Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2015 Annual Catch Limits for Bluefish

August 5, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries announces the following annual catch limits for the 2015 bluefish fishery: 

2015 COMMERCIAL QUOTA: 5.241 MILLION LB. 

This is a 35 percent decrease from 2014 (7.46 million lb).

2015 RECREATIONAL HARVEST LIMIT: 12.951 MILLION LB. This is a 4.3 percent decrease from the 2014 recreational harvest limit (13.52 million lb).

Together, the total allowable landings for 2015 is 18.19 million lb. 

This is a 13.7 percent decrease from the 2014 total allowable landings (21.08 million lb).

Although the bluefish stock is not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring, the most recent stock assessment update indicates the size of the stock has declined, which is why we reduced the limits. In recent years, states’ landings of bluefish have been below their allocated quota, and the quota reductions may be partially mitigated by the states’ ability to transfer quota.

Read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register, and get more information from the permit holder bulletin.

The Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Florida each transferred 150,000 lb of commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York to ensure the New York quota is not exceeded. The transfers will become effective upon the filing of this final rule.

NOAA Fisheries Reminds Commercial Fishermen that the Recreational Bag Limit Applies for Some Species After a Commercial Closure if the Recreational Season is Open

July 17, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

Atlantic Dolphin, Atlantic Wahoo, and Snapper-Grouper Species (Except for Wreckfish)

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic dolphin, Atlantic wahoo, or snapper-grouper species (except for wreckfish):

  • The recreational bag limit for these species applies to commercial vessels.
  • If a commercial vessel is on a trip that lasts longer than one day, each person onboard the commercial vessel is limited to only one day’s bag limit.
  • Sale and purchase of these species is prohibited.
  • The commercial closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a federal commercial permit.
  • The recreational bag limit for dolphin is 10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel, whichever is less, except on board a headboat, where the bag limit is 10 per paying passenger.
  • The recreational bag limit for wahoo is 2 fish per person per day.
  • Recreational bag limits for snapper-grouper species can be found at 50 CFR § 622.187.These measures apply from:
  • Maine through the east coast of Florida for dolphin and wahoo.
  • North Carolina/Virginia border through the east coast of Florida for snapper-grouper species (except black sea bass and scup).
  • Cape Hatteras, North Carolina through the east coast of Florida for black sea bass and scup.

Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic king or Spanish mackerel:

  • There is no recreational bag or possession limit that applies to commercial vessels, and commercial fishermen may NOT fish under the recreational bag limit of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.
  • A person aboard a vessel that has both a valid charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish and a valid commercial vessel permit for king or Spanish mackerel, may continue to fish under a bag limit, provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.These measures apply from:
  • New York through the east coast of Florida.