April 18, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council has initiated a framework adjustment to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to consider alternatives for adjusting the skate bait threshold trigger and possession limit.
The Council’s Skate Committee recommended the action, and the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) will provide assistance in developing the document. The framework will be narrowly focused, addressing only the trigger/possession limit issues. The Council anticipates taking final action at its June meeting and, if all stays on schedule, NMFS is aiming to implement the new measures in December.
Complications with this winter’s fishery led the Council to pursue a framework adjustment. On January 30, NMFS reduced the commercial per-trip possession limits for both the skate wing and skate bait fisheries to the following “incidental” levels: