As specified in 322 CMR 6.28, the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) may, by declaration, establish and adjust the manner and times of taking scup, and the legal size limits, numbers and/or quantities of scup to be taken as prescribed by M.G.L. c.130 §17A and specified by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. As required, prior to any such declaration, DMF has established a public comment period on the following measures:

Winter II fishing period from November through December 2008:It is unlawful for a commercial fisherman to possess greater than 2,000-lbs. of scup per trip.

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, September 5, 2008

For further information please visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.