Framework Adjustment 15 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan/Framework Adjustment 6 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan
Summary
This action approves, and implements measures included in Framework Adjustment 15 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan/Framework Adjustment 6 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan, which the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils jointly adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. This action establishes area-based gear requirements for vessels fishing in the monkfish and spiny dogfish fisheries with gillnets in order to reduce bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon in these fisheries.
These measures are:
Low-Profile Gillnet Gear Requirement - Starting January 1, 2026:
- Vessels fishing on a monkfish day-at-sea (DAS) with gillnet gear with mesh size equal to or greater than 10 inches within the New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area must use low-profile gillnet gear;
Overnight Soak Prohibitions - Starting May 1, 2025:
- Vessels with federal spiny dogfish permits fishing in the New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area with roundfish gillnet gear with mesh size equal to or grater than 5 inches and less than 10 inches are prohibited leaving gillnet gear in the water overnight (8:00 pm to 5:00 am ET) during the months of May and November, effective 30 days from publication of the Final Rule; and
- Vessels with federal spiny dogfish permits fishing in the Delaware and Maryland Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area and Virginia Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area with roundfish gillnet gear with mesh size equal to or greater than 5.25 inches and less than 10 inches are prohibited from leaving gillnet gear in the water overnight (8:00 pm to 5:00 am ET) from November through March.
Image
This action is necessary to minimize bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon in the monkfish and spiny dogfish fisheries to the extent practicable and fulfill requirements of the Biological Opinion on Ten Fishery Management Plans in the Greater Atlantic Region and the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2.