Washington, DC – Effective 2359 hours (EST) on May 5, 2010, the Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section and its member states will close the 2009/2010 fishery. The decision to close the fishery prior to the season end of May 29th was based on preliminary landings data that indicate that harvest is already at 4957 metric tons, 57 metric tons in excess of the Technical Committee recommended landings level. In addition, the Section voiced concern about more harvest of smaller shrimp, a significant component of the May fishery.
The Technical Committee projected landings could range between 5700 and 6500 metric tons if harvest continued through May 29th.
“I am pleased with the Section’s unanimous decision to close the fishery early,” stated Section Chair Douglas Grout from New Hampshire. “The action it took protects smaller shrimp that will be more valuable to the stock and to the market in future years. The Section strives to manage the fishery to promote a high and stable abundance of shrimp. This stability allows harvesters and processors to better plan their businesses into the future.”
The Section’s action was taken pursuant to the emergency action provision of the Commission’s ISFMP Charter, Section 6(c)(10). The provision specifies that the Commission will hold four public hearings within 30 days of the action. The first public hearing was held during the Section’s April 30th conference call.
Information on the hearings will be released once it becomes available. For more information, please contact Braddock Spear, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator for Policy, at bspear@asmfc.org and (202) 289-6400.