NOAA Fisheries Announces Upcoming Commercial Scup Winter I Fishery Closure

NOAA Fisheries announces that the 2026 scup Winter I commercial quota has been harvested. Beginning March 16, 2026, vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the scup fishery may not land scup for the remainder of the Winter I quota period, which ends on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

When NMFS projects that 100 percent of the commercial quota for a quota period has been harvested, the regulations at § 648.123(a) require that the Regional Administrator must close the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to fishing for scup by commercial vessels for the remainder of that period. No vessel may fish for, possess, or land scup that is harvested in or from the EEZ after the announced closure date.

Effective 0001 March 16, 2026, vessels may not fish for, possess, or land scup in or from the EEZ, federally permitted vessels may not land scup for sale, and dealers may not purchase or otherwise receive scup harvested from the EEZ through Thursday, April 30, 2026. The scup summer quota period begins at 0001 on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Questions?

Industry: Matt Rigdon, GARFO Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-281-9336

Media: Contact GARFO Public Affairs