Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
Spiny Dogfish
Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart L
The spiny dogfish fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region operates from Maine to Florida and from inshore to offshore waters on the edge of the continental shelf. The spiny dogfish fishery uses predominantly bottom gillnets, with lesser amounts caught by trawls and hook gear. There is little consumer demand for spiny dogfish in the United States, but it is commonly used in Europe as the fish in ‘fish and chips’.
2016 Dogfish Bulletins
- 11/04/2016
- Commercial Fishing Prohibited in National Monument
- 09/20/2016
- Industry-Funded Monitoring Ominbus Amendment, Public Hearings and Comment Period
- 08/12/2016
- New Spiny Dogfish Measures Approved and Implemented Through 2018; Commercial Trip Limit Increased to 6,000 lb; Effective August 15, 2016
- 01/13/2016
- 2016 Vessel Permit Renewal Bulletin
Click Below for Past Bulletins (Permit Holder Letters):
2016 Dogfish Federal Register Actions
- 09/23/2016
- Draft Omnibus Industry-Funded Monitoring Amendment and Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Public Comment
- 09/19/2016
- Notice of Public Hearings; Request for Comments; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Omnibus Amendment Public Hearings
- 08/12/2016
- Final Rule; Spiny Dogfish Fishery; 2016-2018 Specifications
- 06/22/2016
- Proposed Specifications; Request For Comments; Spiny Dogfish Fishery; Proposed 2016-2018 Specifications
- 05/25/2016
- Notice With Request for Comments; Northeast Ocean Plan
- 01/01/2016
- Notice; National Saltwater Angler Registry Program; Annual fee of twenty-nine dollars ($29.00) for registration of anglers, spear fishers and for-hire fishing vessels
Click Below for Past Federal Register Actions & Public Comments:
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
General Fisheries Information Sheets
- Gear Stowage Requirements
- Letters of Authorization
- Small Mesh Fishery Exemptions
- Large Mesh Fishery Exemptions
Spiny Dogfish
Current Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)
What are other common names for spiny dogfish fishery? Spurdog, mud shark, piked dogfish
What time of year are dogfish most commonly found? The temporal pattern of dogfish landings are closely tied to the migration. Peak landings from May through October coincide with residency of dogfish along the southern flank of Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine, and near shore waters around Massachusetts. As the population migrates south in late fall/early winter, landings increase in the southern states, especially North Carolina. Dogfish landings have been reported in all months, but most traditionally occurred June through September.
What is the geographic extent of dogfish? Spiny dogfish are most abundant from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. They move northward in the spring and summer and southward in the fall and winter, with a preferred temperature range from 7.2° C to 12.8° C. In the winter and spring, spiny dogfish are located primarily in mid-Atlantic waters, but also extend onto southern Georges Bank on the shelf break. In the summer, they are located further north in Canadian waters and move inshore into bays and estuaries. By autumn, dogfish have migrated with high concentrations in Southern New England, on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.
At what depths are dogfish found? During the spring surveys from 1963-2003, juveniles were captured between depths of 11-500 meters, with the majority found below 50 meters, and adults were found from 1-500 meters. During fall surveys over the same time period, the depth range for juveniles was from 11-400 meters, with most found below 40 meters, and the range for adults was from 11-400 meters.
Are other species caught when fishing for dogfish? Primary discard species include spiny dogfish, groundfish, skate, herring, and scup.
What gear types are authorized and what gear types are primarily used? For the commercial fishery, gillnet, trawl, hook and line, rod and reel, spear, dredge, and longline are all authorized gear. For the recreational fishery, hook and line, rod and reel, and spear are authorized gear. The commercial fishery is prosecuted mostly with gillnets, hook gear, and to a lesser degree, trawls.
How is the fishery managed? Spiny dogfish is managed using a coastwide annual quota and possession limits.
