NOAA has proposed to raise the spiny dogfish quota to 20 million pounds (9,000 tonnes) for 2011 a 33 percent increase over the 2010 catch limit. Spiny dogfish are found throughout the northwest Atlantic between Labrador and Florida. The agency said that spiny dogfish generate good revenue. In 2009, the U.S. commercial spiny dogfish fishery generated revenues of nearly $2.4 million.
Patricia Kurkul, administrator, Northeast Region, NOAA Fisheries Service, said that the higher catch limit will provide further opportunity to fishermen in the dogfish fishery, and to others who supplement their groundfish income by catching dogfish. NOAA’s Fisheries Service has updated the spiny dogfish stock assessment in the fall of 2010 and found that the stock was healthy and not being overfished.
The proposed catch level for 2011 is consistent with the level set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for state waters. The 2011 fishing year runs from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012. Under the spiny dogfish fishery management plan, the quota is divided between two quota periods. During period 1, May 1 through October 31, roughly 11.6 million pounds will be available to the fishery. The remaining 8.4 million pounds will be available to the fishery during period 2, November 1 through April 30. Vessel trip limits are proposed to remain at 3,000 pounds for the 2011 fishing year.
