April 8, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
We are proposing to implement the New England Fishery Management Council's recommended catch limits for northern red hake, southern red hake, northern silver hake, and southern whiting.
We are considering a reduction to the northern red hake possession limit from 5,000 lb to 3,000 lb at the start of the season, and then dropping to 1,500 lb when the fishery reaches 45% of total allowable landings. This was recommended by the Council and the Council's Advisory Panel.
We are also proposing two corrections in this rule:
– Correct the northern red hake in-season possession limit trigger from 45% to 62.5% of the total annual catch limit to account for an underestimate of the 2012-2014 ABC. Due to that underestimate, 2012 catch rates were only 27.5% over the annual catch limit rather than the 45% that was originally announced.
– Clarify that possession limits and modifications to the in-season accountability measure trigger can be modified in a specifications package.
Read the complete proposed rule as published in the Federal Register and review the supporting documents on our website. NOAA Fisheries will be accepting public comment on this proposed rule through April 23, 2015, which you can submit online through the Federal e-rulemaking portal or by mail to:
John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930.
Please mark the outside of the envelope: "Comments on Whiting Specifications."
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or email Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.