Data / Federal rules / 2026-00479

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; 2026 Fishing Quotas for Atlantic Surfclams and Ocean Quahogs; and Suspension of Atlantic Surfclam Minimum Size Limit

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published this final rule in the Federal Register on January 13, 2026. It took effect on January 13, 2026.

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What the agency says

NMFS announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2026 will remain status quo. NMFS also suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2026 fishing year. Regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone even if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged. The 2026 quotas were previously announced as projected values. This action confirms the final quotas are unchanged from those projections. This action continues to provide sustainable fishing opportunities to these fisheries.

Key facts

Document number: 2026-00479
Type: Final rule
Action: Final rule
Agency: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Published: January 13, 2026
Takes effect: January 13, 2026
Dates: Effective January 13, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Applicable beginning January 1, 2026.
Docket: Docket No. 260108-0025; RTID 0648-XF259
Code of Federal Regulations: 50 CFR 648
Pages: 2

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

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Everything from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Published in January 2026

Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.