Maine asks NMFS to extend Bluefin Tuna Regs to Maine State Waters...

Roccus7

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Staff member
Most states like to circumvent the Fed Regs, but Maine is asking for them to be enforced in state waters...

NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
April 23, 2021

Proposed Rule​

NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to add Maine to the list of states for which federal Atlantic tunas regulations are applicable within state waters. This action is being considered based on a request by the Maine Department of Marine Resources.​

What will it do?​

This proposed change would make federal Atlantic tunas regulations applicable in Maine state waters. These regulations include: open and closed seasons, retention limits, size limits, authorized gears and gear restrictions, and permitting and reporting requirements.​

Who is affected?

This action could affect:​
  • Any commercial or recreational tuna fishermen fishing for bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, or skipjack tuna in Maine state waters.
  • Any dealers who buy or sell bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, or skipjack tuna caught in Maine state waters.

Public Hearing

A webinar and conference call for this proposed action will take place on May 14, 2021. Information for accessing the webinar can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-implement-federal-atlantic-tunas-regulations-maine-state-waters.

Submit Comments by June 10, 2021:

Written comments, identified by “NOAA-NMFS-2021-0013”, may be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

For further information on this proposed rule and its requirements, call the Highly Migratory Species Management Division at 301-427-8503 or 978-281-9260.

This notice is a courtesy to the HMS fishery participants to help keep you informed about the fishery.​
 
what are the current reg's
The basically say "Follow HMS' regs", as they also do for sharks, but now there will be no questions in the mind of anglers as to seasons, limits, etc. However, landing sharks from Maine State Waters is prohibited

Maine is the "outlier" here in that it's very common to catch BFT within state waters.

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