May 1, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, we published an interim final rule for the Northeast recreational groundfish fishery. This rule implements a reduction to the minimum size (now 17 inches) and a bag limit of 3 fish per person per day for Gulf of Maine haddock taken in the recreational fishery.
This interim rule is necessary to ensure that the recreational catch of haddock and recreational bycatch of cod will not exceed the annual catch limits for the recreational fishery in fishing year 2015.
This rule should reduce discards of cod and haddock by allowing anglers to retain smaller haddock so that they reach their bag limit more quickly.
Read the complete rule as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the Federal Rulemaking ePortal. Or, submit your comments via mail to:
John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator
National Marine Fisheries Service
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
Mark the outside of the envelope, ”Comments on the fishing year 2015 Haddock Recreational Measures.”
The comment period closes on June 1, 2015.
Questions? Contact Mark Grant, Regional Office, at 978-281-9145 or email Mark.Grant@noaa.gov.