---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 648.160"
title: "50"
number: "648.160"
heading: "Bluefish Annual Catch Limit (ACL)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/648.160"
---

# §648.160. Bluefish Annual Catch Limit (ACL).

- (a) The Bluefish Monitoring Committee shall recommend to the MAFMC an ACL for the bluefish fishery, which shall not exceed the ABC recommended by the SSC.
  - (1) **Periodicity.** The bluefish fishery ACL may be established on an annual basis for up to 3 years at a time, dependent on whether the SSC provides single or multiple-year ABC recommendations.
  - (2) [Reserved]
- (b) **Performance review.** The Bluefish Monitoring Committee shall conduct a detailed review of fishery performance relative to the ACL at least every 5 years.
  - (1) If the ACL is exceeded with a frequency greater than 25 percent (i.e., more than once in 4 years or any 2 consecutive years), the Bluefish Monitoring Committee will review fishery performance information and consider whether changes to measures are needed.
  - (2) The MAFMC may specify more frequent or more specific ACL performance review criteria as part of a stock rebuilding plan following the determination that the bluefish stock has become overfished.
  - (3) Performance reviews shall not substitute for annual reviews that occur to ascertain if prior year ACLs have been exceeded, but may be conducted in conjunction with such reviews.

## Notes

### Amendments

[76 FR 60639, Sept. 29, 2011, as amended at 88 FR 14511, Mar. 9, 2023; 91 FR 22466, Apr. 27, 2026]

### Source

Source: 65 FR 45852, July 26, 2000, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

### Source

Source: 61 FR 34968, July 3, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[76 FR 60639, Sept. 29, 2011, as amended at 88 FR 14511, Mar. 9, 2023; 91 FR 22466, Apr. 27, 2026]