Effective 0001 hours, January 1, 2018, statistical areas 521, 522, 525, and 561 will reopen to common pool vessels. However, common pool vessels are still prohibited from possessing Georges Bank cod for the remainder of the fishing year, through April 30, 2018. This includes cod caught inshore and offshore Georges Bank as well as Southern New England. We are prohibiting cod possession to prevent an overage of the annual catch limit.
For small entity compliance guides, this bulletin complies with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996. This notice is authorized by the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Region.
