Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2026 Chub Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Specifications
Key claim: NMFS sets 2026 harvest specifications and projects 2027-2028 limits for chub mackerel, Illex squid, longfin squid, and butterfish fisheries in the Northeastern United States to prevent overfishing.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS approves and implements specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This action sets the 2026 and projects the 2027-2028 specifications for the chub mackerel and Illex squid fisheries and reaffirms the previously projected 2026 specifications for the longfin squid and butterfish fisheries. These final specifications are intended to establish allowable harvest levels that will prevent overfishing, consistent with the most recent scientific information.
Why this matters
Annual harvest specifications for chub mackerel, squid, and butterfish directly shape commercial catch opportunity, ex-vessel revenue, and downstream seafood supply for Northeast fleets and processors. While routine, these limits are the primary policy lever preventing overfishing in these Mid-Atlantic fisheries and influence squid and butterfish prices in domestic and export markets.