NMFS Northeast Fisheries Regional Office N E W SNOAA Announces Rules for Start of 2006 Northeast Groundfish Year NOAA Fisheries Service today announced rules for managing the groundfishery
in the Northeast. The rules are effective May 1 and are expected
to continue until measures recently passed by the New England Fishery
Management Council can be implemented. The rules cover groundfishing
in federal waters for 19 stocks, including those of cod, haddock, and
several flounders. This action is intended to keep groundfish
stock rebuilding on track and to ensure that overfishing is gradually
eliminated. The Agency initially proposed to count each Category A day-at-sea used anywhere in the region as 1.4 days. The rule announced today implements this measure in all areas except the U.S. Canada Management Area on Georges Bank. Vessels will use Category A days-at-sea at a 1:1 ratio when fishing in that area. The agency initially proposed no trip limits for Georges Bank winter flounder or for white hake. The rule announced today implements the trip limits for these species that were developed by the New England Fishery Management Council as part of its 2006 adjustments to the plan. The final rule is effective for 180 days. Because it is an emergency interim final rule, public comments will be taken on it through May 15, 2006. Comments will be considered for making adjustments to the rule if needed, or in developing an extension for the rule, if one is required.For details on the emergency interim final rule, visit the NOAA NMFS Northeast Regional Office website for this action: NMFS Northeast Region: www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/hotnews/index.html NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes. ### On the Web: |
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