January 14, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries has approved Framework Adjustment 52 to the Groundfish Fishery Management
Plan, which allows fishery managers to adjust accountability measures for southern and northern windowpane flounder if certain criteria are met.
As a result, effective immediately, we are reducing the size of the accountability measure restricted gear use area for the southern New England windowpane flounder stock. The stock meets certain health condition criteria. This change remains in place through April 30, 2015 (the end of the 2014 fishing year).
Criteria were not met for the northern windowpane flounder stock, so no changes will be made to those accountability measures.
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