March 7, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
At 00:01 hours on March 9, 2019, a 2,000-lb herring possession limit per trip or calendar day will become effective for Area 2 and will be in effect until the 2020 fishing year begins on January 1, 2020.
Under the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, when 92% of the Herring Management Area 2 catch limit is projected to be harvested, no person may, or attempt to, fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, or sell more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or per calendar day in or from Area 2 for the remainder of the fishing year from a vessel issued and holding a valid herring permit.
For more information read the bulletin on our website or the rule as filed in the Federal Register this afternoon.
Please note: This action prohibits federally permitted dealers from purchasing, possessing, receiving, selling, bartering, trading or transferring, or attempting to purchase, possess, receive, sell, barter, trade, or transfer more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or calendar day from Management Area 2 through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2019, unless it is from a vessel that enters port before 00:01 local time on March 9, 2019.