2011 Spiny Dogfish Quota

NOAA's Fisheries Service plans raise the spiny dogfish quota to 20 million pounds for 2011. The new quota would be a 33 percent increase over the 2010 catch limit of 15 million pounds.

The U.S. commercial spiny dogfish fishery generated revenues of nearly $2.4 million during the 2009 fishing year.

NOAA's Fisheries Service updated the spiny dogfish stock assessment in the fall of 2010, incorporating 2009 catch data and results from the agency's 2010 trawl survey. The updated assessment indicated that the stock was healthy and not being overfished. This information was provided to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery

Management Council and the New England Fishery Management Council, which jointly develop management measures for the spiny dogfish stock. The councils forwarded their recommendation to increase the 2011 catch limit to NOAA's Fisheries Service, which has agreed to increase the catch limit. The proposed catch level for 2011 is consistent with the level set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for state waters.

source: NOAA press release