Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; 2011 Scup Specifications; Fishing Year 2011

Resumen

NMFS proposes two actions in this rulemaking: An increase to the previously implemented scup commercial and recreational landing allowances for 2011 (specifications) and management measures for the 2011 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Inclusion of the proposed scup specification increase in this rulemaking is necessary to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the revised recommendation from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to increase the commercial and recreational scup landing allowances for 2011. The recreational management measures are necessary to comply with the implementing regulations for these fisheries which require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of the scup increase is to permit greater commercial and recreational harvest opportunity while preventing overfishing on the scup stock. Recreational management measures are similarly intended to ensure that overfishing the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources in 2011 is unlikely to occur.