November 29, 2012 — NOAA Fisheries is establishing a control date of November 28, 2012 for the groundfish small-mesh fishery at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council.
This date may be used as a basis for future management actions to limit access or move to an allocation based management program and limit accumulation of excessive control or ownership of fishing privileges in the small-mesh fishery for hake species. This notice is intended to promote awareness of the possible development of future management actions by the Council. Fishermen are encouraged to preserve their hake fishing records for federal waters. The deadline for providing public comments on this action is December 28, 2012.