Effective 0001 hours December 10, 2009, fishing vessels issued a Federal permit for Atlantic herring may once again land herring harvested in Management Area 2 until it is determined that the allocated total allowable catch (TAC) has been harvested.
Vessel owners issued Federal permits are reminded that they must continue to complete and submit Interactive Voice Response (IVR) reports and vessel logbooks. Additionally, dealers issued Federal dealer permits for Atlantic herring are advised that they may once again purchase Atlantic herring harvested in Management Area 2 from federally permitted vessels until it is determined that the allocated TAC has been harvested. Federally permitted dealers must continue to report all fish purchases from any vessel.
The directed Atlantic herring fishery in Management Area 2 will reopen until the 95-percent quota threshold of 28,500 mt is projected to be attained. This reopening is because catch data indicate the 95-percent quota threshold has not been fully attained, and approximately 1,450 mt of herring is still available for harvest in Area 2.