Fishery Council Adds Rhode Island: Mid-Atlantic Management Group Expands to 23 Members

The Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act of 2025 is a textbook example of bureaucratic housekeeping, but it’s the kind of housekeeping that matters if you're a commercial fisher, a charter boat captain, or just someone who likes to eat fresh seafood in the Northeast. Essentially, this bill is about giving Rhode Island a permanent seat at the table where federal fishing rules are decided.

The Seat at the Table: What's Changing

This legislation formally adds the state of Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). Think of the MAFMC as the regional board that sets the rules for catching species like summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass from New York down to North Carolina. Previously, Rhode Island was managed by the MAFMC but wasn't a voting member of the council itself, which is a bit like being subject to the HOA rules without being able to attend the meetings.

To make room for the Ocean State, the bill adjusts the size of the council, which is governed by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The total membership is increasing from 21 to 23 members. Crucially, the number of seats specifically reserved for representatives of fishing interests—the people who actually fish for a living—is also growing from 13 to 14. This is a procedural but important shift, ensuring that Rhode Island’s unique fishing concerns, like how certain quotas affect its local fleet, get a direct voice in the room where management decisions are hammered out.

Why This Matters for the Real World

If you’re a fisher in Narragansett, this is a win for regional fairness. Federal fishery management is notoriously complex, balancing conservation with economic viability. Having a dedicated voice means Rhode Island’s specific fleet profiles, gear types, and local economic impacts are more likely to be considered when rules about seasons, quotas, and gear restrictions are being written. For example, if the council is debating a new limit on a species that is vital to the Rhode Island fleet, that state's representative can now directly argue the case, potentially preventing rules that might disproportionately harm local businesses.

This change is purely administrative and structural—it doesn't change any fishing regulations today. It simply updates the governance structure to reflect the reality of where fishing occurs and where the management decisions need to be made. While the bill is clear about the increase in seats and the addition of the state, it doesn't specify who gets appointed to those new seats or how the selection process will work, which will be the next important detail to watch.