Amendment 6 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan
Photo Credit: Duane Raver, Jr.
This Amendment to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan establishes management measures for the blueline tilefish fishery north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. The amendment specifies requirements for permitting, record keeping, and reporting; trip limits for both the commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery; and the process for setting specifications and annual catch limits. In addition, this action would set 2017 harvest limits.
* For management south of Virginia see the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's website.
Contact
Jason Didden, Fishery Plan Coordinator - jdidden@mafmc.org; (302) 526-5254
Amendment Development Timeline
April 2015 Council Meeting: The Council voted to initiate scoping for the management of Blueline Tilefish and/or a deepwater complex in the Mid-Atlantic.
June 4, 2015: NMFS implemented emergency measures, as requested by the Council, establishing a commercial possession limit of 300 pound (whole weight) per trip, a recreational limit of 7 fish per person per trip, and a requirement that commercial and charter/party vessels must hold a valid open access golden tilefish permits to land blueline tilefish. (*See note at bottom of page regarding additional state regulations.)
June 1-18, 2015: Scoping hearings were held throughout the Mid-Atlantic region to gather public input on blueline tilefish management in the Mid-Atlantic.
August 2015 Council Meeting: The Council reviewed scoping comments and voted to proceed with an Amendment to the Golden Tilefish Fishery Management Plan to address blueline tilefish management issues.
October 2015 Council Meeting: The Council reviewed a preliminary set of alternatives for blueline tilefish management and endorsed development of a range of alternatives in a full Environmental Assessment to be reviewed at a future Council meeting.
March 2016: The Council held public hearings between March 21 and March 29, 2016.
April 2016: The Council reviewed public comments and approved federal management measures for blueline tilefish and approved the Blueline Tilefish Amendment for submission to the Secretary of Commerce.
June 14, 2016: NOAA Fisheries announces interim management measures for the blueline tilefish fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region.
June 28, 2017: NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule for Amendment 6 to the Tilefish FMP.
November 14, 2017: NOAA Fisheries announced a final rule to implement the Blueline Tilefish Amendment, formally known as Amendment 6 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan.
Documents
Emergency Action Request:
February 25 Webinar - Blueline Tilefish Emergency Action, 2/25/2015
Press Release: Council Recommends Emergency Action for Blueline Tilefish in the Mid-Atlantic, 2/27/2015
Initiation of Council Action:
Scoping:
Scoping Announcement and Details, 5/14/2015
Scoping Document, 6/8/2015
Scoping Comment Summary (August 2015 Briefing Materials), 7/29/2015
Public Hearings
Draft Public Information Document (December 2015 Briefing Materials), 11/30/15
Press Release: Mid-Atlantic Council Solicits Public Input on Blueline Tilefish Management, 3/9/16
Council Final Action
Supplemental Documents: Blueline Tilefish Subcommittee Report / Tilefish AP Summary / FMAT Summary and Staff Recommendations
Presentations: Staff Presentation / SSC ABC Recommendations
Audio Recordings: Tilefish Committee / Full Council
NOAA Fisheries Rule Making
Proposed Rule, 6/28/2017
Blueline Tilefish Amendment Approval Letter, 9/13/2017
Final Rule, 11/15/2017
* Note: Mid-Atlantic states may have their own regulations that additionally limit what offshore anglers can bring back into state waters, so anglers should check with any state whose state waters they may enter. For example, Virgina has a combined tilefish limit as well as a mandatory free recreational blueline tilefish permit and mandatory recreational reporting.