Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Northeast Skates; Overfished Fisheries

NMFS announces that the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has designated the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) as the Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) responsible for developing a fishery management plan (FMP) for seven species of skate (barndoor, clearnose, little, rosette, smooth, thorny, and winter skate) found in Federal waters off the coast of the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. NMFS also informs the public of its determination that four of the species comprising the Northeast skate fisheries (barndoor, smooth, thorny, and winter skate) are overfished.