Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Exception to Permit Requirements

Résumé

NMFS issues this final rule to modify the regulations implementing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This rule allows vessels fishing exclusively with pot gear, which are not otherwise allowed to possess multispecies finfish, to possess multispecies frames as bait, provided that a receipt for purchase of that specific bait is on board the vessel. The intended effect is to allow the current practice of using multispecies frames as bait in the pot gear fishery to continue.