April 27, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today we are announcing the proposed annual catch limits for the 2015 Atlantic bluefish fishery.
We are proposing to implement the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended Annual Catch Limit (ACL) of approximately 21.54 million lb for 2015 for the Atlantic bluefish fishery, a 12% decrease from the 2014 ACL of 24.43 million lb.
- Proposed commercial quota is 5.12 million lb, a 31% decrease from 2014 (7.46 million lb)
- Proposed recreational harvest limit is 13.07 million lb, a 3% decrease from the 2014 recreational harvest limit (13.52 million lb).
These reductions in quota account for changes in stock size outlined in the 2014 stock assessment update. However, in recent years, states’ landings of bluefish are typically below their allocated quota, and the proposed quota reductions may be partially mitigated by the states’ ability to transfer quota.
Based on the estimates from the recent updated stock assessment model, the bluefish stock is not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring.
Read the proposed rule, and submit your comments through the Federal eRulemaking portal online by May 12, 2015. Comments may also be submitted in writing to:
John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930.
Please mark the outside of the envelope: “Comments on Bluefish Specifications.”
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or email Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.