Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Gulf of Maine Winter Flounder Catch Limit Revisions

NMFS issues this final emergency rule under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action implements new stock status determination criteria for Gulf of Maine (GOM) winter flounder and associated increases in GOM winter flounder catch limits based on the most recent and best available scientific information. This action increases fishing year (FY) 2011 GOM winter flounder catch levels, including Overfishing Levels (OFLs), Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs), Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), ACL components, and sector Annual Catch Entitlements (ACEs). The ACL components include sub-ACLs for the common pool and sectors. This action is intended to provide additional fishing opportunities, consistent with the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens Act.