Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Areas

This dataset depicts the boundaries of the Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Areas in ESRI shapefile format for the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO). These areas were established as part of Framework Adjustment 15 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP)/Framework Adjustment 6 to the Spiny Dogfish FMP. This action established area based measures to reduce bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon in the gillnet fisheries for monkfish and spiny dogfish. This shapefile includes boundaries for the following Regulated Areas:

• New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area
• Delaware and Maryland Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area
• Virginia Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area

Because GIS projection and topology functions can change or generalize coordinates, these GIS files are considered to be approximate representations and are NOT an OFFICIAL record for the exact regulated area boundaries. For information on the official legal definition refer to the Use Constraints metadata section.