Small-Mesh Fishery Specifications for Fishing Years 2024-2026

We are developing a proposed rule to implement catch limit specifications for the 2024 small-mesh multispecies fishery, and project specifications for fishing years 2025 and 2026. The Council’s recommended catch limits would increase annual quotas for northern silver hake and decrease the quota for southern whiting and both red hake stocks. In addition to the Council’s recommended catch limits, pursuant to section 305(d), we are reducing the recommended ABC for southern red hake by 25 percent in order to comply with the requirements outlined in Framework Adjustment 62 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. There are no known issues or problems with this action and we anticipate the action will be non-controversial.