NMFS sets 2007-2009 specs

May 01, 2007

Commercial Fisheries News
May 2007

GLOUCESTER, MA People from all walks of the fishing industry and public flooded the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with comments about its proposed Atlantic herring specifications for the next three years.

After reviewing those comments, NMFS published a rule in the Federal Register on April 10 announcing the final specifications, which didn’t change at all from what the agency proposed back in January.

That means the Area 1A total allowable catch (TAC) in the inshore Gulf of Maine will be reduced from 60,000 metric tons (mt) to 50,000 mt this year – as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council. But then it will be further reduced to 45,000 mt in 2008 and 2009 as proposed by NMFS.

NMFS received a total of 460 comments on the proposed rule, which came from 451 individuals and vessel owners, as well as from: American Pelagic Association; Cape Seafoods Inc.; Center for Oceanic Research and Education; Conservation Law Foundation; Garden State Seafood Association; Bumble Bee/Stinson Seafood; Maine Department of Marine Resources; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Northern Pelagic Group LLC; and the Ocean Conservancy.

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