November 27, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is implementing the following adjustments to commercial and recreational summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries:
- Including conservation equivalency as an annual management consideration for the black sea bass recreational fishery, which allows federal measures to be waived in lieu of appropriate state measures;
- Creating a federal waters transit zone for non-federally permitted vessels fishing in state waters around Block Island Sound; and
- Incorporating a maximum recreational size limit in the list of potential specification measures for summer flounder and black sea bass.
These adjustments are intended to provide additional flexibility in the management of these species.
For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.