Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Proposed 2010 Specifications for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery

Zusammenfassung

NMFS proposes specifications for the spiny dogfish fishery for the 2010 fishing year (FY) (May 1, 2010, through April 30, 2011). The implementing regulations for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for up to a period of 5 years and to provide an opportunity for public comment. This specification setting will apply to FY 2010 only. The intent of this rulemaking is to specify the commercial quota and other management measures, and to rebuild the spiny dogfish resource. NMFS proposes that the annual quota be set at 12 million lb (5,443.11 mt), and that the possession limit for dogfish remain set at 3,000 lb (1.36 mt). These proposed specifications and management measures are consistent with the FMP and promote the utilization and conservation of the spiny dogfish resource.