Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Monkfish Fishery

Resumen

NMFS is proposing a regulatory amendment to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to allow projects funded through the Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program to carryover unused monkfish RSA days-at-sea (DAS) into the following fishing year. Given the most recent information on the status of monkfish stocks, the regulation that prohibits monkfish RSA DAS to be carried over to the next fishing year is no longer necessary. In addition, this action would provide researchers with flexibility to complete research funded through the Monkfish RSA Program.