NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office released the following announcement on November 14, 2014:
Today NOAA Fisheries published proposed specifications for the Atlantic mackerel, squid and butterfish fisheries for fishing year 2015. Through this action, NOAA Fisheries proposes to:
- Increase the butterfish quota from 9,100 mt to 22,530 mt due to improved stock condition;
- Decrease the mackerel quota from 33,821 mt to 20,872 mt due to uncertainty about the stock's condition;
- Keep longfish and Illex squid quotas at the same level; and
- Establish a two-phase cap on river herring and shad catch in the mackerel fishery.
Please click here to view the proposed rule and associated environmental assessment.
Public comments must be received by 5 pm on December 15th.