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The New England Fishery Management Council developed Framework Adjustment 4 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan in response to a recent closure of the skate bait fishery. This action would de-couple the skate wing and bait accountability measures, better control catch, and provide a more consistent supply of skate bait to the lobster fishery. This action is needed to allow the fishery to more effectively harvest its optimum yield and to prevent a similar fishery closure from occurring again in fishing year 2017. The Council approved this Framework at its June 2017 meeting. This framework action would implement changes to effort controls for the skate bait fishery to reduce the likelihood of a seasonal closure occurring in the fishery and extend the fishing year to the extent possible. If approved, this action would reduce the Season 3 possession and landing limit to 12,000 lb, reduce the limit's implementation trigger in Season 3 to 80 percent of the total allowable landings, and implement a fishery closure once 100 percent of the total allowable landings is landed. This action would also redefine the incidental possession limit to be 8,000 lb in all seasons.