Mid-Atlantic Council Sets Fishing Rules for 2027-2029 Season
Published Date: 7/24/2026
Notice
Summary
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding public meetings from August 11-13, 2026, to set fishing rules for important species like surfclams, butterfish, monkfish, and chub mackerel. Fishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities will see updates that could affect catch limits and fishing seasons for 2027-2029. You can join in person or online to learn about these changes and have your say!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Adopting 2027–2029 Catch Specifications
If you are a commercial fisherman or run a seafood business, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will review and may adopt fishing specifications for multiple species (surfclams, ocean quahog, butterfish, chub mackerel, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish, monkfish, and skates) that apply to 2027–2029. The meetings are August 11–13, 2026 in Philadelphia with a virtual Webex option, and the Council may revise commercial measures, catch limits, and fishing seasons for those years.
Butterfish Trip Limits and Quota Use
If you fish for butterfish, the Council will review and may adopt 2027–2029 butterfish specifications and consider alternative butterfish trip limits and other measures to increase quota utilization. That review happens during the August 11–13, 2026 meeting in Philadelphia (and via Webex) and could change per-trip limits or other rules that affect how much you can legally harvest on each trip.
Scup Winter I Framework Final Action
If you fish scup commercially or recreationally, the Council will review alternatives and impacts for the Scup Winter I Framework and the Council will take final action during the August 11–13, 2026 meeting in Philadelphia (with a Webex option). Final action could change winter-season measures that affect when and how much scup can be caught.
Atlantic Large Whale Take Plan Scoping
The Council will review information on scoping for potential future modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) during the August 11–13, 2026 meeting in Philadelphia and via Webex. That scoping could lead to future rule changes intended to reduce whale takes, which may affect fishing gear or operations if modifications are later proposed.
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