Spiny dogfish thriving, so fishermen get penalty break in Northeast
Published Date: 10/13/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government is proposing new fishing rules for spiny dogfish in 2026 and 2027 to keep the fish population healthy while letting fishermen catch enough to make a good living. They’re also making it easier for fishermen by relaxing strict penalties if they accidentally catch too many, since the fish stock is doing well. These changes affect commercial fishers in the Northeast and comments are open until November 12, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
2026–27 Spiny Dogfish Catch Limits Cut Slightly
You (commercial fishers) would be subject to proposed 2026 and projected 2027 catch specifications that keep the acceptable biological catch (ABC) at 16.81 million lb (7,626 mt) and set the coastwide commercial quota at 9.2 million lb (4,172 mt), a 1.5% decrease from 2025. The proposal also includes a domestic discards estimate of 7.36 million lb (3,338 mt) and a total allowable landings (TAL) of 9.44 million lb (4,284 mt). The agency estimates this quota reduction could reduce aggregate ex-vessel revenue by about $31,700 per year (using an average price of ~$0.23/lb), or roughly $470 per vessel per year when averaged across the 68 vessels that landed over 10,000 lb in 2022–2024.
New Multi‑Year Overage Payback Rules
If recent 3-year average catch exceeds the 3-year average ACL, overage paybacks would be calculated using 3-year averages and the stock's projected biomass (B) relative to biomass at maximum sustainable yield (BMSY). No payback would be required when B is at or above 100% of BMSY; paybacks would be scaled linearly when B is between 75% and 100% of BMSY; and full paybacks would be required when B is at or below 75% of BMSY or the stock is under a rebuilding plan. The in-season coastwide Federal closure when the commercial quota is reached would remain unchanged.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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