NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed management measures for the 2009 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The intent of this action is to establish harvest levels that assure that the target fishing mortality rates or exploitation rates specified for these species in the Fishery Management Plan are not exceeded and to allow for rebuilding of the stocks. The proposed rule also provides notice of three conditionally approved projects that will be requesting Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) as part of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Research Set-Aside program. This is an opportunity for interested parties to comment on these applications for EFPs.
Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted through
www.regulations.gov until November 12, 2008. For more information, contact Michael Ruccio at (978) 281-9104.
