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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed regulations to implement Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery. This proposed rule aims to revise fishery management for South Atlantic red snapper by changing the fishing season dates, catch limits, and fishing practices to prevent overfishing and reduce dead discards. The rule suggests increasing total allowable catch, which includes a larger number of fish but with the goal of ensuring the red snapper population continues to rebuild. Additionally, the rule includes the establishment of a snapper-grouper discard reduction season and new provisions for conducting annual experimental studies to further boost fishing opportunities while safeguarding the fishery.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set a new rule limiting Atlantic herring catches to 2,000 pounds per trip or day in Management Area 3, effective from February 12 to December 31, 2025. This rule was put in place because it's expected that herring catches will reach 98% of the area's annual limit soon, aiming to prevent overfishing and ensure future fishing opportunities. By skipping a previously required 40,000-pound limit when catches hit 90%, NMFS plans to avoid confusion and more potential overfishing. This decision was made to protect herring stocks and abide by fishing conservation goals without further public input since the industry was already aware of these updates through earlier notices.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed rules for managing the 2025 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery, aiming to establish limits that prevent overfishing while allowing optimal yield. This proposal seeks to set new catch specifications following recommendations from fishery councils and recent stock assessments indicating the fish population is not overfished. The rules include a commercial quota of 4,236 metric tons, marking a reduction from previous years, due to updated scientific data. Public comments on these proposals are invited, ensuring stakeholder involvement in finalizing the regulations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of NOAA has announced that Rhode Island's 2024 commercial quota for summer flounder has been fully harvested. From December 5, 2024, federally permitted vessels are prohibited from landing summer flounder in Rhode Island unless additional quota is acquired from another state. This temporary closure aligns Rhode Island with federal conservation measures to prevent overfishing and maintain sustainable fishery practices. The closure is enacted immediately to ensure the state's commercial quota is not exceeded before the year ends.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule to set the 2025 harvest limits for the Northeast skate fishery. These regulations ensure the fishery is managed sustainably by preventing overfishing and maintaining optimal yields, aligning with previous projections from Framework 12. The 2025 specifications are unchanged from 2024, thus the decision was exempt from public comment. The rule becomes effective on May 1, 2025, at the start of the fishing season, avoiding any potential confusion by maintaining consistency with the current year's regulations.

NMFS, a branch of NOAA within the Commerce Department, announced a temporary closure of the Atlantic bluefin tuna trophy fishery in the southern region for 2025. This closure affects recreational fishing for bluefin tuna measuring over 73 inches in length, as the quota for this category has been reached and exceeded. Fishing in the designated area must stop from February 28, 2025, until the end of the year to prevent further overfishing. While fishing is closed, anglers can still catch and release bluefin tuna, ensuring the fish are handled properly to maximize their survival.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is proposing Amendment 35 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP). This amendment aims to define specific fish stocks that need conservation and management, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Amendment 35 targets eight fish species prioritized for stock assessments due in 2025 or 2027 and is mainly administrative. It does not change fishing schedules or locations but helps in preventing overfishing, rebuilding depleted fish stocks, and achieving optimal yields. Public comments on the amendment are invited until May 4, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced a temporary closure of the red snapper recreational private angling component in federal waters off Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. This closure will be in effect from January 1, 2025, to June 1, 2025, to ensure that the annual catch limit (ACL) set for Texas is not exceeded and to help prevent overfishing. This decision was made following a request from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is based on the authority given by the Fishery Management Plan and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. During this period, it will be illegal for private anglers to catch or possess red snapper in these federal waters, regardless of where they are from or where they plan to land.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is temporarily adjusting the 2025 recreational fishing season for gag fish in the South Atlantic to protect the fish population. This rule means the fishing season will start on May 1, 2025, but will close early on June 26, 2025, after projections showed the catch limit would be reached by that date. During this closure, anglers cannot catch or keep any gag fish until the new season begins on May 1, 2026. The decision aims to prevent overfishing as it did in 2024 and was not subject to public comment because the necessary rules were already established.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed keeping the current fishing quotas for Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2021 and projecting the same quotas through 2026. This move aims to prevent overfishing while supporting consistent market supply and the fishing industry's stability. The proposal includes continuing the suspension of the minimum shell size limit for surfclams for 2021. Comments on the proposal are invited and must be submitted by March 4, 2021.