Effective May 1, 2020
As part of the 2020 Interim Final Sector Rule (published today), NOAA Fisheries is announcing changes to the Redfish Exemption Area and gear stowage requirements for sector vessels fishing under the redfish exemption in fishing year 2020.
Vessels were previously required to stow redfish codends below deck prior to fishing under the exemption. Vessels may now stow their redfish codends consistent with existing gear stowage regulations. Also, NMFS is changing the Redfish Exemption Area to minimize catch of non-redfish stocks under the exemption, while still allowing vessels to fish in areas where redfish are abundant and bycatch of other stocks is minimal. The coordinates and a map of the new Redfish Exemption Area are below. All changes will take effect beginning May 1, 2020.
 The Redfish Exemption Area is defined by the following coordinates, connected by straight lines in the order listed:
|
Point
|
N. Lat.
|
W. Long.
|
|
A
|
43°20.00'
|
69°30.00'
|
|
B
|
43°20.00'
|
67°40.00'
|
|
C*
|
43°06.23'
|
67°40.00'
|
|
D*
|
42°53.24'
|
67°44.55'
|
|
E*
|
42°47.17'
|
67°40.00'
|
|
F
|
42°20.00'
|
67°40.00'
|
|
G
|
42°20.00'
|
69°30.00'
|
|
A
|
43°20.00'
|
69°30.00'
|
*Approximate points corresponding to the intersections of 67°40' W. longitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, and the area’s eastern boundary following the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
To learn more about these changes, read the interim final rule as published in the Federal Register. You may submit comments through the online portal.
The comment period is open through May 27, 2020.
|
