The Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area is closed to all federally permitted Limited Access General Category (LAGC) vessels effective 0001hr on May 6, 2021.
This final rule approves fishing years 2021-22 operations plans for 16 groundfish sectors, grants 19 regulatory exemptions, allocates preliminary fishing year 2021 annual catch entitlements, and amends the regulations to administer electronic monitoring.
We are announcing the details of our policy to reimburse electronic monitoring costs in addition to human at-sea monitoring costs, while funds are available. We encourage industry to purchase and install electronic systems now.
This action reduces the Atlantic herring quotas for 2021-2023 as compared to 2020, and modifies in-season management measures to allow the Atlantic herring fleet more access to the Atlantic mackerel fishery.