# 2026-15784: Feds Tweak Yellowtail Flounder Limits in Northeast Fishery Framework 2026-15784, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 72, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-08-04, effective 2026-08-04; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15784 - As of: 2026-08-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-15784 - Title: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 72 - Type: Rule - Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Citation: 91 FR 49358 - Published: 2026-08-04 - Effective: 2026-08-04 - Comments close: 2026-09-03 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 0648-BO27 - Last updated: 2026-08-11 ## In one line Feds Tweak Yellowtail Flounder Limits in Northeast Fishery Framework ## Summary NMFS issues this interim final rule to implement Framework Adjustment 72 (Framework 72) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), specifically to implement status determination criteria for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, set catch limits for multispecies (groundfish) stocks, and revise the process for setting recreational measures for Atlantic cod and haddock. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and to achieve the goals and objectives of the FMP. The measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available. ## Effects PRIA read - New stock criteria for yellowtail: mixed, low. The rule incorporates updated status determination criteria (SDC) and numeric estimates for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder based on the 2025 stock assessments and the Woods Hole Assessment Model. This replaces the previous “unknown” SDCs for this stock and is now part of how catch advice and limi… - 2026 U.S./Canada shared quotas changed: mixed, medium. Framework 72 approves shared U.S./Canada quotas for 2026 for eastern Georges Bank cod, eastern Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. Compared to 2025, the 2026 U.S. quotas represent an 84% increase for eastern GB cod, a 36% decrease for eastern GB haddock, and a 68% decrease f… - Multiyear catch limits 2026–2030 set: mixed, medium. Framework 72 adopts catch specifications and catch limits (including OFLs and ABCs) for multiple groundfish stocks for fishing year 2026 and projections for 2026–2030. Specifications for GB cod, GB haddock, and GB yellowtail flounder apply for 2026; other stocks have specifications through 2030. Th… - Sector buffer removed for 2026 (more quota): benefit, medium. Because the at-sea monitoring coverage target for 2026 is 100 percent, the rule removes the management uncertainty buffer for sector sub-ACLs (except SNE cod) for the entire 2026 fishing year, increasing sector allocations. NMFS estimates sector groundfish revenues could increase by up to $1.8 mill… - Avoids short-term quota leasing costs: benefit, medium. Implementing Framework 72 immediately prevents continued reliance on default 75% specifications and reduces the need for fishermen to lease quota at current (potentially high) lease prices. The rule explains that lease payments made while waiting for higher allocations are generally not recoverable… - Recreational cod/haddock rulemaking changes: benefit, low. The Regional Administrator may now set recreational measures (season, minimum size, possession limits) for cod and haddock stocks that do not have a recreational sub-ACL (GB haddock, GB cod, and eastern GB cod), after consulting with the New England Fishery Management Council. Measures can be set t… ## Related documents - [2026-14204](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14204): Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date, 2026-07-15 - [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14 - [2026-07536](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07536): Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America, 2026-04-17 - [2026-05599](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05599): Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period…, 2026-03-23 - [2026-04256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04256): Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fi…, 2026-03-04 - [2025-06746](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06746): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2025-04-17 ## Sources - [2026-15784 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/04/2026-15784/magnuson-stevens-fishery-conservation-and-management-act-provisions-fisheries-of-the-northeastern) - [2026-15784 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-04/pdf/2026-15784.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-15778, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the National Science Founda…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15778) - [Next: 2026-15798, Requests for Arbitration Panels](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15798) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15784 (as of 2026-08-11).