The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set new specifications for the 2025 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery, impacting Maine’s local fisheries.
The 2025 commercial quota for Atlantic spiny dogfish is set at 4,236 metric tons, an 18% decrease from the initial 2024 quota.
This decision aims to prevent overfishing while maintaining the highest allowable harvest levels based on scientific data.
The quota reduction is due to higher discard estimates from previous years and aims to prevent future overages.
Local fishermen in Maine may face economic challenges due to the reduced quota, as the spiny dogfish fishery is a significant part of the wintertime work for many.
The decision was made despite concerns from the fishing industry about potential negative economic impacts and market access issues.
The new quota is slightly higher than recent landings, suggesting that it aligns with current fishing trends.
The NMFS emphasizes that the specifications are designed to balance ecological sustainability with economic considerations for fishing communities.
East Coast States from New Hampshire to North Carolina Face Spiny Dogfish Quota Reductions
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set new specifications for the 2025 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery, impacting states from New Hampshire to North Carolina.
The decision affects local fisheries and associated industries in states like New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Local fisheries in these states may experience economic challenges due to the reduced quota, impacting small businesses and related industries such as shipping and processing.
Despite public comments opposing the quota reduction, NMFS maintained the specifications to comply with national standards requiring a 50% probability of preventing overfishing.
The decision reflects a compromise between scientific recommendations and industry testimony, with the expectation that the spiny dogfish stock will increase to 113% of its biomass target by 2026.