Striped Bass Commercial Season Ends Early; Fishermen Meet Quota of 802,000 Pounds

[Team Rock On]

you can now take 2 BFT a day according to.....NMFS INCREASES GENERAL CATEGORY DAILY RETENTION LIMIT FOR ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA
General category landings rates have been slow to date in the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery. Based on a review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, and the availability of BFT on the fishing grounds, NMFS has determined that an increase in the daily retention limit in the General category is necessary in order to allow full use of the June through August subquota. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for the remainder of the June through August time-period to two large medium or giant BFT per vessel. The increase in the daily retention limit is effective July 18 through August 31. The daily retention limit will revert back to one large medium or giant BFT for the September subquota. NMFS will closely monitor catch rates relative to the available subperiod quota and may make adjustments to the restricted fishing day (RFD) schedule or daily retention limit in order to avoid premature closure of the General category fishery. This adjustment does not affect the proposed scheduled RFDs for August (August 10, 11, and 12), on which the daily retention in the General category would be zero, and on which General category vessels would not be allowed to fish for BFT. The intent of this adjustment is to allow for maximum utilization of the June through August subquota by General category participants in order to help achieve optimum yield in the General category fishery, to collect a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes, and to be consistent with the objectives of the HMS FMP.