groundfish trip limits

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Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish)

Northeast multispecies plan overview, related news, press releases, and announcements.

• Groundfish: Council Begins Work on Amendment 25 to Add Four Atlantic Cod Assessment Units to Management Plan
• Council Schedules Three Facilitated Workshops to Solicit Public Input on Atlantic Cod Management Transition Plan
• Council Seeks Contractor to Facilitate Atlantic Cod Management Transition Workshops – Apply by March 15, 2024
• Come Join Us at the 49th Maine Fishermen’s Forum to Talk About Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Herring, Gulf of Maine Scallops
• Council Recommends 2024 Recreational Measures for Cod and Haddock; Discusses Upcoming Atlantic Cod Transition Plan
• Council Seeks Applicants to Fill 2024-2025 Advisory Panel Seats for Whiting, Skates, Monkfish, GAP/RAP, Herring, and Scallops
• Groundfish: Council Takes Final Action on Framework 66 with Fishing Year 2024-2026 Specs; Halibut and Scallop AM Changes
• Council Receives Atlantic Cod Assessment Report, Framework Updates; Supports 2024 U.S./Canada TACs for Georges Bank
• Council to Hold August 17, 2023 Facilitated Meeting to Discuss Groundfish Acceptable Biological Catch Control Rules
• Council Seeks Contractor to Facilitate Groundfish ABC Control Rule Meeting
• Council Seeks Contractor to Prepare Study for Potential Establishment of Groundfish Research Coordinating Body — Apply by August 2, 2023
• NEFMC Requests Emergency Action for Gulf of Maine Haddock to Prevent Significant Economic and Social Impacts to Fishery
• Groundfish: Council Recommends 2023 Recreational Cod and Haddock Measures; Revises Halibut ABC in Framework 65
• Groundfish: Council Takes Final Action on Framework 65 with Gulf of Maine Cod Rebuilding Plan, 2023-2025 Specifications
• Groundfish: Council Continues Work on Framework 65; Receives New Assessment Information for Several Stocks
• Council Seeks Applicants for All 2023-2025 Advisory Panels; Wide Range of Monkfish, Groundfish, Rec Fishermen Needed
• Groundfish: Council Initiates Framework Adjustment 65 with Specifications, Rebuilding Plans, and Management Measures
• Council Recommends Recreational Measures for Gulf of Maine Cod, Haddock for 2022; Discusses Atlantic Cod Stock Structure
• Groundfish: Council Picks Framework 63 Preferred Measures; Specifications Include 2022 Catch Limits for Georges Bank Cod
• Council Endorses 2022 U.S./Canada TACs; Discusses Groundfish Framework 63, Focuses Options to Promote Stock Rebuilding
• Reminder: Time to Tune in to Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Management Workshops and Provide Feedback
• Groundfish: Council Receives Updates on Cod Stock Structure Workshops & ABC Control Rule Review; Initiates Framework 63
• Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Workshops Scheduled for June, July; Public Encouraged to Contribute to Discussion
• Council Decides Against Limited Entry for Party/Charter Component of Recreational Groundfish Fishery
• Council Recommends 2021 Recreational Measures for Gulf of Maine Cod/Haddock for GARFO’s Consideration
• Council Votes to Submit Groundfish Framework 61 to GARFO; Action Includes Universal Sector Exemption for Redfish
• Groundfish: Council Approves Most of Framework 61 but Final Vote on Redfish Universal Sector Exemption Slated for January
• Council Calendar: Here’s Our November 2020 Meeting Lineup: Groundfish, Scallops, Whiting, Habitat – Join Our Webinars!
• Groundfish Amendment 23: Council Adopts 100% Monitoring Target; Industry to be Reimbursed if Federal Funds Available
• Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23: Planning Moves Forward for Outdoor, In-Person Public Hearing on August 26
• Council Calendar: Here’s the August/September 2020 Meeting and Public Hearing Lineup – Join Our Webinars!
• Council to Host July 27th Webinar Training Session in Advance of Upcoming Scallop A21 and Groundfish A23 Public Hearings
• Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23: Here’s How to Prep for the July and August Public Hearings - Updated
• Groundfish: Council Schedules Amendment 23 Final Action for September; Discusses COVID-19, Cod Issues
• Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23: Join the May 12 and May 21 Public Hearing Webinars
• Council Addresses Recreational eVTRs, Chub Mackerel Issue; Receives Updates on Ecosystem, Stellwagen, Right Whales
• Groundfish: Council Postpones Final Action on Amendment 23; Pursues COVID-19 Impact Options; Receives Catch Share Report
• Council Converts In-Person Committee and AP Meetings to Webinars to Address COVID-19 Concerns, Travel Restrictions
• Council Seeks Contractor to Develop Groundfish ABC Control Rule Alternatives; Application Deadline Extended to March 31, 2020
• Groundfish – Draft Framework 59 Update: Council Posts Preferred Alternatives, Revised Tables on Website
• Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23: Council Votes to Send Draft Document out for Comment with Preferred Alternatives
• Council Recommends 2020 Recreational Measures for Gulf of Maine Cod/Haddock for GARFO’s Consideration
• Groundfish: Council Approves Framework 59; Receives Progress Report on Monitoring Amendment 23
• Groundfish: Council Accepts 2020 U.S./Canada TACs; Receives Progress Report on Framework 59, Monitoring Amendment
• New England Joins Mid-Atlantic to Require eVTRs for Vessels with Federal Commercial Permits for Council-Managed Species
• Groundfish Catch Share Program Review: Public Meetings Scheduled for July/August in Ports From Maine to New York
• NEFMC Seeks Applicants for Fishery Advisory Panels
• Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23: Council Approves Wide Range of Alternatives for Further Development
• Groundfish Recreational Fishing: Council to Hold Listening Sessions to Gauge Interest in Party/Charter Limited Access
• Groundfish: Council Discusses Recreational Fishing Issues, Amendment 23, Fishery Data, and New Sector
• New England Council Approves Groundfish Framework 58
• NEFMC Seeks Contractor for Groundfish Catch Shares Program Review - Additional Information Available
• Groundfish: Council Endorses 2019 U.S./Canada TACs; Receives Framework 58 and Amendment 23 Progress Report
• Council Discusses Offshore Wind, Clam Dredge FW, Skates, Groundfish, Herring, IFM at Mid-April Meeting
• Council Recommends 2018 Recreational Measures for Cod, Haddock and Revised Charter/Party Control Date
• Council Approves Groundfish Framework 57 With Annual Catch Limits, Halibut/Southern Windowpane AMs, and More
• New England Council Supports Regional Administrator’s Action to Enforce Groundfish Sector IX Operations Plan
• Council Endorses 2018 U.S./Canada TACs; Receives Progress Report on Groundfish Framework 57, Monitoring Amendment
• Groundfish: NEFSC to Hold Port Meetings With Fishermen to Talk About Upcoming Assessments
• NEFMC Selects Groundfish Monitoring Alternatives, Initiates FW 57
• Groundfish Monitoring: Council Seeks Initial Input on Amendment 23 at Six Scoping Hearings
• Council Approves Witch Flounder Specifications; Recommends 2017 Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock Recreational Measures
• Council Approves 2017 US/Canada TACs; Receives Progress Report on Groundfish Framework Adjustment 56 Proposals
• Draft Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP Public Hearings
• Industry Outreach Meetings Scheduled to Review Upcoming Groundfish Assessments
• Gulf of Maine Cod Report Released, Peer Review Scheduled
• Fishery Council Approves Actions to Protect Declining Cod
• NEFMC Press Release, Gulf of Maine Cod
• Quota Increases for Groundfish Stock Topic of Discussion at Upcoming New England Fishery Management Council Meeting
• Fishery Council Approves Severe Cuts for Regional Cod Stocks
• Groundfish UPDATE – March 26-27 meetings POSTPONED; news roundup

