NOAA Updates Monkfish Fishing Quotas and Rules for Next Three Years
Published Date: 8/27/2026
Rule
Summary
Through this action, NMFS is implementing specifications and management measures in Framework Adjustment 17 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action sets monkfish specifications for fishing year 2026, projects specifications for fishing years 2027 and 2028, streamlines the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Overage Accountability Measure (AM) trigger, and adds default specifications for the monkfish fishery. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and achieve the goals and objectives of the FMP. These measures are intended to help prevent overfishing and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
2026 Monkfish Quotas Set
NMFS sets monkfish catch limits for fishing year 2026 and projects 2027–2028. For the Northern area the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and ACL are 6,224 metric tons (ACT 6,038 mt; TAL 5,309 mt, a 3% decrease from 2023–2025); for the Southern area the ABC and ACL are 5,861 mt (ACT 5,685 mt; TAL 3,487 mt, a 0.2% increase from 2023–2025).
Regional Administrator Implements Overage AMs
Framework 17 removes the requirement that the Councils must trigger Annual Catch Limit (ACL) overage accountability measures (AMs). Instead, the Regional Administrator is now responsible for implementing ACL overage AMs and will make ACT adjustments in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and other law, which NMFS can publish as part of its annual quota notices.
Default Rollover Catch Specifications
If final OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs for a fishing year are not published in the Federal Register by the start of that fishing year, the regulation makes that fishing year's specifications equal to the prior year's specifications until superseded. The rule also states ACTs and accounting for incidental catch and discards under default ACLs must be consistent with the previous year's specifications.
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Key Dates
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