Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate Complex; 2026 and Projected 2027 and 2028 Specifications
Key claim: NMFS sets 2026 catch limits and projects 2027–2028 specifications for the Northeast skate complex, increasing trip possession limits for wing and bait fisheries based on the latest scientific information.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS announces 2026 specifications and projects 2027 and 2028 specifications for the Northeast skate fishery as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council. This action sets skate catch limits for fishing year 2026, projects catch limits for fishing years 2027 and 2028, and increases trip possession limits for the wing and bait fisheries. This action is necessary to establish skate specifications consistent with the most recent scientific information. The intent of this action is to establish appropriate catch limits for the skate fishery, while providing additional operational flexibility to fishery participants.
Why this matters
Annual skate complex specifications directly determine commercial fishing revenue for Northeast fleets that harvest skate wings for food markets and whole skate for lobster bait. Higher trip possession limits generally translate into greater landings and downstream seafood supply, while the multi-year projection framework gives fishermen and processors more planning certainty. The action illustrates NMFS’s routine science-based catch-limit process under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.