April 30, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
The new skate fishery regulations proposed within Framework Adjustment 5 will not be in place by May 1, 2018, the start of the fishing year.
Thus, the current regulations, including the prohibition on retention, possession, and landing of barndoor skates and the 2017 quotas, will remain in place until further notice. The wing and bait possession limits remain unchanged.
Framework Adjustment 5 proposes to:
- Set quotas for the 2018-2019 fishing year;
- Allow limited possession of barndoor skate in the skate wing fishery; and
- Exempt vessels from some specific domestic skate regulations when fishing exclusively within the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area.
We plan to have the proposed rule out later this spring.
Get more information on skate fishery regulations.