Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Specifications and Management Measures

Resumen

NMFS proposes 2010 specifications and management measures for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB). This action proposes to maintain quotas for Atlantic mackerel (mackerel), Illex squid (Illex), Loligo squid (Loligo), and butterfish at the same levels as 2009. This action also proposes to modify accounting procedures for underages of Trimester 1 quotas in the Loligo fishery so that Trimester 1 quota underages that are greater than 25% of the Trimester 1 quota would be allocated equally to Trimesters 2 and 3, and underages that are less than 25% of the Trimester 1 quota would be allocated to Trimester 3. Additionally, this action proposes to increase the minimum mesh size requirement for codend covers in the Loligo fishery from 4.5 inches to 5 inches. These proposed specifications and management measures promote the utilization and conservation of the MSB resource.