Framework 12 includes 2024–2025 specifications and increased seasonal possession limits for the wing fishery to provide additional flexibility to fishermen. We propose to:
- Decrease the annual catch limit for the skate complex from 37,236 mt to 32,155 mt.
- Decrease the total allowable landings of skate wings from 14,059 mt to 10,453 mt.
- Decrease the total allowable landings of skate bait from 7,082 mt to 5,266 mt.
- Increase the wing fishery Season 1 possession limit from 3,000 lb to 4,000 lb.
- Increase the wing fishery Season 2 possession limit from 5,000 lb to 6,000 lb.
- Increase the possession limit for trips fishing on a Northeast multispecies B-DAS from 220 to 275 lb.
- Increase the possession limit for trips not fishing on a DAS from 500 lb to 625 lb.
- Remove the limit specific to barndoor skate within the overall skate possession limits (i.e., the 25-percent partial possession limit for trips landing skate wings on a DAS), and possession would be allowed on all trips in the skate fishery.
- Remove the smooth skate possession restriction on all trips landing skate in both the wing and bait skate fisheries, including in the Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area.
