Mid-Atlantic to consider squid catch shares

DOVER, DE – The federal government is advising anyone with an interest in future participation in the Loligo and Illex squid fisheries to “locate and preserve” their records.

On Jan. 8, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in the Federal Register for the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fisheries.

According to the agency, this rulemaking potentially could involve the creation of catch share programs for Loligo and Illex “to manage future access” to these fisheries.

In the same notice, NMFS reaffirmed the most recent control date for the Loligo and Illex fisheries, which is May 20, 2003. Control dates can be changed, but they are generally used to separate established fishermen from newer-comers in the event that a future management program involves treating the two groups differently.
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