NOAA Fisheries has announced final specifications for the 2008 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including state-by-state commercial quotas, a recreational harvest limit, and recreational possession limits for Atlantic bluefish off the east coast of the United States. These specifications are established to maintain sustainable harvests of Atlantic Bluefish and ensure adequate conservation and management of the species. The 2008 limits include a 15 fish per person bag limit and keeps the recreational harvest limit at the 2007 level, with a decrease in the transfer to the commercial fishery. Copies of the specifications document, including the Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) are available online at
http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/infodocs/Bluefish.pdfFor additional information, please contact Tobey Curtis, Fishery Policy Analyst; telephone: (978) 281-9273.
