Van Hollen Statement on Trump Administration’s Long-Delayed Approval of Increased Recreational Black Sea Bass Catch in the Mid-Atlantic

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), released the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) interim final rule issued today regarding the fishery management plan for a number of species in the Northeast U.S., which will allow for a 20 percent increase in the recreational catch of black sea bass along the Atlantic coast for the upcoming fishing season running from May through December. After NOAA earlier this month warned Mid-Atlantic states and fishing authorities that the agency would not be ready to implement this rule - for which regulators, local businesses, and the fishing community had been planning for months - Senator Van Hollen pressed U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on the issue during a hearing last week of the Senate Appropriations CJS Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Commerce Department and NOAA.

"Recreational fishing is an essential part of our outdoor economy, and those who make their livelihoods in this local industry can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After hearing from Marylanders on this issue, I shared the concerns of our state's small fishing businesses that this plan would not be approved in time for this year's season, which is why I pressed Secretary Lutnick on moving it forward as soon as possible. NOAA's approval today of the long-awaited recreational fishery management plan for black sea bass is critical to these local businesses, and while it shouldn't have taken this long, I'm grateful that Maryland charter fishing businesses - along with residents and tourists alike - can look forward to a prosperous and enjoyable black sea bass season."

Senator Van Hollen's questioning of Secretary Lutnick on this issue during an April 22, 2026 hearing of the Senate Appropriations CJS Subcommittee can be viewed HERE (beginning at 1:26:37), and a transcript follows.

U.S. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.): Let me turn to an issue on which I expect - hope - we'll agree, which is increasing recreational fishing off the Maryland coast, a local matter. Earlier this month, NOAA informed the Mid-Atlantic states and relevant fisheries council and commission that the agency would not be ready to implement new measures to increase the recreational catch of prized black sea bass and summer flounder.

Now, the states have been working on these changes for more than eight months to increase the catch by 20 percent, which would be a good deal for recreational fishermen. And all of the other stakeholders - including the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, have signed off, and they've sent letters to you on this matter saying that we can increase the recreational catch without doing any harm to this resource.

You know, last time around, NOAA was able to clear this in 24 days. I don't know if it's because of staff cutbacks or whatever, but could you commit to getting this done? I mean, we're really now on the cusp of the season, and this would be a huge loss to our recreational fishermen and women if we're not successful.

SECRETARY LUTNICK: Your comments sound like something that I support, so therefore I will leave here, I will talk to my people and to see what I can do to make sure we do not have any unnecessary delay - that we're doing the work necessary, and if there are any issues to come back to you. But I would hope that we would be able to do that. That sounds like something that we agree.

VAN HOLLEN: I hope so, Mr. Secretary.