Who manages this fishery? Spiny dogfish is jointly managed in state and Federal waters by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (lead) and the New England Fishery Management Council and NOAA fisheries in conjunction with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
What is the fishing year for this fishery? May 1 – April 30
What are the different management areas for the spiny dogfish fishery? Maine to Florida
Late 1980s – Fishery develops rapidly as international markets opened due to a rapid decline in European dogfish stocks
1990 – Landings at more than 30 million pounds (13,608 metric tons), tripling the landings in 1989
1995-1999 – Landings average 50 million pounds (22,680 metric tons) annually
1998 – Spiny dogfish classified as overfished as a result of an increased directed fishery, due to the decline in abundance of traditional groundfish
2000 – Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan implemented, establishing management of Atlantic spiny dogfish fisheries and initiating stock rebuilding
2006 – Framework 1 (Federal Register (FR) Notice) to dogfish plan implemented creating a mechanism for specification of multi-year management measures
2007 – Amendment 1 (FR Notice) standardized bycatch reporting methodology
2008 – Spiny dogfish estimated to be above the target biomass level
2009 – Framework 2 (FR Notice) built flexibility into process to define and update status determination criteria; NOAA Fisheries increases quota from 3 million to 12 million pounds and trip limit from 600 to 3,000 pounds for 2009 fishing year
2010 – Spiny dogfish are rebuilt; catch levels for the dogfish fishery increase from 12 million pounds to 15 million pounds in 2010
2011 – Amendment 2 (FR Notice) established annual catch limits and accountability measures; NOAA Fisheries increases catch levels for the dogfish fishery by 33% to 20 million pounds
2014 – Amendment 3 (FR Notice) established a new Research Set-Aside program and rollover of specifications from one year to the next, as well as eliminated the seasonal allocation of quota
What are the primary markets for the spiny dogfish fishery? Human consumption (exported to Europe), and fins (exported to Asia)
What are the recent landings and value of the fishery?
Landings: 16.82 million lb (2010)
Ex-vessel landing value: $4.42 million (2010)
Estimated average ex-vessel price per pound: $0.26 (2010)
What are the top spiny dogfish landing ports? Gloucester, MA, Chatham, MA, Hatteras, NC, and Virginia Beach/Lynnhaven, VA
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Dogfish Information – click here
Stock | Spiny Dogfish |
Overfishing? | No |
Overfishing Definition | Overfishing occurs when F > FMSY |
Overfished? | No |
Overfished Definition | The stock is overfished when B < ½ BMSY |
Rebuilding Program | No, declared rebuilt in 2010 |
F/FMSY | 0.2439 |
Fishing Mortality Rate | 0.114 (2011) |
B/BMSY or B/BMSY Proxy | 351 million lb (158 mt) |
Biomass | 475 million lb (215 mt) (2012) |
Other Stock Status Information: Not Applicable
Most Recent Environmental Impact Statement: 2011 (Amendment 2)
Most Recent Biological Opinion: 2013
Most Recent Stock Assessment: 2011
Next Stock Assessment: Not scheduled
Quota Monitoring – click here
2014 Annual Spiny Dogfish Specifications (May 1-April 30)
Stock | Spiny Dogfish |
Overfishing Limit (OFL) | 71.011 million lb |
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 60.839 million lb |
Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 60.695 million lb |
Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 60.695 million lb |
Total Allowable Landings (TAL) | 49.090 million lb |
Optimal Yield (OY) | Not Applicable |
Research Set-Aside: 250,000 lb
Commercial Quota: 48.787 million lb
How often do the quotas change for this fishery? Every year
What if specifications are not in place at the start of fishing year? Existing specifications roll over
Are there inseason adjustments (changes mid-fishing year) in this fishery? Yes, if the coastwide spiny dogfish quota is fully harvested, then the spiny dogfish fishery will be closed.
Accountability Measures: In the event that the ACL has been exceeded in a given fishing year, the exact amount in pounds by which the ACL was exceeded shall be deducted, as soon as possible, from a subsequent single fishing year ACL.
Other: Not Applicable
Click Below for Past Quota Information:
Permit Categories
Permit Category | Type | Description | Permits Issued in 2014 | Number of Permits in Confirmation of Permit History* |
Category 1 | Commercial | Vessel that fishes for, catches, possesses, transports, lands, sells, or trades spiny dogfish | 2,347 | Not Applicable |
*A Confirmation of Permit History allows a vessel owner to retain permit eligibility in the event the vessel has been destroyed or sold but the owner retains the permit eligibility. The permit in Confirmation of Permit History may then be placed on a vessel at a later date.
Control Date: May 18, 1998
Other Permit Information: Not Applicable
Commercial Operator Permit: Operator cards are required for any operator of a charter/party boat or a commercial vessel (including carrier and processor vessels) issued a vessel permit from the Greater Atlantic Region and fishing for or in possession of fish.
Commercial Dealer/Processor Permit: Spiny dogfish may be sold only to persons possessing a valid Federal spiny dogfish dealer permit.
How to Obtain a Federal Fishing Permit: Anyone with a valid vessel operator’s permit can obtain a Federal spiny dogfish permit by submitting a permit application and supporting documentation to the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Permit Division.
