Today, NOAA Fisheries announced the partial approval of Framework 51 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Several new measures will be effective May 1st.
WASHINGTON — April 21, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, NOAA Fisheries announces the partial approval of Framework 51 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. New measures effective May 1st include:
– Catch limits for white hake for fishing years 2014-16;
– 2014 catch limits for Georges Bank cod, haddock and yellowtail flounder based upon the recommendations of a joint US/Canada management body;
– New rebuilding programs for Gulf of Maine cod and American plaice;
– A new accountability measure for small-mesh fisheries (i.e., squid and whiting) that would require use of selective fishing gear if these fisheries exceeded their allocation of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder; and
– A prohibition on the possession of yellowtail flounder by scallop vessels.
Through this action we are also announcing that accountability measures have been triggered for both Georges Bank and Southern New England windowpane flounder stocks due to quota overages in 2012. As a result, sector and common pool vessel will be required to use selective fishing gear in certain areas of Southern New England and Georges Bank for the entire 2014 fishing year.
For more information, please refer to the final rule implementing these measures, which can be viewed by clicking here.