Council Notified that Winter Skate is Overfished

May 30, 2007

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, has determined that winter skate is overfished. NOAA has notified the New England Fishery Management Council of its official determination by letter. The Council is required to take action within 1 year following official notification that overfishing is occurring or a stock is approaching overfishing, a stock is overfished or approaching an overfished condition, or existing remedial action taken to end overfishing or rebuild an overfished stock has not resulted in adequate progress. Such action must be submitted to NOAA Fisheries within 1 year of notification and may be in the form of a new fishery management plan, a plan amendment, or proposed regulations.

A copy of the notification letter sent to the Council about the status of winter skate is available online.

For more information, read the Federal Register notice or contact Deb.Lambert@noaa.gov.