The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has projected that the spring tautog commercial allocation will be taken by Friday, May 13.  Consequently the commercial spring tautog fishery will close effective 0001 hours on Saturday, May 14, 2011.  The fishery will re-open on September 1, 2011 with a 16 inch minimum size and a 40 fish vessel trip limit. 

In an ongoing effort to conserve and rebuild local tautog stocks, MarineFisheries established a commercial tautog quota in 2007, with approval of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission. The 2011 overall commercial tautog quota is, 54,189 lbs, with the spring allocation being set at, 15,172, 28% of the total quota.

Dealers are reminded that it is unlawful to purchase tautog from Massachusetts commercial fishermen when the fishery is closed. Quota totals and regulations can be monitored through the MarineFisheries web site.