March 11, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
As of March 8, Atlantic mackerel vessels are projected to have harvested 95 percent of the 2019 river herring and shad catch cap.
Under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, once 95 percent of the river herring and shad catch cap is projected to be harvested, federal limited access Atlantic mackerel vessels are prohibited from fishing for or landing more than 20,000 lb of Atlantic mackerel per trip or landing more than once per calendar day for the remainder of the calendar year.
As of 00:01 local time on March 12, 2019, vessels issued federal Atlantic mackerel permits may not fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, or sell more than 20,000 lb of mackerel per trip or calendar day through December 31, 2019.
Vessels that have entered port before 00:01 local time on March 12, 2019 may land and sell more than 20,000 lb of mackerel from that trip.
Read the rule as filed this afternoon in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin on our website.