The New England Fishery Management Council is conducting a review of the groundfish sector system, which is a catch share program under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
The evaluation period for this review is focused strictly on fishing years 2010 to 2015, spanning from May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2016. This period covers the first six years of the catch share program under Amendment 16 to the FMP. Information prior to program implementation also will be included for fishing years 2007 to 2009, covering May 1, 2007 through April 30, 2010.
The Council has contracted with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) to conduct a series of port meetings to solicit public comments about the review. The local area meetings, which will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will be held in the following locations:
· Point Judith, RI – August 15 at the Narragansett Office of Town Managers, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett
· New Bedford, MA – August 16 at Fairfield Inn and Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive
PORT MEETING QUESTIONS: Contact GMRI’s Patty Collins at (207) 228-1625, email pcollins@gmri.org
PORT MEETING FLYER: GMRI has produced a flyer with the meeting schedule and related information, which can be downloaded at Attend a Port Meeting.
WRITTEN COMMENTS: The Council also is collecting written comments until 5 p.m. EST on Monday, August 19. Submit comments by:
· Fax: (978) 465-3116
· Mail: Tom Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950
Label all comments as “Groundfish Catch Share Program Review.”
WHY IS THE COUNCIL CONDUCTING THIS REVIEW: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) catch share policy states that Councils periodically should review catch share programs to evaluate whether a program is meeting its goals and objectives. NOAA’s guidance is that “a formal and detailed review” should occur “no less frequently than once every seven years” for all limited access privilege
TIMELINE: During its September meeting [nefmc.org] in Gloucester, MA, the Council is expected to: (1) receive a summary of input from the public port meetings; and (2) receive a summary of written comments.
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