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The Council is developing separate amendments to each FMP to implement the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) and Accountability Measure (AM) requirements contained in National Standard 1 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The table below provides a summary of the FMP amendments, showing the vehicle for amendment, species, and the estimated dates of amendment completion and implementation.
Fishery
Management
Plan
|
Vehicle
|
Species
|
Completion
Date
|
Implementation
Date
|
Northeast Multispecies FMP
|
Amendment 16
|
All groundfish
|
July 2009
|
May 1, 2010
|
Atlantic Herring FMP
|
Amendment 4
|
Atlantic Herring
|
December 2009
|
January 1, 2011
|
Sea Scallop FMP
|
Amendment 15
|
Scallops
|
July 2010
|
March 1, 2011
|
Monkfish FMP
|
Amendment 5
|
Monkfish
|
August 2010
|
May 1, 2011
|
Skate FMP
|
Amendment 3
|
Thorny and
winter skate
|
May 2009
|
December 2009
|
Small Mesh FMP
|
Amendment 19
|
Silver hake,
red hake,
and offshore hake
|
August 2010
|
May 1, 2011
|
Red Crab FMP
|
Amendment 5
|
Red crab
|
October 2010
|
May 1, 2011
|
Additional details on the Northeast Multispecies, Skates and Atlantic Herring FMP amendments are provided in the subsequent sections.
With the approval of Amendment 13 to the Multispecies FMP in 2004, the New England Council adopted formal rebuilding programs for overfished groundfish stocks as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The rebuilding plans have been updated periodically through a series of amendments and framework adjustments to the FMP. Amendment 13 adopted a broad suite of management measures aimed at achieving fishing mortality targets that meet the rebuilding target on schedule, along with other requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Amendment 16 proposes to modify management measures to stay on target with the rebuilding programs adopted under Amendment 13, as well as adopt formal rebuilding strategies for stocks recently determined to be overfished and implement the new MSRA requirements by establishing a mechanism for specifying acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limits (ACLs), and accountability measures (AMs). Amendment 16 may also substantially modify the administrative procedures for fishing sectors and may authorize up to seventeen separate groundfish fishing sectors. The Council took initial action to approve Amendment 16 in June because of the requirement to implement new measures by May 1, 2010 for all stocks currently subject to overfishing. Final approval of the groundfish annual catch limits amendment is expected at the November 17-19 Council meeting in Newport, RI.
In October, NMFS issued the notice of availability of the FMP amendment and accompanying draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Copies of the draft document can be found on the Council’s website at: http://www.nefmc.org/nemulti/index.html. Public comments on the draft are being accepted through December 22, 2009.
Skates FMP Amendment
Amendment 3 to the Skates FMP proposes a number of management measures to address the overfishing and overfished status of thorny skates as well as implementation of annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs). Amendment 3 also includes a new discussion and quantification of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and optimum yield (OY). Quantification of these variables was not previously possible in the Skate FMP, due to problems with catch data and missing life history information about skates.
For more information: Skates Draft Amendment 3
Atlantic Herring FMP Amendment
Atlantic sea herring is one of the most important and abundance forage fish stocks in the region, serving as prey for bluefin tuna, sharks, groundfish, whales and seabirds. Amendment 4 to the Atlantic Herring FMP aims to improve catch monitoring and ensure compliance with the ACL/AM requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), including modifications to the procedures used to set catch limits. Written comments on the Scoping Document for Amendment 4 to the Atlantic Herring FMP are being accepted until June 30, 2009.
For more information: Herring Amendment 4 – Scoping Document
NEFMC Meeting Schedule:
http://www.nefmc.org/calendar/index.html
Timeline
June 4-5, 2009
|
Herring Oversight Committee meeting
|
June 17, 2009
|
Groundfish Oversight Committee meeting
|
June 22-25, 2009
|
Council meeting in Portland, ME
|
July 2009
|
Proposed completion date for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP
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| August 10-11, 2009 |
Scientific and Statistical Committee meeting in Warwick, RI. |
| September 22-24, 2009 |
Council meeting in Plymouth, MA
|
| November 17-19, 2009 |
Council meeting in Newport, RI |
| December 2009 |
Proposed completion date for Amendment 4 to the
Atlantic Herring FMP and proposed implementation date for Amendment 3
to the Skate FMP |
May 1, 2010
|
Proposed implementation date for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP
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| July 2010 |
Proposed completion date for Amendment 15 to the Sea Scallop FMP
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August 2010
|
Proposed completion date for Amendment 5 to the Monkfish FMP and Amendment 19 to the Small Mesh FMP
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October 2010
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Proposed completion date for Amendment 4 to the Red Crab FMP
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January 11, 2011
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Proposed implementation date for Amendment 4 to the Atlantic Herring FMP
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March 1, 2011
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Proposed implementation date for Amendment 15 to the Sea Scallop FMP
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May 1, 2011
|
Proposed implementation date for Amendment 5 to
the Monkfish FMP, Amendment 19 to the Small Mesh FMP, and Amendment 5
to the Red Crab FMP
|
NEFMC Meeting Schedule
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Regions 