Upcoming Meetings

Past meetings, plan amendments, frameworks, and specifications, plan amendments, framework adjustments/specifications.

• Apps & Integrations
• Regulations
• April 05, 2000

Fishery conservation and management: West Coast States and Western Pacific fisheries— Pacific Coast groundfish; trip limit adjustments,

[Federal Register: April 5, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 66)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 17805-17807]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr05ap00-15]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 660

[Docket No. 991223347-9347; I.D. 032700D]

Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Adjustments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes to trip limits in the Pacific Coast groundfish open access fishery for vessels using pink shrimp trawl gear, and clarifies restrictions for other exempted trawl gears. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery management plan (FMP), are intended to help the fisheries achieve optimum yield (OY).

DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time April 1, 2000, unless modified, superseded or rescinded, until the effective date of the 2001 annual specifications and management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which will be published in the Federal Register. Comments on this rule will be accepted through April 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator, Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rodney McInnis, Acting Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via email or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine King or Yvonne deReynier, Northwest Region, NMFS, 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following changes to current management measures were recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in consultation with the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, at its March 6-10, 2000, meeting in Sacramento, CA. Pacific coast groundfish landings will be monitored throughout the year, and further adjustments to the trip limits will be made as necessary to stay within the OYs and allocations announced in the annual specifications and management measures for the groundfish fishery, published in the Federal Register at 65 FR 221 (January 4, 2000).

At its November 1999 meeting, the Council recommended the following groundfish limits for a vessel using shrimp trawl gear (an open access exempted trawl gear): 500 lb (227 kg) per day (multiplied by the number of days in the fishing trip), not to exceed 2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip. The Council also announced its intent to review and recommend at its March 2000 meeting any additional sublimits that should apply for the pink shrimp fishery which starts April 1, 2000. The groundfish trip limits are intended to provide for a reasonable level of incidental harvest in the pink shrimp fishery: Trip limits that are too high could encourage targeted fishing for groundfish and trip limits that are too low could result in discarding groundfish that exceed the trip limits. At its March 2000 meeting, the Council recommended maintaining the overall groundfish limits announced in January for the pink shrimp trawl fishery, and added the following sublimits that count toward the overall groundfish limits: for canary rockfish--100 lb (45 kg) in April and 300 lb (136 kg) per month May through October, (the same as for limited entry vessels using small-footrope trawl gear); for lingcod--no retention in April, and 400 lb (181 kg) per month in May through October, the same as for limited entry vessels using small-footrope trawl gear, and with a minimum size limit of 24 inches (61 cm) north of 40 deg.10' N. lat. and 26 inches (66 cm) south of 40 deg.1010' N. lat., the same size limits as for open access nontrawl gear; for sablefish, 2,000 lb (907 kg) per month, which is smaller than the open access nontrawl or limited entry trawl cumulative limits for sablefish. These limits are based on landings data for the shrimp fishery, and as consistent as practicable with other limits for the groundfish fishery.

The trip limits are complicated by the fact that many vessels that fish for pink shrimp also participate in other groundfish fisheries. Provisions are added in this document to clarify which limits apply if a vessel participates in both pink shrimp and other groundfish fisheries during the same trip limit period. If a vessel that takes and retains pink shrimp also takes and retains groundfish in either the limited entry or another open access fishery during the same applicable cumulative trip limit period, the vessel may retain the larger of the two limits, but only if the limit(s) for each gear or fishery are not exceeded when operating in that fishery or with

[[Page 17806]]

that gear. The limits are not additive; the vessel may not retain a separate trip limit for each fishery. Minor housekeeping revisions also are made to clarify which trip limits apply to the other exempted trawl gears.

The Council remains concerned about the amount of canary rockfish, an overfished species, that may be taken incidentally in the pink shrimp fishery and will reconsider this issue at its April meeting.

NMFS Actions

For the reasons stated here, NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations and announces the following changes to the 2000 annual management measures (65 FR 221, January 4, 2000, as modified). The annual management measures are modified as follows:

In Section IV, paragraphs IV.A.(11), C.(1), the title of Table 5, C.(2), C.(2)(a), and C.(3) are revised to read as follows:

IV. NMFS Actions

General Definitions and Provisions

(11) Operating in both limited entry and open access fisheries. The open access trip limit applies to any fishing conducted with open access gear, even if the vessel has a valid limited entry permit with an endorsement for another type of gear. A vessel that operates in both the open access and limited entry fisheries is not entitled to two separate trip limits for the same species. If a vessel has a limited entry permit and uses open access gear, and the open access limit is smaller than the limited entry limit, then the open access limit cannot be exceeded and counts toward the limited entry limit. If a vessel has a limited entry permit and uses open access gear, and the open access limit is larger than the limited entry limit, the smaller limited entry limit applies, even if taken entirely with open access gear. Special provisions that apply to a vessel using exempted trawl gear to fish for pink shrimp are found at paragraph C.(3)(d). * * * * *

Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery

(1) All open access gear. The trip limits, size limits, seasons, and other management measures for open access groundfish gear, except exempted trawl gear engaged in fishing for pink shrimp, are listed in Table 5. The trip limit at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(i) for black rockfish caught with hook-and-line gear also applies. (The black rockfish limit is repeated at paragraph IV.B.(4).) Additional limits for exempted trawl gears are found in paragraphs IV.C.(2) and (3). * * * * *

``Table 5. 2000 Trip Limits 1/ for All Open Access Gear except Exempted Trawl Gear Engaged in Fishing for Pink Shrimp''.

(2) Groundfish taken with exempted trawl gear by vessels engaged in fishing for spot and ridgeback prawns, California halibut, or sea cucumbers.

(a) Trip limits. The trip limit is 300 lb (136 kg) of groundfish per fishing trip. Limits and closures in Table 5 also apply and are counted toward the 300-lb (136-kg) groundfish limit. In any landing by a vessel engaged in fishing for spot and ridgeback prawns, California halibut, or sea cucumbers with exempted trawl gear, the amount of groundfish landed may not exceed the amount of the target species landed, except that the amount of spiny dogfish (Squalas acanthias) landed may exceed the amount of target species landed. Spiny dogfish are limited by the 300-lb (136-kg) per trip overall groundfish limit. The daily trip limits for sablefish coastwide and thornyheads south of Pt. Conception, and the overall groundfish ``per trip'' limit may not be multiplied by the number of days of the fishing trip. * * * * *

(3) Groundfish taken with exempted trawl gear by vessels engaged in fishing for pink shrimp. (a) Starting April 1, 2000, the trip limit is 500 lb (227 kg) of groundfish per day, multiplied by the number of days of the fishing trip, but not to exceed 2,000 lb (907 kg) of groundfish per trip. The following sublimits also apply and are counted toward the overall 500-lb (227 kg) per day and 2,000-lb (907 kg) per trip groundfish limits:

(i) Canary rockfish--

(A) April 1-30, 2000: 100 lb (45 kg) per month

(B) Starting May 1, 2000: 300 lb (136 kg) per month

(ii) Lingcod--

(A) April 1-30, 2000: closed.

(B) Starting May 1, 2000: 400 lb (181 kg) per month, with a minimum size limit (total length) of 24 inches (61 cm) north of 40 deg.10' N. lat. and 26 inches (66 cm) south of 40 deg.10' N. lat.

(iii) Sablefish--Starting April 1, 2000: 2,000 lb (907 kg) per month;

(iv) Thornyheads--closed north of Pt. Conception (34 deg.27' N. lat.)

(b) The trip limits in Table 5 do not apply to groundfish taken with exempted trawl gear by vessels engaged in fishing for pink shrimp.

(c) In any trip in which pink shrimp trawl gear is used, the amount of groundfish landed may not exceed the amount of pink shrimp landed.

(d) Operating in pink shrimp and other fisheries during the same cumulative trip limit period. If a vessel that takes and retains pink shrimp also takes and retains groundfish in either the limited entry or another open access fishery during the same applicable cumulative trip limit period that it takes and retains pink shrimp (which may be 1 month or 2 months, depending on the fishery and the time of year), the vessel may retain the larger of the two limits, but only if the limit(s) for each gear or fishery are not exceeded when operating in that fishery or with that gear. The limits are not additive; the vessel may not retain a separate trip limit for each fishery. (The provisions at IV.A.(11) do not apply.) * * * * *

Classification

These actions are authorized by the regulations implementing the FMP, and are based on the most recent data available. The aggregate data upon which these actions are based are available for public inspection at the office of the Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS (see ADDRESSES) during business hours.

NMFS finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b) (B), because providing prior notice and opportunity for comment would be impractical. It would be impractical because the pink shrimp fishery begins April 1, 2000, and affording additional notice and opportunity for public comment would impede the due and timely execution of the agency's function of managing fisheries to achieve OY.

