Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Closure of the 2011 Trimester 2 Directed Loligo Squid Fishery

NMFS announces that 90 percent of the Trimester 2 Loligo squid (Loligo) quota is projected to be harvested by 0001 hours, August 23, 2011. Therefore, the directed Loligo fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be closed as of 0001 hours, August 23, 2011, and vessels issued a Federal permit are prohibited from possessing or landing more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of Loligo for the remainder of Trimester 2 (through August 31, 2011). The directed Loligo fishery will re-open for Trimester 3 on September 1, 2011. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding its Trimester 2 allocation of 11,190,664 lb (5,076 mt), and to allow for effective management of this stock.