Rebuilding Plan for the Southern Red Hake Fishery

This rule establishes a 10-year rebuilding plan for the overfished southern red hake stock as proposed by the New England Fishery Management Council in Framework Adjustment 62 to the Small-Mesh Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Under this rebuilding program, catch limits will be established by reducing the acceptable biological catch (ABC) to 75-percent of the fishing mortality rate at maximum sustainable yield (F_MSY) for the duration of the rebuilding period or until the stock reaches its biomass target, whichever happens first. Previously, the ABC has been set at 90-percent or higher of F_MSY. In addition, the rebuilding plan decreases the year-round possession limit from 5,000 lb to a dual 1,000/600-lb possession limit based on the selectivity of gear-type or mesh size used. The 600-lb possession limit applies to standard small-mesh trawls (less than 5.5 inches square or diamond mesh), which are less selective, while the 1,000-lb possession limit applies to large-mesh trawls and other more selective gear types including raised footrope trawls, large mesh belly panel trawls, and rope separator trawls.