NMFS also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) (3), because such a delay would be contrary to the public interest. This action should be implemented at the beginning of a cumulative trip limit period to avoid confusion and reduce the potential that fishers will exceed the appropriate limits. For these reasons good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness.

These actions are taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(b)(1), and are exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

[[Page 17807]]

Dated: March 31, 2000. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00-8376Filed3-31-00; 3:40 pm]

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

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Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Permits

Groundfish categories.

There are two categories of Northeast groundfish:

• Those requiring regulated mesh: Cod, haddock, yellowtail flounder, pollock, redfish (ocean perch), winter flounder (blackback), American plaice (dab), witch flounder (grey sole), windowpane flounder (sand dab), white hake, Atlantic halibut, and Atlantic wolffish.
• Others: Silver hake (whiting), red hake (ling), offshore hake, and ocean pout.

Limited Access Permit Categories

These permits may only be issued to vessels that have previously held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. A vessel owner has 45 days from the first effective date of their permit within a permit year to make a change to the Northeast multispecies permit category. Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. 

Category A: Days-At-Sea

This category includes all gear types except dredge gear. An operational VMS is required to be on board the vessel to fish for groundfish under a Northeast multispecies DAS or on a sector trip.

Category C: Small Vessel Exemption

Small vessels are those less than or equal to 30 feet. This category includes all gear types except dredge gear.

Category D: Hook Gear

Vessels in this category may not change category. This category is limited to handlines (gear code 911), rod and reel (gear code 912), tub trawl (gear code 913) and longlines (gear code 920) gear only. An operational VMS is required to be on board the vessel to fish for groundfish under a Northeast multispecies DAS or on a sector trip.

Category E: Combination Vessels

This category includes all gear types except dredge gear and is only applicable for vessels that have a limited access scallop permit. Vessels in this category may not change category. An operational VMS is required to be on board the vessel to fish for groundfish under a Northeast multispecies DAS or on a sector trip.

Category F: Large Mesh Individual DAS

Category A (Individual DAS) or E (Combination) vessels may elect this category for the entire year provided the vessels meet the following requirements. Category A DAS for vessels fishing under this permit category will be increased by 36%. These vessels must fish with either gillnets or trawl nets having a minimum of 8.5-inch square or diamond mesh when fishing in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, or Southern New England Regulated Mesh Areas, and 7.5-inch diamond or 8.0-inch square mesh when fishing in the Mid-Atlantic Regulated Mesh Area. This category is limited to gear types/codes 120, 210, 220, 310, 320, 330 and 700 only. An operational VMS is required to be on board the vessel to fish for groundfish under a Northeast multispecies DAS or on a sector trip.

This category is limited to rod and reel (gear code 912), handline (gear code 911) or tub trawl (gear code 913) gear only. Vessels may not change category. 

A Handgear A vessel in the common pool must declare its trips using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, unless it intends to fish in more than one broad stock area (BSA) on a single trip, in which case, it would need a VMS unit to declare its trips.

Open Access Permit Categories

This category includes rod and reel (gear code 912), handline (gear code 911) or tub trawl (gear code 913) gear only.

Category I: Charter Party

The vessel may possess and land multispecies in the EEZ when carrying passengers for hire (See page 3, additional documents required). This category is limited to rod and reel (gear code 912) and handline (gear code 911) gear only.

Category J: Scallop Multispecies Possession Limit

The vessel may possess and land up to 300 lb of regulated species while fishing under a scallop DAS. Vessel must have a Limited Access Scallop Permit (Categories 2–9) to qualify for this category. This category includes all gear types.

Category K: Open Access Multispecies

The vessel may participate in an exempted fishing program to fish for small-mesh multispecies such as silver hake (whiting), red hake (ling), or offshore hake, among other species. This category includes all gear types.

Species Covered By This Permit

• Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish)

How to Apply

All permits are free of charge. Go to  Fish Online  to apply online.

For assistance, please contact our Permit Office by emailing us at  [email protected]  or by calling (978) 282-8438.

What Happens After You Submit

After we process an online permit application, you will need to print your permit from your Fish Online account.  We will not be mailing paper permits back to you once your permit has been issued.

Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on 04/12/2022