Effective August 11, 2023
Today, NOAA Fisheries filed a final rule to implement Framework 13 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan.
Developed jointly by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, this action:
Sets monkfish specifications for fishing years 2023 through 2025. For fishing years 2023 through 2025, Framework 13 sets an Acceptable Biological Catch of 6,224 metric tons (mt) in the North and 5,861 mt in the South, reductions of 25 percent and 52 percent from fishing year 2022, respectively. The Total Allowable Landings for the commercial fishery that results from these specifications are 5,309 mt and 3,481 mt, which are reductions of 20 percent and 41 percent from 2022.
Changes the annual Days-at-Sea (DAS) allocation to limited access monkfish vessels.
Increases the minimum gillnet mesh size from 10 inches to 12 inches for vessels fishing on monkfish DAS or within the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Dogfish and Monkfish Gillnet Fishery Exemption Area, to be implemented for fishing year 2026.
For more information, read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register or the bulletin posted on the web.
