August 17, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries announces adjustments to the 2015 groundfish catch limits based on current sector enrollment, to account for unused sector quota from 2014, and to account for a 2014 common pool overage.
Each year we publish an adjustment to the groundfish catch limits after we know the final sector enrollment. This adjustment is necessary since the sector enrollment deadline is April 30, while the annual catch limits are effective at the start of the fishing year on May 1.
This action also incorporates carryover quota available to each sector (i.e., sector quota unused in fishing year 2014 and that can be fished in fishing year 2015).
This rule also reduces the Eastern Georges Bank cod common pool sub-annual catch limit by 1.3 metric tons to account for a 2014 fishing year overage, leaving an allocation of 1.4 metric tons for the remainder of fishing year 2015, which ends April 30, 2016.
Another adjustment rule may be necessary to account for any additional underages or overages after final catch accounting is concluded later this fall.
For more information, read the rule as filed in the Federal Register and read the permit holder bulletin.
Questions? Contact William Whitmore, Regional Office, at 978-281-9182 or william.whitmore@noaa.gov.
Credit: NOAA