The NOAA Fisheries office in Gloucester, Massachusetts announces that the possession limit of 5,000 lb per trip for Georges Bank (GB) winter flounder is no longer in effect, and there is no possession limit for this stock.
Also, the possession limit for white hake is increased from 1,000 lb per day-at-sea (DAS) to 2,000 lb per DAS. The maximum amount of white hake that may be retained will remain at 10,000 lb per trip.
NOAA states that these possession limit changes are in response to a request from the New England Fishery Management Council to consider increases in these limits in order to allow additional opportunity for groundfish vessels, while still achieving the goals of the interim action for fishing year FY 2009.