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Dear Vessel Permit Holder:
New regulations implementing the three revised provisions of Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries (Amendment) go into effect on June 1, 1997. The regulations establish new vessel permit requirements for the Federal Illex squid fishery.
Read the Limited Access Permit Category section carefully. It provides crucial information concerning the need for you to submit landings records for the vessel named on the envelope.
Illex Squid Moratorium Permit: This Amendment introduces a moratorium (limited access) permit for Illex squid that is required for a vessel to harvest, possess, or land more than 5,000 pounds of Illex squid from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on a single trip. To qualify for this permit, a vessel must meet the following eligibility criteria:
(1) The vessel landed and sold at least 5,000 pounds of Illex squid on five separate trips between August 13, 1981, and August 13, 1993; or,
(2) The vessel was under construction for, or was being rerigged for, use in the directed fishery for Illex squid on August 13, 1993, provided the vessel landed and sold at least 5,000 pounds of Illex squid on five separate trips prior December 31, 1994; or,
(3) The vessel is replacing such a vessel and meets the replacement restrictions.
NMFS DOES NOT have records to indicate that the vessel named on the envelope made the required landings of Illex squid during the required time period. If you have records to show that your vessel qualifies for this permit, you must submit copies with the enclosed application. One of the best ways to show that your vessel meets the eligibility criteria is to submit fish dealer receipts showing the date and amount of Illex squid landed by your vessel.
Squid/Butterfish Incidental Catch: Any vessel of the United States may be issued this permit to fish for or retain up to 2,500 pounds each of Loligo squid or butterfish, or up to 5,000 pounds of Illex squid as an incidental catch in another directed fishery in the EEZ on any single trip.
If your vessel currently has a 1997 Loligo/Butterfish Incidental Catch permit or a Atlantic
Mackerel/Illex squid permit, you do not need to select the new Squid/Butterfish Incidental Catch
permit shown above. Either of these permits will allow you to retain up to 5,000 pounds of Illex
squid on a single trip for the remainder of 1997. This letter is only a summary of the permit changes established under this Amendment. There are
other requirements that have not been summarized in this letter. To read the requirements in their
entirety, you should request a complete copy of the regulations by calling 508-281-9278.
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