More information can be found here.
Possession Limits and Fish Size Requirements
Possession Limits: 6,000 lb; only one trip may be made each calendar day
Fish Size Limits:
Minimum Fish Size: None
Maximum Fish Size: None
Any catch of allocated groundfish stocks by a northeast (NE) multispecies sector vessel while targeting spiny dogfish will count against its sector’s Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE), unless the vessel is fishing in an exempted fishery or with exempted gear outside of the days-at-sea program. This means that the vessel’s sector must have ACE for all stocks in the area the sector vessel fishes for spiny dogfish and that the sector vessel must participate in its sector’s Dockside Monitoring Program and the NMFS At-Sea Monitoring Program on trips targeting dogfish (again, unless the vessel is fishing in an exempted fishery or with exempted gear).
Gear Requirements
A vessel fishing for, possessing, or landing spiny dogfish in Federal waters must have a Federal spiny dogfish permit and must comply with all applicable Federal gear and area requirements, including gear/area restrictions to protect right whales and other federally protected species.
North of approximately North Carolina, many NE multispecies groundfish regulations apply to all vessels fishing in Federal waters, regardless of whether or not they have a NE multispecies permit. For example, NE multispecies regulations include four regulated mesh areas (RMAs) that regulate which gear can be used in each of the following areas (see map): Gulf of Maine (GOM); Georges Bank (GB); Southern New England (SNE); and Mid-Atlantic (MA).
Within these RMAs, a vessel fishing with gillnets and trawl gear must abide by the minimum mesh sizes required by the NE multispecies regulations, as summarized in the table below.
Regulated Mesh Area | Gillnet mesh size requirements | Trawl codend mesh size requirements |
Gulf of Main (GOM) | 6.5 inch throughout the entire net | 6.5 inch square or diamond |
Georges Bank (GB) | ||
Southern New England (SNE) | ||
Mid-Atlantic (MA) | 6.5 inch square or diamond |
Vessels holding a limited access NE multispecies permit, and not on a NE multispecies sector trip, must also comply with the NE multispecies Restricted Gear Areas (RGAs).
See ‘Exempted Fisheries’ tab for information on exempted fisheries and areas.
Regulated, Closed, and Access Areas
Vessels fishing for spiny dogfish in Federal waters must also comply with closed areas for NE multispecies and other fisheries, unless using gear defined as not capable of catching NE multispecies. These include seasonal and year-round closures, Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures, and transiting/gear storage requirements. Exempted gear includes the following: pelagic hook and line, pelagic longline, spears, rakes, diving gear, cast nets, tong, harpoons, weirs, dipnets, stop nets, pound nets, pelagic gillnets, pots and traps, shrimp trawls (with properly configured grates), and surfclam/ocean quahog dredges.
Please refer to the NE Multispecies webpage for more information regarding multispecies regulations.
Days-At-Sea (DAS) Requirements
In order to possess dogfish in Federal waters you must have a Federal dogfish permit, and you must also be fishing under one of the following conditions:
- A Northeast (NE) multispecies trip (including DAS, B DAS, non-DAS sector, Handgear A and B);
- A scallop DAS;
- A monkfish-only DAS (if fishing in a monkfish exemption area as defined in the large mesh information sheet); or
- An exempted fishery (see ‘Exempted Fisheries’ tab).
Any catch of allocated groundfish stocks by a NE multispecies sector vessel while targeting spiny dogfish will count against its sector’s annual catch entitlement, unless the vessel is fishing in an exempted fishery or with exempted gear outside of the DAS program.
Exempted Fisheries
Exempted fisheries allow fishing vessels to fish for specific species without being subject to certain northeast (NE)multispecies regulations, including days-at-sea, provided the bycatch of regulated species is minimal. To be approved and implemented, exemption programs must have demonstrated that incidental catch of NE multispecies is less than 5 percent of the total catch, by weight, and that the exemption will not jeopardize fishing mortality objectives.
How to Request Fishery Exemptions
An exempted fishery may be added, deleted, or modified pursuant to the procedure described below:
- Applicants must submit a written request to the Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. The request should describe the area in which the fishery would operate, the period in which it would operate, the gear it would use, the approximate number of vessels likely to participate, and the species it would target, retain, and land.
- Those proposing that a fishery should be exempt should describe the fishery and present all information possible that helps determine that the fishery meets the bycatch standard. The Regional Administrator will investigate NMFS data sources, but proposals for exemptions should be complete and clear to facilitate the process. State agencies and universities, for example, may have additional data available and applicants may contact them for assistance.
