ASMFC advances Draft Addendum XXXVII, which would forgive some commercial scup quota paybacks
The Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board approved the draft for public comment. It would waive quota-period overage paybacks in years when the annual commercial scup quota is not exceeded. Final action is planned for January 2027.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved Draft Addendum XXXVII to the interstate fishery management plan for public comment at the Commission's annual meeting in Newport, RI, according to an ASMFC press release.
The draft considers one option: forgiving commercial scup quota-period overage paybacks in years when the annual quota is not exceeded. ASMFC says the current payback requirements may unnecessarily constrain harvest and disrupt the fishery when a quota-period overage does not turn into an annual overage.
The addendum is meant to complement the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Framework 20 for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass, which the Council approved for final action in August 2026.
Timing: ASMFC says a separate press release will give the document's availability, the public hearing schedule and how to submit written comments. The Board plans to review the comments and consider final action at the Commission's Winter Meeting in Arlington, VA, in January 2027.
What it means for anglers: the release addresses commercial scup management only. It does not change recreational scup bag limits, sizes or seasons, and we are not inferring any effect on recreational rules. Anglers who fish alongside the commercial scup fleet can watch for the comment notice, which was not yet published when we reviewed the release. The draft is a proposal, and the Board could change or reject it before January.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.