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The federal government is changing some fishing rules to allow commercial fishermen to catch more skates.

Fishermen catch tens of millions of pounds of skates every year. They’re used for human food as well as bait. Boats bring the skates to the docks in Alaska, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other states on both coasts.

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration said Friday it’s allowing fishermen to bring 13% more skates to land starting May 1. That will increase the amount of skates that fishermen can bring to the docks for use as skate wing, a popular seafood item, to more than 26 million pounds this year.

May 1 marks the beginning of the new fishing year.

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.

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