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Avoidance Network Fleet Communication Program
Copyright & copy; 2011, Coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Fisheries Program in partnership with University of Massachusetts School for Marine Science and Technology, and University of Rhode Island Fisheries Center. Funded by National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Northeast Cooperative Research Program.
Fyi: http://www.mafmc.org/press/2012/pr12_20_Butterfish_ABC.pdf
In addition to the ABC increase the Council is recommending that butterfish landings in 2012 be reduced by 200mt and be used to increase the butterfish cap on the longfin squid fishery by the same amount. If implemented, this shouldn’t impact butterfish landings as the current trajectory of butterfish landings suggests that butterfish probably won’t close even if the landings quota is reduced by 200mt. If everything is approved and implemented by NMFS, overall the butterfish cap on the longfin squid fishery would increase from the current 2,445 mt to around 3,165 mt. As of September 8 about 50% of the cap had been used and about 45% of the longfin squid quota had been landed, so the increase to the cap would probably mean that it would not constrain the squid fishery this year, as long as the rates of incidental butterfish catch do not increase from the average so far.
Jason Didden
jdidden@mafmc.org
www.mafmc.org
(302) 526-5254 (