The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has projected that 100% of the Commonwealth’s scup quota for the summer/fall fishery will be taken by Thursday, October 18, 2007 . Consequently, commercial fishermen are prohibited from landing or possessing scup effective 0001 hours on Friday, October 19th. Note, federally permitted fishermen have been prohibited from landing or possessing scup since NOAA Fisheries closed the summer period federal fishery on September 21, 2007.

The federally managed Winter II period opens on November 1st with a possession limit of 3,500-lbs. per trip as approved by NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. By November, the fishery is predominately in offshore (federal) waters when scup migrate to deeper waters in response to dropping temperatures.

Recreational fishermen are reminded that the scup recreational fishery is closed during the period of October 1, 2007 through April 30, 2008 . Dealers are reminded that it is unlawful to purchase scup from Massachusetts commercial fishermen when the fishery is closed.

Quota totals and regulations can be monitored through the MarineFisheries web site at: www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.