
If specifications are not in place at the start of the fishing year, the fishery functions without a quota until the final specifications of the current year are finalized. The Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) requires the specification of catch and harvest limits for up to three years at a time. Please check the quota monitoring page for updates. These are the initial allocations and any changes may not be reflected in this table.

*Quota may be transferred between states through in-season actions. 2023 Atlantic Bluefish Commercial Specifications (January 1-December 31, 2023) Overfishing Limit (OFL)Ĭommercial Total Allowable Landings (TAL) (pre-transfer)Ģ023 Bluefish State-by-State Commercial Quota Allocations State Please check with your state agency for any state or regional measures and requirements that may apply. There are no federal possession or fish size limit requirements in the commercial bluefish fishery. Reporting is not required for the private recreational fishery, but the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) is a system of voluntary coordinated data collection programs designed to estimate recreational catch and effort.Ĭommercial Fishing Regulations Possession and Size Requirements However, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program. The recreational (charter/party) bluefish fishery does not have any Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), or specific observer requirements. More information of the eVTR requirements and help with electronic reporting can be found online on our reporting page. These electronic log VTRs must be submitted within 48 hours after entering port at the conclusion of a trip.
#Bluefish fishing software
eVTRsĬharter/Party vessel permit owners and operators with a federal charter/party (for-hire) permit to fish for bluefish (and other Mid-Atlantic species) must submit the required VTR by electronic means through a software application approved by NOAA Fisheries. Instructions for completing the VTR can be found online on our reporting page. However, the bluefish fishery uses nets with small mesh and sinking gillnets to reduce bycatch.Ĭatch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR)įor all charter/party permit holders, VTRs must be maintained on board the vessel and submitted to NOAA Fisheries for all fishing trips, regardless of species retained.


