The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Spiny Dogfish Management Board recently approved a spiny dogfish commercial quota of 40,360,761 pounds for the 2016/2017 fishing season (May 1 – April 30).
The quota is reduced by 20% compared to 2015/2016. Spiny dogfish landings have been below 24 million pounds for the past two fishing years.
Commercial trip limits were set at 5,000 pounds in state waters (0-3 miles from shore) in the northern region (Maine through Connecticut).
Also approved was an increase in the northern area trip limit to 6,000 pounds contingent on complementary action in federal waters. The Board will send a letter to NOAA Fisheries to request it consider and implement these measures.
The Board reviewed the revised 2015 Northeast Fisheries Science Center Stock Assessment Update, which concludes spiny dogfish are not overfished nor experiencing overfishing.
For more information, visit www.asmfc.org
source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission