The new rules revise the Plan by eliminating the consequence closure strategy enacted in 2010, based on deliberations by the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team. NMFS explains that this action is necessary to prevent the improper triggering of consequence closure areas based on target harbor porpoise bycatch rates that no longer accurately reflect actual bycatch in New England sink gillnets due to fishery- wide changes in fishing practices. The new rules have an effective of September 30, 2013. Click here to read Federal Register notice of new rules.