March 20, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries today announces an increase in the 2015 butterfish landings quota from 3,200 metric tons in 2014, to 22,530 metric tons in 2015, due to improved stock condition.
We are decreasing the mackerel landings quota from 33,821 metric tons in 2014, to 20,872 metric tons in 2015 due to uncertainty in stock condition. This limit is still more than the fishery has caught in recent years.
We are also implementing a two-phase cap on river herring (blueback and alewife) and shad (American and hickory) to provide incentive for the mackerel fishery to avoid river herring and shad.
Longfin and Illex squid limits will remain level for the next three years.
For more information, read the Fishery Bulletin or the final rule as published in the Federal Register.