June 29, 2012 — The Council Report summarizes major issues voted on or discussed at each regularly scheduled meeting of the NEFMC. The Council’s 18 members met most recently on June 19-21, 2012 in Portland, ME.
At its June meeting, the Council addressed issues related to Atlantic herring, groundfish, small mesh multispecies, monkfish and habitat.
A number of presentations were received on the following topics and are available on the Council’s website, www.nefmc.org:
• An update on a new amendment to address Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology in NEFMC fishery management plans (Doug Potts, NERO);
• An overview of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s new social science data collection efforts (Dr. Tammy Murphy, NEFSC);
• A review of issues and work completed to date concerning the “state of the science” as it relates to climate change and its impact on fisheries in the Northeast (Dr. Jon Hare, NEFSC); and
• A summary of issues and a solicitation for comments as part of the scoping phase of the Amendment 7 (bluefin tuna management) to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species FMP; (Tom Warren, NERO).