Federal Register #Docket No. 260421-0107

NOAA Revises Atlantic Mackerel Fishery Management Measures for 2026

This regulatory action by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) updates management measures for the Atlantic mackerel fishery: - Government Buyer: - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - OEMs and Vendors: - NOAA (National Marine Fisheries Service) is the primary regulatory authority; no commercial OEMs or vendors are involved - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured; this is a regulatory adjustment - Key fishery specifications for 2026: - Atlantic Mackerel Commercial Quota: 11,237 metric tons - Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC): 15,134 metric tons - Recreational Catch Deduction: 2,500 metric tons - Canadian Catch Deduction: 500 metric tons - Commercial Discards: 287 metric tons - River Herring/Shad Catch Cap: 129 metric tons - Possession limits for commercial and recreational vessels: - Tier 1: 200,000 lb per trip - Tier 2: 135,000 lb per trip - Tier 3: 100,000 lb per trip - Open Access: 20,000 lb per trip - Recreational (private): 25 fish per person per trip - Recreational (for-hire): 50 fish per person per trip (with customers), 25 fish per person (without customers) - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Revises the Atlantic mackerel rebuilding plan based on updated scientific stock assessments - Increases commercial and recreational possession limits for 2026 - Modifies in-season possession limit adjustment procedures - Implements administrative corrections and clarifications to regulations - Places of Performance: - Cheboygan River and surrounding waterways, Michigan (including Black River, Indian River, Crooked River, Mullett Lake, Burt Lake, Crooked Lake) - NOAA headquarters as the regulatory authority

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approves and implements Framework Adjustment 17 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action revises the Atlantic mackerel rebuilding plan, sets final 2026 and projects 2027 specifications, implements additional management measures for the mackerel fishery, and makes administrative revisions and corrections to existing regulations. The measures respond to updated scientific information from a September 2025 stock assessment and aim to prevent overfishing, rebuild the overfished mackerel stock, provide additional fishing opportunities, and ensure management is based on the best scientific information available.

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