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The New England Fishery Management Council has developed and recommended proposed skate specifications for fishing years 2026 through 2028.  The Council recommends setting the first two years of the specifications (2026 and 2027) according to the acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule and the specifications setting formula, which was established through Amendment 3 in 2010.  The Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan includes a complex of seven skate species that are harvested in two different fisheries: one for food (wing fishery) and one for bait (bait fishery).  This action proposes an ABC of 41,282 mt and an equivalent annual catch limit (ACL).  The Federal total allowable landings (TAL) would be 20,966 mt, the wing TAL would be 13,943 mt, and the bait TAL would be 7,024 mt.  For fishing years 2026 and 2027, the ABC would be a 28% increase over the ABC for years 2024 and 2025.  This proposed increase is largely due to recent increases in the trawl survey biomass for winter skates. The Council also recommends decreasing the ABC for fishing year 2028 by 10% from fishing years 2026 and 2027 due to uncertainty about future biomass trends. In addition, the Council recommends changing the skate possession limits. Specifically, this action would increase the skate wing possession limits for trips fishing on a Monkfish, Scallop, or Northeast Multispecies Day-At-Sea (DAS).  It would also increase the skate bait possession limit for trips fishing on a Bait Letter of Authorization for all three bait seasons. The Council-recommended measures would increase both the short- and long-term economic benefits for fishing businesses.  The proposed action would increase the total allowable landings and trip-level landings in both the bait and wing fisheries.  The increase in possession limits is expected to yield additional benefits to the bait and wing fishery as well as the nation, with the potential for revenue increases up to $900,908.