The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is implementing a temporary closure for commercial fishing of Atlantic cobia in federal waters from Georgia to New York. This closure will start on December 18, 2024, because the commercial quota for Atlantic cobia is expected to be reached by that date. The closure will last until the end of the fishing year on December 31, 2024, to help protect the cobia population. During this period, harvesting, selling, or trading Atlantic cobia will not be allowed, except for those already harvested, landed, and sold before the closure date.
Simple Explanation
The National Marine Fisheries Service is stopping fishing for a type of fish called Atlantic cobia from Georgia to New York because people have caught a lot of it already this year. This break will last from December 18 to December 31, 2024, to help make sure there are enough fish for the future.