November 7, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries proposes to revise the 2018 quotas and announce projected 2019 quotas for the scup fishery. Compared to the current specifications in place for 2018, this action would increase the commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits each by approximately 40 percent.
The recent scup stock assessment update indicated that the stock is not overfished and overfishing did not occur in 2016. The update also showed that the 2015 year class was about 2.1 times larger than the average recruitment (i.e., number of age 0 scup) from 1984 to 2016.
Due to increases in the stock size, we are proposing revised 2018 specifications that are a 38 percent increase in the commercial quota and a 41 percent increase in the recreational harvest limit. These catch limits would replace the current 2018 allowances established in 2015.
Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the online rule making portal. You may also submit comments through regular mail to: John Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
The comment period is open through November 22.
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