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The New England Fishery Management Council developed Framework Adjustment 5 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan. Framework 5 contains specifications for the skate fishery for the 2018-2019 fishing years. The Council is proposing to adjust specifications based on new scientific information and is proposing an annual catch limit for the skate complex and overall total allowable landings. Landing of barndoor skate is currently prohibited, but in response to NMFS' declaring the stock rebuilt in 2016, the Council proposed measures within Framework 5 to allow some retention of the stock. When approved, Framework 5 would: establish a barndoor skate possession limit for season 1 (May 1 - August 31), and season 2 (September 1 - April 30), and establish a discard restriction such that any skate species that is already winged could not be discarded in order to land barndoor skate. Lastly, in order to provide flexibility for U.S. vessels fishing in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization area to maximize their skate retention, Framework 5 establishes measures to exempt vessels from skate regulations when fishing exclusively within the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area, except for the prohibition on possessing, retaining, or landing prohibited species.