Groundfish Spawning

Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 contains the following groundfish spawning measures:

• Gulf of Maine – The amendment establishes the Winter Massachusetts Bay Spawning Closure from November 1 through January 31 annually and closes block 125 from April 15 through April 30 each year.

• Georges Bank – OHA2 establishes Closed Area I North and the Closed Area II Groundfish Closure Area as spawning closures from February 1 through April 15 annually, making them closed to commercial and recreational gears capable of catching groundfish except scallop dredges. It also removes the May Georges Bank Spawning Closure.