MYSTIC, CT – Category A and B herring vessels may be required to move 15 nautical miles (nm) after experiencing a “slippage” event related to mechanical failure, safety concerns, or spiny dogfish that clog their pumps. If slippage occurs for any other reason, vessels would have to terminate the trip and return to port.
These new and very severe requirements make up the heart of Framework Adjustment 4 to the federal Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted on April 23. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) still must review and approve the framework, which has a target implementation date of Jan. 1, 2015.
Slippage is defined as “unobserved catch that is discarded prior to being observed, sorted, sampled, and/or brought on board the fishing vessel.” Slippage does not include operational discards or at-sea discards that occur after the catch is brought on board and sorted.
Read the rest and much, much more in the June issue of Commercial Fisheries News.
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