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At its June 2022 meeting the New England Fishery Management Council requested NMFS propose a rulemaking that was initially in response to an industry request to make modifications to the general requirements for vessels fishing in the Northwest Atlantic Fishery Organization’s Regulatory Area for the 2022 fishing year.  NMFS further analyzed the request and concluded that allowing additional flexibility will provide an overall benefit to current and future vessels that participate in this fishery. Pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NMFS is drafting a proposed rule to modify the gear stowage requirement and considering allowing a vessel to conduct gear maintenance while steaming through the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone which is currently prohibited.