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Commissioners agree staff will prepare issue paper to begin rulemaking on Atlantic bonito; 5-fish recreational bag limit discussed
Summary
After commissioners described large, often wasteful recreational catches and rising landings, staff agreed to produce an Atlantic bonito issue paper (possible 5-fish recreational bag limit using 'sheepshead' rule language) for August (November latest); formal rulemaking is set to begin in May 2026 with a potential effective date of April 1, 2027 if uncontested.
Commissioners spent substantial time on Atlantic bonito, describing recent spikes in recreational landings and widespread social-media reports of large, wasteful catches.
A commissioner who raised the topic (addressed in the meeting as Commissioner Hobgood) urged action, saying social-media dock shots and MRIP/landing data show sharp increases in harvest and recommended starting rulemaking similar to the sheepshead model. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized concern about concentrated, high-volume recreational harvests and about the lack of long-term scientific stock assessments for bonito.
Division staff told the commission they are already drafting an issue paper and can present options in August (or November at the latest). Staff outlined the process and timing: informal drafting and advisory vetting now, formal rulemaking begins in the May 2026 cycle, and a rule could be effective as early as April 1, 2027 if there are no letters of objection (with a later effective date if formal objections occur).
Commissioners and staff discussed possible initial measures: using the sheepshead rule language to provide proclamation authority and a ceiling, and considering a recreational 5-fish bag limit as a starting policy direction. Commissioners stressed that a short, clear management ceiling in permanent rule combined with proclamation authority would let the director respond quickly if future conditions require size, trip, or commercial limits.
Staff commitments recorded at the meeting: prepare an Atlantic bonito issue paper with options (including a 5-fish recreational bag limit scenario) for the August meeting if possible, provide any available data on recent landings/MRIP trends, and outline the rulemaking schedule. Staff also agreed to explore communications changes to the OTIS permit messaging system and to develop monitoring plans for Deepwater Oyster Recovery Areas (DORAs), as requested by commissioners.
No formal rule vote was taken at this meeting; the conversation produced direction to staff and a clear timeline for moving from an issue paper to formal rulemaking.
