Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Proposed 2011 Specifications for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery

Résumé

NMFS proposes specifications for the spiny dogfish fishery for the 2011 fishing year (FY) (May 1, 2011, through April 30, 2012). The implementing regulations for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for up to a period of 5 years, and to provide an opportunity for public comment on those specifications. The intent of this rulemaking is to specify the commercial quota and other management measures for FY 2011 only. Specifically, for FY 2011, NMFS proposes that the annual quota be set at 20 million lb (9,071.85 mt), and that the possession limit for dogfish remain 3,000 lb (1.36 mt). These proposed specifications and management measures are consistent with the FMP and promote the utilization and conservation of the spiny dogfish resource.