Federal Register #Docket No. 260821-0006

Final Rule: Monkfish Fishery Management Plan Framework Adjustment 17

This final rule from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, updates the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan with new catch specifications and management measures. - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Department of Commerce, NOAA - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved; this is a regulatory action - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured - Sets monkfish catch quotas for fishing years 2026, 2027, and 2028 - Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA): - Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC): 6,224 mt - Annual Catch Limit (ACL): 6,224 mt - Annual Catch Target (ACT): 6,038 mt - Expected Discards: 863 mt - Total Allowable Landings (TAL): 5,309 mt - Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA): - ABC: 5,861 mt - ACL: 5,861 mt - ACT: 5,685 mt - Expected Discards: 2,198.5 mt - TAL: 3,487 mt - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Streamlines accountability measures for quota overages by assigning implementation responsibility to the Regional Administrator - Establishes default specifications to prevent overfishing if annual specifications are not published - Based on updated scientific data to ensure sustainable management - No procurement activity, contract value, or commercial competition involved

Description

This final rule implements specifications and management measures in Framework Adjustment 17 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). It sets monkfish specifications for fishing year 2026 and projects specifications for 2027 and 2028. The rule streamlines the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Overage Accountability Measure (AM) trigger and adds default specifications for the monkfish fishery. These measures aim to prevent overfishing and ensure management is based on the best scientific information available.

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