NOAA Announces Commercial Closure of Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Northern Zone in Federal Waters

The NOAA has closed the commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone in federal waters. Federal waters are those off New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. The closing continues through February.

What/When:

• The commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone in federal waters closed on August 25 and will remain closed through February 28, 2027. The northern zone for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel includes federal waters off New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina; the southern zone extends from South Carolina to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line in Florida.  

Why This Closure Is Happening:

• On July 20, the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Administrator approved a commercial quota transfer request of 250,000 pounds from the Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel southern zone to the northern zone for the 2026/2027 fishing year.
• Before this transfer, the Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel commercial quota for the northern zone was 662,670 pounds. Therefore, the revised commercial quota for the northern zone was increased from 662,670 to 912,670 pounds for the 2026/2027 fishing year.
• Even with this commercial quota increase, NOAA Fisheries determined that commercial landings have reached the revised northern zone commercial quota (912,670 pounds) for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries is closing commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone. 

During And After The Closure:

• The prohibition on sale or purchase during a closure for Spanish mackerel does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, August 25, 2026, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
• During the closure, a person on board a vessel that has been issued a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish may continue to retain Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone under the recreational bag and possession limits, as long as the recreational sector for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel is open.
• Commercial harvest for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel northern zone will re-open on March 1, 2027, with a commercial quota of 662,670 pounds.

Background on the Quota Transfer:

• Originally, the 2026/2027 northern zone commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel was 662,670 pounds and the southern zone commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel was 2,667,330 lbs.
• Regulations allow for quota transfers between the northern and southern zones with the approval of the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Administrator.
• Following the July 20, 2026 quota transfer of 250,000 pounds from the southern zone to the northern zone, for the 2026/2027 fishing year, the revised commercial quota for the northern zone became 912,670 pounds and the revised commercial quota for the southern zone became 2,417,330 pounds.
• For purposes of calculating commercial trip limits in the southern zone, the revised commercial quota amount of 2,417,330 pounds must be “adjusted” a further 250,000 pounds, leading to a revised “adjusted” commercial quota of 2,167,330 pounds. Consequently, as a result of the July 20, 2026 quota transfer, the 3,500-pound trip limit will “step down” to 1,500 pounds (when 75% of “adjusted” quota is reached) and 500 pounds (when 100% of “adjusted” quota is reached).  

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622.