April 26, 2026 to May 02, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning fisheries, aquaculture, shellfish, and marine conservation. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 🗺️ State Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Framework 17 Finalizes Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding, Updates Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Regulations

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented Framework Adjustment 17 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, revising the Atlantic mackerel rebuilding plan and setting final 2026 and projected 2027 specifications. The action increases commercial and recreational mackerel quotas sharply from 2025 levels, with the 2026 commercial domestic annual harvest set at 11,237 mt—a 1,195 percent increase from 2025. Initial commercial mackerel possession limits were raised to 200,000 lb for Tier 1 vessels. The recreational mackerel possession limit rises to 25 fish for private anglers, with for-hire boats allowed 50 fish per person while carrying customers. The framework also amends in-season adjustment procedures, corrects regulatory errors, and standardizes the process for ACL (annual catch limit) determination for multiple Council-managed species.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

2026 and 2027 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures Set

NMFS approved Federal recreational management measures for the 2026-2027 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries, adopting conservation equivalency for flounder and sea bass, and status quo measures for scup. The process, shaped by the new Recreational Measures Setting (RMS) Framework, uses confidence intervals and stock status to guide changes. For summer flounder, the anticipated harvest is under the RHL, but biomass remains 83 percent of target, producing no change in status for coastwide measures. For black sea bass, a 20 percent liberalization was set due to wide confidence intervals resulting from a model shift, setting a five-fish bag at a 14-inch minimum size and a May 15–September 30 open season. The process intends consistent and tailored rules aligned with stock status and technical assessments.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Framework 19 and 7: New Rules on Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Recreational Management

NMFS implemented Framework Adjustments 19 and 7, revising recreational management and accountability processes for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. The changes make the revised recreational measures setting process (using percent change approach, confidence intervals, and stock biomass categories) permanent, effective immediately for flounder, scup, and sea bass. For bluefish, the transition is delayed until 2028. The frameworks adjust process detail, add more flexibility with new biomass categories, and refine the way accountability measures are triggered based on overages. These regulatory revisions, published April 28, are effective for the upcoming 2026-2027 seasons.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Pacific Halibut: 2026 Catch Sharing Plan and West Coast Recreational Season Announced

The NMFS finalized changes to the Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s Regulatory Area 2A (Washington, Oregon, and California), setting subarea allocations and recreational season dates for 2026. For Washington, the Puget Sound and North Coast subareas open in early April and May with bag limits of one halibut per person. Oregon's Central Coast has increased daily bag limits to two halibut per person, as recommended by ODFW. Subarea allocations and season structures allow inseason reallocation if needed. These measures reflect IPHC regulations and public input received through the comment process.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Greater Atlantic Catch Share Fisheries: Cost Recovery Rule Proposed for IFQ and ITQ Programs

NMFS has proposed regulatory updates to the Greater Atlantic Region's Catch Share Cost Recovery Programs, covering the Scallop IFQ, Tilefish IFQ, and Surfclam and Ocean Quahog ITQ fisheries. The changes include waiving collection of fees under $25 and aligning billing schedules to send out annual invoices within six months of a period's end, with payment due in 30 days. These measures are intended to address administrative inefficiencies, permit renewal issues for overdue small balances, and are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Stakeholder comments are requested by June 1, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 8598: North Pacific Fishery Council Representation Expansion

Bill 8598 was introduced to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to ensure all fishery user groups are represented on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8542: State Delegation for Certain Submerged Lands Fisheries Management

Bill 8542 proposes amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to delegate management authority of expanded submerged lands to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The measure was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8496: Climate Impact Management for Marine Mammals

Bill 8496 seeks to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 by directing the Secretary of Commerce to develop a climate impact management plan for certain marine mammal species. It has been sent to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8509: Extension of North Atlantic Right Whale Regulations

Bill 8509 would amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the duration of existing regulations related to the North Atlantic right whale. The bill is pending before the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

State Government News

Long Island Awards $3 Million for Aquaculture Infrastructure Upgrades

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $3 million in Long Island Aquaculture Infrastructure Grant Program funding for 14 small businesses, supporting infrastructure investments and operational improvements after recent severe winter conditions. Suffolk County growers, who experienced an estimated $2.4 million in production losses, are also under consideration for federal disaster assistance.

Sources: www.governor.ny.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Dubai chefs shrink menus as Iran war makes tomatillos, scallops harder to source: Chefs in Dubai report difficulty sourcing scallops as regional conflict strains seafood supplies.

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