NMFS is implementing the following measures that would apply in the Federal waters of the EEZ. These measures apply to all federally permitted party/charter vessels with applicable summer flounder, scup, or black sea bass permits, regardless of where they fish, unless the state in which they land implements measures that are more restrictive. These measures are intended to achieve, but not exceed, the previously established recreational harvest limits for these fisheries (December 30, 2014; 79 FR 78311).
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Minimum size, Possession limit, Season
Black Sea Bass .............. 12.5 inches (31.8 cm) ....... 15 fish ........... May 15–September 18, October 22–December 31.”
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“Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures
This final rule implements the Council and Commission’s recommended recreational management measures to constrain landings for black sea bass in 2015: A 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum size, 15-fish possession limit, and open seasons of May 15–September 21 and October 22–December 31. The 2015 black sea bass recreational harvest limit is 2.33 million lb (1,056 mt). The final 2014 landings were 3.65 million lb (1,656 mt). During development of these and the state measures, projected landings for 2014 were 3.45 million lb (1,565 mt), which requires a 33-percent reduction in landings relative to the 2015 recreational harvest limit. Recreational black sea bass catch occurs primarily in state waters in the states of New Jersey through Massachusetts (i.e., the northern region). Since 2011, the management measures in the northern region have been more restrictive than in Federal waters. The northern states, through the Commission process, have implemented 2015 measures to achieve the 33-percent reduction in landings from each state that was projected to be needed when this action was under development. This reduction, in combination with the Council’s recommendation of maintaining the status quo measures in Federal waters, are intended to achieve, but not exceed, the recreational harvest limit and recreational annual catch limit in 2015. The southern region states (Delaware through Cape Hatteras, North Carolina) have implemented state waters measures that are equivalent to the Federal measures. The states of Maine and New Hampshire have implemented recreational black sea bass measures for the first time in response to the stock being more commonly found in these states’ waters. In 2012, recreational black sea bass catch exceeded the annual catch limit of 2.52 million lb (1,143 mt) by 129 percent. In 2013, recreational black sea bass catch exceeded the annual catch limit of 2.9 million lb (1,315 mt) by 5 percent. Because the average catch for these two years exceeds the average annual catch limit from the same timeframe, as described in the regulations, an accountability measure is applicable to the 2015 fishery. An accountability measure was implemented for the 2014 fishing year because of the 2012 overage. The 2015 measures are functionally the same as those implemented last year to comply with the accountability measure (12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum size, 15-fish possession limit, and 201-day fishing season). Continuing these regulations preserves the accountability measure that was applied last year; as such, no further accountability measures are necessary for 2015.
Additional Regulatory Change
This rule also clarifies that the regulations for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass possession limits are per person, per trip. While it is clear in the FMP and subsequent amendments and framework adjustments that the possession limits are intended to apply for the entirety of a fishing trip, regardless of the length of that trip, the regulations were less specific. This action corrects that oversight.”
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