December 11, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council will conduct two public scoping meetings by webinar in January and February 2021 on Amendment 5 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan. The purpose is to gather additional suggestions for how to improve management of the region’s skate fisheries that may go beyond or possibly not involve limited access.
The Council started working in 2017 to develop a limited access program for the skate bait and/or wing fisheries. In September 2020, the Council agreed to expand the scope of Amendment 5 to consider additional measures besides limited access that may: (1) prevent the triggering of incidental skate possession limits; (2) improve the precision and accuracy of catch data; and (3) better define skate fishery participants.
In early December, the Council approved a Supplemental Scoping Document. Next, the Council will collect both written and oral public comments during the supplemental scoping period, which will run from January 11 through February 12, 2021. More specifically, the Council is looking for input on:
- Other potential types of measures to Winter skate, the target species of the wing fishery, being sampled on a research trip. – Angela Cicia photo enhance skate management; and
- The original intent of the amendment to consider developing a limited access program for skates.