NOAA has issued a Federal Register notice that new management actions over a healthy, thriving monkfish fishery that brings more than 1,000 metric tons in Gloucester may take place anytime after May 9 — which fell last Wednesday and is given as the "control date."
These "control dates" are given to put the fishing industry on notice of the potential for changes in the rules governing a species. While scoping sessions have been held, no imminent action to alter the days at sea system with a total allowable catch is in the offing.
The monkfish fishery, which covers federal waters from Maine to North Carolina, produced $19 million in vessel income in 2011, according to Nils Stolpe, who represents the unincorporated Monkfish Defense Fund.
Cod landings produced $28 million and haddock $21 million last year, making monkfish the third most important finfish on the East Coast by ex-vessel — at the dock — prices.
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