September 11, 2012 — NOAA reminds commercial fisherman that if 90 percent of the total allowable landings are landed for a small-mesh multispecies stock, the possession limit for that stock will be reduced to the incidental possession limit for the remainder of the fishing year. Landings data through September 1, 2012, indicate that 70 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL) for northern red hake have been landed. If northern red hake landings reach 90 percent of the TAL, the northern red hake possession limit will be reduced to 400 lb. This possession limit reduction would apply to the northern red hake stock area, which encompasses the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Exemption Area. You can monitor small mesh multispecies landings and quotas on our weekly quota and landings reports webpage available here.
