Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Framework Adjustment 52

NMFS has approved Framework Adjustment 52 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This final rule contains two modifications to the current windowpane flounder accountability measures. First, the size of the accountability measure gear-restricted areas can be reduced if we determine that improvements in windowpane flounder stock health occurred despite the catch limits being exceeded. Second, the duration of the accountability measure can be shortened if we determine that an overage of the catch limit did not occur in the year following the overage. This action allows us to implement accountability measures based on more current survey and catch data and increases fishing opportunities for the groundfish fishery while still preventing overfishing.