US fishing regulators raise skate catch limits for 2026-2028

Federal fisheries managers are increasing how much skate fishermen can catch and carry on each trip, based on the latest scientific surveys showing the population can support higher harvest. This gives fishing businesses more operational flexibility and potential revenue, while regulators say the stocks can handle it.

After years of flat or declining quotas, a regulatory agency is actually raising catch allowances based on new biological data—a rare signal that a depleted fish stock may be recovering enough to loosen restrictions.