Positive Action For Albies & Bonito: Massachusetts Moves for Conservation

Feature Photo Credit: Rex Messing and the SIMMS team fishing with Captain Jaime Boyle

Albie and Atlantic bonito lovers in the Commonwealth have reason to cheer. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is taking bold steps to protect false albacore and Atlantic bonito—two iconic species that light up the summer and fall seasons, driving guide business and supporting coastal economies. On February 14, 2025, Mass DMF announced public hearings and a comment period on proposed regulations to manage these two fisheries, which previously lacked stock assessments or management plans.

This is a huge win for the coastal false albacore fishery (which has been documented to be connected from Massachusetts to Florida). For years, the ASGA community has poured its heart into The Albie Project, including telemetry studies, DNA analysis, and traditional tagging. These efforts provided managers the data they needed but lacked. This community’s hard work is now being realized. Mass DMF is answering the call with a proposal for a five fish-per-person possession limit for both species combined, with a 16″ fork length minimum. You can learn more about the rationale behind these regulations by clicking here.

Heed the call to push albie management across the finish line in Massachusetts. There will be two chances to share your voice at upcoming public hearings. The information for those hearings is below:

1. Monday, March 10, 2025: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM DMF’s Annisquam River Field Station, 30 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA.

2. Tuesday, March 11, 2025: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Admiral’s Hall at MA Maritime, 1 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA. 

If you can’t make it to either of the in-person hearings, you can still have your voice be heard through a written comment portal. Written comments must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Sunday, March 16, 2025, via email to Director Daniel McKiernan. Those emails should be submitted to: marine.fish@mass.gov. If you want to see albies and bonito managed in Massachusetts, here are some key talking points to focus on:

• Economic Drivers: Albies and bonito fuel tourism, drawing anglers from around the country. They provide abundant opportunities for recreational anglers and professional guides. These “hard tail tourists” pump millions of dollars of tourism into tackle shops, marinas, hotels, restaurants and other local small businesses.
• Conservation Hope: These efforts display a shift in management mentality. We can’t afford to fish any more species to the brink and then try to bring them back. Proactive management ensures we never reach the “point of no return”. Setting these limits now prevents overharvest and safeguards albies and bonito for generations.
• Science Driven: Proposing a 5-fish daily limit and 16” fork length minimum shows foresight, addressing the species’ sexual maturity in the new regulations. This management action builds on ASGA’s Albie Project data, proving that Mass DMF utilizes the latest research to inform effective decision making. ASGA is proud to have conducted a false albacore acoustic tagging study in Massachusetts waters with several community partners. With data collected from the Albie Project, fishery managers are gaining a better understanding of this species and their distinct connectivity between key coastal communities from Massachusetts to North Carolina and Florida. We share one connected stock.
• Balanced Approach: Considering exemptions for incidental catch in mackerel jigging respects commercial industry operations while prioritizing conservation of the shared resource.

We are ecstatic to see this regulatory motion in Massachusetts. None of this would happen without our incredible community. It requires an army to drive positive change: ASGA member and guides, shop owners and all types of local businesses. From tagging trips to community events and public comments at state meetings, your passion and commitment led Mass DMF to this critical decision. Thank you for believing in The Albie Project and standing with us to protect these species. This is a win for false albacore – and albies have you to thank.

Join us to celebrate positive action for albies! Attend the hearings, submit your comments by March 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM, and help spread the word. Slowly we are replacing the archaic “traditional” tendencies of fisheries management with more a responsible proactive approach.