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Year 2000 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, And Butterfish Annual Specifications Approved - CLOSURE OF THE PERIOD I DIRECTED LOLIGO SQUID FISHERY
Date: March 21, 2000
Dear Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and/or Butterfish Permit Holder:
This letter announces final specifications for the 2000 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish and notifies you that the directed fishery for Loligo squid in the EEZ is closed, effective 0001 hours, March 25, 2000.
CLOSURE OF THE PERIOD I DIRECTED LOLIGO SQUID FISHERY
Based on landings and other available information, NMFS determined that 90 percent of the period I quota (10,835,370 lbs) has been harvested. Therefore, after 0001 hours, March 25, 2000, vessels issued Federal permits for Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lbs per trip. This incidental catch limit restriction will cease at 0001 hours, May 1, 2000, at which time the 2000 Period II quota for the Loligo squid fishery will become effective.
FINAL ANNUAL SPECIFICATIONS
For Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, And Butterfish
For The Fishing Year January 1 Through December 31, 2000
In Metric Tons (Mt).
Specifica- Squid Atlantic
tions Loligo Illex Mackerel Butterfish
Max OY 26,000 24,000 N/A1 16,000
ABC 13,000 24,000 347,000 7,200
IOY 13,000 24,000 75,0002 5,900
DAH 13,000 24,000 75,0003 5,900
DAP 13,000 24,000 50,000 5,900
JVP 0 0 10,0004 0
TALFF 0 0 0 0
2 OY may be increased during the year, but the total ABC will not exceed 347,000 mt.
3 Includes 15,000 mt. of Atlantic mackerel recreational allocation.
4 JVP may be increased up to 15,000 mt. at discretion of RA.
DISTRIBUTION OF ANNUAL LOLIGO QUOTA
This action subdivides the annual Loligo quota (DAH) will be sub-divided into three quota periods or trimesters: January-April (42%), May-August (18%), and September-December (40%). According to these specifications, the catch would be reduced to the incidental catch limit (2,500 lb) once 90 percent is harvested in Periods I and II, and once 95 percent is harvested in Period III. Any underages of commercial period quota landed from Periods I and II will be applied to Period III after November 15 of the same year and any overages of commercial quota landed from Periods I and II will be subtracted from Period III after November 15 of the same year.
Percent Allocations of Loligo Quota.
| PERIOD | PERCENT | MT |
| I (January-April) | 42.00 | 5,460 |
| II (May-August) | 18.00 | 2,340 |
| III (September-December) | 40.00 | 5,200 |
| Total | 100.00 | 13,000 |
LOLIGO GEAR REQUIREMENTS
The owner or operator of a Loligo fishing vessel shall not use any combination of mesh or liners that effectively decreases the mesh size below the minimum mesh size, except that a liner may be used to close the opening created by the rings in the rearmost portion of the net, provided the liner extends no more than 10 meshes forward of the rearmost portion of the net. The inside webbing of the codend shall be the same circumference or less than the outside webbing (strengthener). In addition, the inside webbing shall not be more than 2 ft (61 cm) longer than the outside webbing.
You are encouraged to obtain further information or a copy of the regulations by calling (978) 281-9315. This letter does not contain all the regulatory provisions that pertain to these species, and consequently, has no legal force or effect. A copy of the regulations can also be obtained through a link to the Office of the Federal Register at the NMFS Northeast Regional Office's Web Site: http://www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/doc/nero.html.
This notice is authorized by the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service