GLOUCESTER, Mass — December 22, 2010 – NOAA Fisheries Service announced that all groundfish sectors will have the same exemptions from Northeast multispecies regulations that were approved for some sectors for fishing year (FY) 2010. The rule also implements a new exemption for FY 2010 sectors that would allow sector vessels to use 6-inch mesh gillnets in the Gulf of Maine from January 1, 2011, through April 30, 2011, so they can more effectively target Gulf of Maine haddock, a fully rebuilt stock. The exemptions are intended to provide additional flexibility and improve profitability for sector vessels.