Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-17129
2026 Illex Squid Fishery Closure and Summer Flounder Quota Transfer
Buyer
National Marine Fisheries Service
Posted
August 21, 2026
Identifier
2026-17129
This notice from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, announces regulatory actions for the 2026 fishing year: - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Department of Commerce - Sub-agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Office: Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Illex Squid Fishery Closure: - Federal Illex squid fishery closed from August 23 to December 31, 2026 - Closure triggered by reaching 96% of the domestic annual harvest (DAH) quota of 38,631 metric tons - During closure, possession limit is 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) per trip - Summer Flounder Quota Transfer: - North Carolina transfers 2,435 lb of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to Massachusetts - Transfer repays landings made by an out-of-state vessel under a safe harbor agreement - Revised 2026 quotas: North Carolina: 2,899,571 lb; Massachusetts: 1,048,732 lb - OEMs and Vendors: - No OEMs or commercial vendors are mentioned; this is a regulatory action, not a procurement - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured; actions relate to fishery quota management - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Quota transfer is specifically to address safe harbor landings - Illex squid closure is based on real-time quota monitoring
Description
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This quota transfer is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. The transfer was requested to repay landings made by an out-of-state permitted vessel under a safe harbor agreement. The revised 2026 commercial quotas are 2,899,571 pounds for North Carolina and 1,048,732 pounds for Massachusetts. This temporary rule is effective from August 20, 2026, through December 31, 2026.