From December 9-12, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will meet at the Westin Annapolis at 100 Westgate Circle in Annapolis, MD where they will officially decide on recreational season, size and bag limits for black sea bass in 2025. While a 20% cutback has been on the table for months, it’s likely that status quo measures, as voted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), could actually be implemented.
The black sea bass fishery is jointly managed by Council at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission), with Council developing recommendations for fisheries in federal waters and the Commission establishing management measures for state waters. In terms of process, measures adopted by the Commission are final, while the Council’s recommendations must be reviewed, and if approved, implemented by NOAA Fisheries.
At their August 2024 meeting, the Council and the Commission were essentially unable to reach agreement on black sea bass, the Commission’s ’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board voting to leave the 2025 specifications the same as 2024, while the Council voted for a 20% reduction in catch. In an October 2024 surprise action, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule to implement 2025 black sea bass specifications consistent with those adopted by the Commission.
As rationale for not implementing the 20% reduction recommended by the Council, NOAA Fisheries noted how divergent state and federal quotas “would likely have significant negative socioeconomic impacts on federal black sea bass permit holders.” NOAA Fisheries also noted in their rulemaking decision that the black sea bass stock is currently above the biomass capable of producing maximum sustainable yield.
In other words, when the Council meets in Annapolis in December, members will have the ability to vote down the 20% reduction option and approve “status quo” measures for black sea bass in 2025, thanks to the support of NOAA Fisheries.
For meeting details go to MAFMC.org.
