2026-22217·DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From Rhode Island to North Carolina

Final RuleEffective

Published: Oct 30, 2026
Effective: Oct 29, 2026
Citation: 91 FR 68484
Docket: Docket No. 241203-0308, RTID 0648-XG162
Agencies: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; quota transfer.

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is adjusting the 2026 commercial blue‑fish catch limits by moving a portion of Rhode Island’s quota to North Carolina. The transfer is required by the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan, which allows states to reallocate unused quota to better match fishing effort and protect the overall stock. The rule directly affects commercial blue‑fish fishermen in both Rhode Island and North Carolina, who will see their state‑level catch limits changed for the 2026 season. The adjustment was published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2026 and took effect the day before, on October 29, 2026. Because it is a temporary rule that implements an already‑approved management provision, there is no formal public comment period; the revised quotas are now in force and NMFS will monitor harvests to ensure compliance with the overall fishery management objectives.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

Official abstract

NMFS announces that the State of Rhode Island is transferring a portion of their 2026 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial bluefish quotas for Rhode Island and North Carolina.