ASMFC APPROVES 8-MILLION LB. SPINY DOGFISH QUOTA FOR 2008/2009

Paul J. Diodati
Director

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626.1520
Fax (617) 626.1509

Deval Patrick
Governor
Ian Bowles
Secretary

October 31, 2007
MarineFisheries Advisory

ASMFC APPROVES 8-MILLION LB. SPINY DOGFISH QUOTA FOR 2008/2009
2007/2008 FISHERY REMAINS CLOSED THROUGH APRIL 30, 2008.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Shark Management Board approved an eight million pound quota for the 2008/2009 fishing year (May 1, 2008 - April 30, 2009), with 58% of the quota allocated to states from Maine through Connecticut and 42% allocated to New York through North Carolina. MarineFisheries will announce final specifications (e.g. trip limits) for the 2008/2009 fishing year prior to the May 1, 2008 opening.

A reminder that the 2007/2008 commercial fishery remains closed. MarineFisheries prohibited the possession and landing of spiny dogfish by all fishermen (federal and state) effective 0001 hours on Wednesday, October 3^rd through the end of the 2007/2008 fishing year (April 30, 2008) after projecting 100% harvest of the ASMFC northern states’ 2007/2008 spiny dogfish quota.