NOAA Fisheries has published final specifications for the 2006 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries, along with preliminary adjustments to the 2006 commercial quotas. This final rule sets harvest limits for both commercial and recreational fisheries, including scup possession limits. It also prohibits federally permitted commercial vessels from landing summer flounder in Delaware in 2006, because no quota is available for that state. This action also defines the total length measurement for black sea bass and makes changes to the regulations for the commercial black sea bass pot/trap fishery.
The new measures are effective from January 1 through December 31, 2006. NOAA Fisheries Service will establish the 2006 recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass at a later date.
For more information, contact Sarah.McLaughlin@noaa.gov.
