NOAA Fisheries has issued the following Small Entity Compliance Guide for Atlantic Herring Fishery.
November 10, 2010 – Effective 0001 hours November 15, through 0001 hours November 17, 2010, the 2,000-lb herring trip limit for the Atlantic herring fishery in Management Area 1A will be removed.
Most recent catch data indicate the quota threshold of 25,219 mt in Area 1A has not been fully attained. Therefore, federally permitted herring vessels will be allowed to fish for, possess, or land herring in excess of 2,000 lb, consistent with their Atlantic herring vessel permit categories, from 0001 hours November 15, 2010, through 0001 hours November 17, 2010.
Please note that vessels may not fish for, possess, or land over 2,000 lb of herring before 0001 hours November 15, 2010.
After 0001 hours November 17, 2010, vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, or land more than 2,000 lb of Atlantic herring, per trip or calendar day, in or from Area 1A, through 2400 hours, December 31, 2010. Vessels may transit Area 1A with more than 2,000 lb of herring on board, provided such herring were not caught in Area 1A, and provided all fishing gear is stowed and not available for immediate use, as required by 50 CFR 648.23(b).
Dealers issued Federal dealer permits for Atlantic herring are also advised that they may purchase over 2,000 lb of Atlantic herring harvested in Management Area 1A from federally permitted vessels from 0001 hours, November 15, 2010, through 0001 hours, November 17, 2010. Effective November 17, 2010, dealers may not purchase herring from federally permitted Atlantic herring vessels that harvest more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of Atlantic herring from Area 1A, through 2400 hrs local time, December 31, 2010.