The Council Report summarizes major issues voted on or discussed at each regularly scheduled meeting of the NEFMC. Its 18 members met most recently on January 31-February 2, 2012 in Portsmouth, NH.
At its February meeting, the Council addressed issues related to sea scallop, groundfish, monkfish, and small mesh fisheries management, as well as cooperative research and enforcement. It also discussed actions related to the Touchstone Report, Review of the New England Fishery Management Process, prepared by Mr. Preston Pate and the SRA Consulting Group.
Additionally, a number of presentations were received on the following topics:
• A review of the white paper titled Fishery Management Plan Performance Evaluation Plan prepared in response to the Touchstone Report;
• A Bureau of Energy Management update about projects and proposals in New England;
• Briefings about improvements to the catch estimates provided through NOAA’s Marine Recreational Information Program; and
• A solicitation for comments from NOAA’s Highly Migratory Species Division concerning its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Fishery Management Plan Amendment that would consider catch share management for the Atlantic shark fisheries.
Read the complete updated Council Report for February 2012