NOAA Fisheries Service has published a proposed rule that specifies the 2005 management measures necessary to rebuild spiny dogfish. Spiny dogfish were declared overfished on April 3, 1998, and the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils developed a joint Fishery Management Plan (FMP) during 1998 and 1999. The commercial quota and other management measures (e.g., minimum or maximum fish sizes, seasons, mesh size restrictions, possession limits, and other gear restrictions) are set annually in order to achieve the annual target fishing mortality rate specified in the FMP.

Click here to read the supporting analyses for the spiny dogfish rule. Public comments must be received no later than 5 pm on March 28, 2005. You may email comments to DOG2005@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the comment the following: "Comments-2005 Dogfish specifications.''

For more information, please contact Eric.Dolin@noaa.gov.