January 2, 2024 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council has taken final action on Framework Adjustment 12 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The framework includes:
• Specifications for fishing year 2024 and fishing year 2025, including total allowable landings (TALs) for the skate wing and skate bait fisheries;
• Adjustments to the skate wing possession limits; and
• Removal of the species-specific possession restrictions for barndoor skates and smooth skates.
The Council voted on Framework 12 during its December 5-7, 2023 meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. Since that meeting, the Council has sent the framework document to the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) of NOAA Fisheries for preliminary review. Following the preliminary and subsequent final review, NOAA Fisheries is expected to implement the approved measures by May 1, 2024, the start of the new skate fishing year.
Based on the formula shown in the graphic below, proposed fishing year 2024 and 2025 TALs are as follows:
SKATE WING FISHERY: (a) 10,453 metric tons (mt) in whole weight, equivalent to about 23 million pounds of total allowable landings; 4,605 mt in wing-only weight, equivalent to about 10 million pounds; and
SKATE BAIT FISHERY: 5,266 mt whole weight, equivalent to roughly 11.61 million pounds.