As specified in 322 CMR 6.35, the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) may, by declaration, establish and adjust the manner and times of taking spiny dogfish, and the legal size limits, numbers and/or quantities of spiny dogfish to be taken as prescribed by M.G.L. c.130 §17A and specified by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. DMF has established a public comment period on the following proposed measure for the 2007/2008 spiny dogfish fishery beginning May 1, 2007: During a 24-hour day it is unlawful for stateonly permitted commercial fishermen to land or possess greater than 2,000-lbs. of spiny dogfish, until 58% of the ASMFC-approved quota has been reached at which point it shall be unlawful for state-only permitted commercial fishermen to land or possess spiny dogfish. ASMFC approved a 6-million lb. quota for 2007/2008, allocating 58% of the quota to states from ME to CT and the remaining 42% to states from NY to NC. Federallypermitted fishermen are restricted under federal regulation to a 600-lb. trip limit.

Written comments may be received by e-mail, (marine.fish@state.ma.us), fax (617.626.1509), or mail (DMF; 251 Causeway St., Suite 400; Boston, MA 02114) and will be accepted until 5PM on Friday, March 9, 2007.