Federal Register #2026-11987

NOAA Sets 2026-2028 Catch and Possession Limits for Northeast Skate Complex Fishery

• The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, has issued a final rule establishing catch and possession limits for the Northeast Skate Complex fishery for 2026, with projected limits for 2027 and 2028.
• The rule covers seven skate species and sets the annual catch limit (ACL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) at 41,282 metric tons for 2026 and 2027, with a projected decrease to 37,154 metric tons for 2028.
• Possession limits per trip are increased to 4,500 lb for skate wings in Season 1 (May–August), 6,500 lb for skate wings in Season 2 (September–April), and 30,000 lb whole weight for skate bait in all bait seasons.
• No specific OEMs or vendors are involved, as this is a regulatory action rather than a procurement of products or services.
• Notable requirements include adherence to the new catch and possession limits, with the intent to provide greater operational flexibility and optimize yield for fishery participants.
• The rule supports sustainable fishery management in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Description

This final rule sets skate catch limits for the fishing year 2026 and projects catch limits for 2027 and 2028 for the Northeast Skate Complex fishery. It increases the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and annual catch limit (ACL) for 2026 and 2027, and projects a decrease for 2028. The rule also increases trip possession limits for the wing and bait fisheries to provide additional operational flexibility. The action is based on recent scientific information and aims to establish appropriate catch limits while supporting fishery participants.

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