Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Framework Adjustment 7 to the Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan

Summary

NMFS proposes measures included in Framework Adjustment 7 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. Framework 7 proposes fishing year 2026 and projected 2027 specifications, which would establish allowable harvest levels for the spiny dogfish fishery to prevent overfishing while enabling optimum yield based on the best scientific information available. Framework 7 also proposes changes to the Atlantic spiny dogfish accountability measures intended to provide the commercial fishery with greater flexibility by no longer requiring full payback of annual catch limit (ACL) overages when the Atlantic spiny dogfish stock is considered healthy.