June 17, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
Newport, RI — June 16, 2015 — On the first day of its June meeting in Newport, RI, the New England Fishery Management Council approved a plan to address the adverse impacts of fishing gear used in the groundfish, clam, and scallop fisheries operating on Georges Bank. In reconfiguring existing closed areas, the Council’s proposal will allow fishing opportunities on healthy stocks for the economically strapped groundfish fleet, while also allowing greater access to a portion of the Georges Bank sea scallop resource that has not been open to the fishery since 1994.
Currently, there are close to 7,000 square miles of habitat and groundfish closures on Georges Bank and in the Great South Channel. The measures selected by the Council will maintain some portions of the existing closures, and open others, resulting in 2,000 square miles of habitat closures going forward. Generally, the closures recommended by the Council include more complex seabed habitat than the existing closed areas. The Council approved the Georges Bank approach by a seven yes and six no vote, with two abstentions and one recusal. Two groundfish spawning closures would also be in place between February and April.
Known as the Habitat Omnibus Amendment, the Council’s proposed action evaluated the effectiveness of existing closed areas throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank and, using the most recent scientific information available, determined if, when and where other closures might be more beneficial in terms of habitat conservation.
The Habitat Amendment will be submitted to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service for final approval, and should be implemented sometime next year.