NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed management measures for spiny dogfish that include implementing a research set- aside program, updating essential fish habitat definitions, allowing rollover of specifications, and eliminating the seasonal allocation of the commercial quota.
Dogfish Information Webinar Scheduled for April 8
December 2013 Council Meeting Summary
NOAA Fisheries: All Northeast Fisheries Now Authorized for Electronic Trip Reporting
October 7-10, 2013 Council Meeting Summary
June Council Meeting Summary
Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Public Comments on 5-Year Strategic Plan
The Council has released a draft of its 5-year strategic plan for public comment. Comments from the public will be accepted through July 19, 2013 and reviewed by the Council at its August 13-15 meeting in Wilmington, DE. Read more...
NMFS Publishes Draft 7 Consultation on the Continued Implementation of Seven Northeast Fisheries
The Northeast Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service has published a draft Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Consultation on the Continued Implementation of Management Measures for seven Northeast fisheries. Download complete PDF/print version.
NOAA Fisheries: New Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas East and West of Cape Cod Effective Date: June 1, 2013
At the request of Northeast groundfish sectors, NOAA Fisheries is implementing an exempted fishery for spiny dogfish, which would exempt vessels from using a groundfish fishing day-at-sea. Click here for more information.
NOAA Fisheries: New Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas East and West of Cape Cod Effective Date: June 1, 2013
NOAA Fisheries: Spiny Dogfish Quotas to be Increased for Commercial Fishermen
NOAA Fisheries is implementing the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s jointly-recommended increased commercial quotas for 2013-2015 for the spiny dogfish fishery. Increases from 2012 levels: 40.842 million lb in 2013 (+14%), 41.784 million lb in 2014 (+17%), and 41.578 million lb in 2015 (+16%). The commercial possession limit is also increased from 3,000 lb to 4,000 lb per trip (+33%).
U.S. Spiny Dogfish Fishery Successfully Expands Scope of MSC Certification
CFRF Offers Mid-Atlantic Fishermen Bycatch Avoidance Gear Modification Vouchers
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is currently administering a voucher program for fishing vessel owners to obtain financial assistance to install one or both promising gear modifications onboard their vessels for use in small mesh fisheries (including squid, whiting, and scup) to avoid unwanted bycatch of winter flounder.
Council's SSC and MC recommend management measures for the 2013-2015 fishing years
The Council's SSC reviewed the latest stock status update and staff memorandum on spiny dogfish and determined the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the 2013-2015 fishing years. Details of their recommendation are in their SSC Report.
New England Council adopts action alternatives in Amendment 3
At its September meeting in Plymouth, MA the New England Fishery Management Council voted to adopt four actions in Amendment 3: 1B Allow 3% of commercial quota to be set aside for RSA, 2B Update essential fish habitat (EFH) definitions, 3B Maintain management measures until replaced via rulemaking, 4B Eliminate seasonal allocation of the quota. The Mid-Atlantic Council will adopt action alternatives at its October meeting and the amendment will be effective May 1, 2013.