September 24, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council today voted on new specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery that will increase total allowable landings (TAL) by 12.7% for the next four fishing years. The proposed TAL for 2020-2023 is 2,000 metric tons (mt), a 225-mt increase from the long-standing 1,775-mt landings cap that has guided this fishery for the past three specification cycles.
The Council supported the increase based on a recommendation from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), which used the best information available for this “data poor” stock. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS/NOAA Fisheries) must review and approve the new specifications before the revised landing limit can be implemented. The red crab fishing year begins on March 1.