2024-17734. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Framework Adjustment 15 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan; Framework Adjustment 6 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan

Table 1 to Paragraph ( d )

Point	N lat.	W long.
NJ1	40°24′	73°54′
NJ2	40°9′	73°24′
NJ3	39°30′	73°51′
NJ4	39°48′	74°12′
NJ1	40°24′	73°54′

(2) Restrictions in the New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area. Effective year round beginning on January 1, 2026, vessels may not fish with gillnet gear under a Monkfish DAS within the New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area unless:

(i) A vessel is fishing on a monkfish-only DAS within the MA Exemption Area, defined at § 648.80(c)(5)(ii), with roundfish gillnets with a mesh size between equal to or greater than 5 inches (12.7 cm) and less than 10 inches (25.4 cm).

(ii) A vessel is fishing with low profile gillnet gear, as defined in § 648.2.

5. Add § 648.234 to read as follows:

§ 648.234

Gear restrictions.

(a) New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area. (1) Area Definition: The New Jersey Dogfish and Monkfish Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 1 to Paragraph ( a )

Point	N lat.	W long.
NJ1	40°24′	73°54′
NJ2	40°9′	73°24′
NJ3	39°30′	73°51′
NJ4	39°48′	74°12′
NJ1	40°24′	73°54′

(2) From May 1 through May 31 and November 1 through November 30 of each year, vessels issued a Federal spiny dogfish permit must remove gillnet gear with a mesh size equal to or greater than 5 inches (12.7 cm) and less than 10 inches (25.4 cm) from within the New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area from 8:00 p.m. eastern time each day through 5:00 a.m. eastern time the following day.

(b) Delaware and Maryland Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area. (1) Area Definition: The Delaware and Maryland Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 2 to Paragraph ( b )

Point	N lat.	W long.
DM1	38°27′	75°60′
DM2	38°21′	74°48′
DM3	37°30′	75°12′
DM4	37°48′	75°30′
DM1	38°27′	75°60′

(2) From November 1 through March 31 of each year, vessels issued a Federal spiny dogfish permit must remove roundfish gillnets with a mesh size equal to or greater than 5.25 inches (13.3 cm) and less than 10 inches (25.4 cm) from the water within the Delaware and Maryland Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area from 8:00 p.m. eastern time each day through 5:00 a.m. eastern time the following day.

(c) Virginia Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area. (1) Area Definition: The Virginia Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 3 to Paragraph ( c )

Point	N lat.	W long.
VA1	37°18′	75°54′
VA2	36°48′	75°36′
VA3	36°33′	75°51′
VA4	36°54′	76°6′
VA1	37°18′	75°54′