US Spiny Dogfish Fishery to be Closed

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States;
Spiny Dogfish Fishery;
Commercial Period 1 Quota Harvested.

A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 08/22/2011

ACTION:

Temporary rule; closure of spiny dogfish fishery.

SUMMARY

NMFS announces that the spiny dogfish commercial quota available to the coastal states from Maine through Florida for the first semi-annual quota period, May 1, 2011-October 31, 2011, has been harvested.
Therefore, effective 0001 hours, August 26, 2011, federally permitted spiny dogfish vessels may not fish for, possess, transfer, or land spiny dogfish until November 1, 2011, when the Period 2 quota becomes available.
Regulations governing the spiny dogfish fishery require publication of this notification to advise the coastal states from Maine through Florida that the quota has been harvested and to advise vessel permit holders and dealer permit holders that no Federal commercial quota is available for landing spiny dogfish in these states.
This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding its Period 1 quota and to allow for effective management of this stock.

Source and more information: Federal Register / Vol.76, No.162,  August 22 2011.