Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 24

Résumé

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 24 to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This framework would implement measures to adjust the Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod trip limit provision (1,000 lbs (453.6 kg) per day; 1,500 lbs (680.4 kg) per day, starting with day 5) by requiring vessels to come into port and report to NMFS at least once every 14 days and, for those vessels that exceed the trip limit, to remain in port until days-at-sea (DAS) used equate to the allowable cod landings and by adjusting the trip limit boundary line from 42 deg.00' N. lat. to 42 deg.20' N. lat. east of 69 deg.30' W. long.; allow vessels to carry-over up to 10 unused multispecies DAS into the next fishing year; and exempt vessels that fish in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area from certain provisions of the NE multispecies FMP, such as the DAS program. The intended effect of this rule is to improve the effectiveness of the GOM cod trip limit, promote safety, and provide flexibility and opportunity to vessels fishing under the multispecies stock-rebuilding program.