesses.
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