- When a request for an exempted fishery is submitted, the request and any accompanying data are reviewed by the Regional Administrator to determine whether such a fishery would meet the exemption qualifying criteria. The Regional Administrator will also consult with the New England Fishery Management Council on any exemptions requested. This process may take several months to complete.
Within the Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Georges Bank (GB) Regulated Mesh Areas there are six exempted fishing areas that are summarized in the table below. More specific details for each area can be found on the Spiny Dogfish Information Sheet. A Letter of Authorization (LOA) is required to participate in some of these exempted fishing areas. LOAs can be obtained from our Permits Office at (978) 281-9370 or here.
Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas
Area Name | Gear Allowed | LOA Required? |
Nantucket Shoals Dogfish Exemption Area | Trawl, Gillnet | Yes |
Cultivator Shoal Whiting Fishery Exemption Area | Trawl | Yes |
Small Mesh Areas 1 & 2 | Trawl | No |
GOM Grate Raised Footrope Trawl Whiting Fishing Exemption Area | Trawl | Yes |
GOM/GB Dogfish Gillnet Exemption Area | Gillnet | No |
Cape Cod Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas | Gillnet, Longling, Handgear | No |
There are two exempted fishing areas in the Southern New England (SNE) Regulated Mesh Area and one exempted fishing area in the Mid-Atlantic (MA) Regulated Mesh Area that are summarized in the table below. More specific details for each area can be found on the Spiny Dogfish Information Sheet.
Southern New England and Mid-Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas
Area Name | Gear Allowed | LOA Required? |
SNE Exemption Area (includes part of the GB Regulated Mesh Area) | Trawl | No |
SNE Dogfish Gillnet Exemption Area | Gillnet | No |
MA Exemption Area (includes part of the SNE Regulated Mesh Area) | Trawl, Gillnet | No |
Protected Resource and Marine Mammal Regulations
It is illegal to harvest or possess protected species unless otherwise specified under the regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act or Marine Mammal Protection Act. Please see links below for more information or contact NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Protected Resources Division at (978) 281-9328.
- Atlantic Sturgeon - Endangered and threatened
- Shortnose Sturgeon – Endangered
- Atlantic Salmon - The Gulf of Maine (GOM) distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon is endangered.
Gillnets
- Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
- Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (Mid-Atlantic and Southeast)
- Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan
- Marine Mammal Authorization Program
- Reporting injured or dead marine mammal caught in fishing gear
- Annual Determination – Observer Requirements
- Handling and Resuscitation Requirements
- North Carolina/Virginia Large Mesh Gillnet Requirements
Trawl
- Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Strategy
- Marine Mammal Authorization Program
- Reporting injured or dead marine mammal caught in fishing gear
There are currently no recreational possession restrictions for dogfish caught in Federal waters. Minimum size limits and general information on all recreational fisheries in our region can be found here.
Recreational anglers will need to get a general recreational fishing license either through your state or through NMFS to fish recreationally for marine species. More information can be found here.
Commercial Reporting
Catch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR): The owner or operator of any vessel issued a Federal commercial fishing permit shall maintain on board the vessel and submit an accurate Federal fishing VTR for all fishing trips (regardless of species retained). Reports can also be submitted electronically here.
For vessels not holding a limited access northeast (NE) multispecies permit, VTRs must be received by NMFS or postmarked within 15 days after the end of the reporting month. For NE multispecies limited access permit holders, VTRs must be submitted weekly and received by NMFS or postmarked by midnight of the Tuesday following the reporting week. Copies of VTRs must be retained on board the vessel for 1 year after the date of the last entry on the log. If no fishing activity took place during a fishing month, then a VTR must be submitted stating that no fishing trips were taken.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System Requirements: The spiny dogfish fishery does not have any IVR requirements.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Requirements: Unless fishing on a NE multispecies sector trip, to fish for, possess, or land spiny dogfish in an area or fishery not requiring a DAS, a vessel holding a Federal fishing permit that requires an operating VMS must declare ‘out of fishery’ (DOF) through their VMS before starting a trip.
Observer Requirements: The spiny dogfish fishery does not have any specific observer requirements, but must abide by NE multispecies, scallop, or monkfish regulations if fishing on a DAS for one of those fisheries. Additionally, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.
Charter/Party and Recreational Reporting
Reporting is not required for the recreational dogfish fishery, but the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) is a system of voluntary coordinated data collection programs designed to estimate recreational catch and effort.