Saving Seafood

NEFMC Council Update – May 8, 2018

New England Fishery Management Council

May 8, 2018 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:   

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) recently implemented or released announcements about several actions that were developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) or have Council involvement. The actions relate to groundfish, skates, monkfish, and Atlantic sea scallops. Here they are at a glance, followed by a list of upcoming New England Council committee meetings and Atlantic herring public hearings.

GROUNDFISH:  NOAA Fisheries implemented the following groundfish-related actions in time for the May 1 start of the 2018 fishing year.

SKATES:  The New England Council developed Framework Adjustment 5 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan, which contains 2018-2019 specifications and management measures. At the end of April, NMFS announced that the framework would not be in place by the May 1 start of the 2018 fishing year and, as such, the fishery would continue to operate under 2017 regulations until further notice. Framework 5 proposes to allow possession of barndoor skates in the skate wing fishery under certain constraints. IMPORTANT: Possession of barndoor skates currently is prohibited until Framework 5 is implemented. The agency anticipates publishing a proposed rule later this spring. More information about Framework 5 is available at Council action and Skate Framework 5.

MONKFISH:  NOAA Fisheries announced that, on June 4, the agency will implement specifications for the 2018 monkfish fishing year. Days-at-sea allocations, possession limits, and total allowable landings will be the same as those implemented in 2017. The specifications are part of Framework Adjustment 10 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan, which was developed jointly by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils for fishing years 2017-2019. NOAA Fisheries approved the framework on July 12, 2017. View the latest permit holder bulletin at 2018 monkfish specs.

SCALLOPS:  The Council developed Framework Adjustment 29 to the federal Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. This framework contains management measures and specifications for the 2018 scallop fishing year and default measures for 2019, among other provisions.

  • NOAA Fisheries implemented Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Management Area measures on April 1, the start of the 2018 scallop fishing year. The permit holder bulletin is available at NGOM Management Area Open April 1.
  • Limited Access General Category (LAGC) fishermen harvested their 135,000-pound total allowable catch during the month of April. Effective May 2, NOAA Fisheries closed the NGOM area to LAGC fishermen but provided an exemption for: (1) Maine and Massachusetts vessels fishing exclusively in state waters; and (2) limited access vessels fishing “compensation trips” under the Scallop Research Set-Aside Program. Details are available at NGOM closed to LAGC.
  • NOAA Fisheries implemented all other measures in Scallop Framework Adjustment 29 on April 19. The agency issued two permit holder bulletins to explain allocations and measures that apply to:
  • Limited Access Scallop Vessels
  • LAGC vessels

SCALLOP AND HERRING STOCK ASSESSMENTS:  Members of the New England Council staff and relevant Plan Development Teams are serving on working groups that are preparing benchmark stock assessments for Atlantic sea scallops and Atlantic herring.

  • The Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s 2018 benchmark assessments website is located here.
  • The scallop and herring benchmark assessments will be peer reviewed June 26-29, 2018 during the 65thStock Assessment Workshop/Stock Assessment Review Committee (SAW/SARC) meeting. The science center will provide a presentation on the assessment results to the New England Council during the Council’s September 25-27 meeting in Plymouth, MA. The science center’s Northeast Regional SAW webpage can be found at SAW/SARC 65.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:  Many of the New England Council’s committees will be holding meetings throughout the rest of May and into June. Follow these links for details.

Learn more about the NEFMC by visiting their site here.