March 1, 2025 – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has announced a significant increase in the commercial quota for Atlantic Spanish mackerel for the 2025/2026 fishing year, following the latest stock assessment confirming that the population remains robust and is not experiencing overfishing. The decision, effective March 1, 2025, marks a pivotal moment for commercial fishermen along the Atlantic coast who have long awaited expanded harvesting opportunities.
Quota Adjustment and Scientific Basis
Under the new regulation, the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for Atlantic Spanish mackerel has been raised from 3.53 million pounds to 4.41 million pounds – an increase of approximately 25 percent. This upward adjustment reflects updated scientific data showing that the stock biomass is now above the target level, providing managers with the flexibility to allow a sustainable increase in harvest while maintaining the population's long-term health.
The fishery is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Region, which was developed jointly by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NOAA Fisheries scientists employ rigorous age-structured stock assessment models that incorporate commercial landings data, recreational catch estimates, and fishery-independent surveys to determine safe harvest levels. The 2025 assessment, peer-reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment scientists, concluded that the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel is currently at a healthy biomass level well above the threshold that would trigger mandatory reduction measures.
Historical Context and Stock Recovery
The current quota increase is the result of decades of responsible management. Atlantic Spanish mackerel were historically overfished during the 1980s, prompting the implementation of strict catch limits, seasonal closures, and gear restrictions. Under quota management that began with the 1986/87 fishing year, landings ranged from 3.8 to 7.0 million pounds. By the late 1980s, the stock was classified as overfished, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council began working on amendments to rebuild the population.
Through the collaborative efforts of federal managers, state agencies, and the fishing industry, the stock was successfully rebuilt to sustainable levels. Recent stock assessments have consistently shown that overfishing is not occurring and the population remains healthy. The 2025 assessment continues this positive trend, providing the scientific basis for the quota increase.
Zone Allocations and Fishery Distribution
The new commercial quota is divided between two geographic management zones. The Northern Zone, which extends in the Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from New York through North Carolina, will receive approximately 10 percent of the quota – equivalent to 441,000 pounds. The Southern Zone, stretching from the North Carolina/South Carolina border southward through Florida, will receive the remaining 90 percent – approximately 3.969 million pounds. These allocations are consistent with the historical distribution patterns of the fishery, reflecting the fact that the majority of commercial landings have traditionally occurred in the warmer waters of the South Atlantic Bight, where Spanish mackerel are more abundant for longer portions of the year.
Quota Transfers and Fishery Dynamics
Under the management framework, quota transfers between zones are permitted with approval from the Regional Administrator of the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region. North Carolina or Florida, in consultation with other states in their respective zones, may request transfers to ensure full utilization of the total allowable catch. This flexible mechanism allows fishery managers to respond to real-time harvesting conditions and distribution patterns.
Recreational Sector Remains Unchanged
In contrast to the commercial expansion, the recreational sector regulations remain largely unchanged. The daily bag limit for anglers stays at 15 fish per person, with a minimum size limit of 12 inches fork length for most areas along the Atlantic coast. NOAA Fisheries stated that recreational landings have remained within the sector's allocation in recent years, with no signs of overharvest or regulatory non-compliance. No further management action is required for the recreational fishery at this time, though NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor landings through the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) to ensure compliance remains within sustainable limits.
Separate Management for Gulf of Mexico Stock
It is important to note that the Gulf of Mexico stock of Spanish mackerel is managed separately under the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, with its own quota, season structure, and size limits. This quota adjustment applies exclusively to the Atlantic migratory group. The distinction between the two stocks is based on genetic and tagging studies that have demonstrated limited mixing between Atlantic and Gulf populations, justifying separate management approaches. The Gulf Council is also developing a framework action to modify Gulf Spanish mackerel catch limits based on the SEDAR 81 stock assessment, which similarly determined the stock is not overfished and not undergoing overfishing.
Future Stock Monitoring
NOAA Fisheries, in cooperation with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, has already begun planning for the next Atlantic Spanish mackerel stock assessment. The SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review) process will update the assessment model with data through the 2026/2027 fishing year, incorporating new information on life history, natural mortality, discard mortality, and stock-recruit relationships. The assessment will also incorporate fishery-dependent and independent data streams from north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and evaluate different methods to estimate commercial discards using observer program and logbook information.
For detailed compliance instructions, zone boundary maps, and reporting forms, stakeholders are directed to the official NOAA Fisheries regulations published in the Federal Register and the agency's online portal at fisheries.noaa.gov.
