Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 10 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan

Résumé

NMFS issues this final rule to implement the approved measures contained in Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP). Approved measures of Amendment 10 include a continuation of the moratorium for commercial vessels; minimum mesh-size requirements throughout the body, extension, and codend of trawl nets for the directed summer flounder fishery; removal of the requirement that a vessel land summer flounder during a 52-week period in order to retain a moratorium permit; and a prohibition of the transfer of summer flounder at sea. This action is intended to enhance the rebuilding of the summer flounder resource in accordance with the objectives of the FMP.