December 1, 2014 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:
The Department of Marine Resources will hold three public meetings to provide information on the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2.
This fishery management action will address habitat requirements for all fisheries managed by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEMFC) in federal waters and may impact Maine fishermen who operate in federal waters.
These meetings are informational only, not public hearings, but are intended to help inform industry members about what the proposed actions include and how they can provide input during the public comment period which ends in early January.
The amendment includes proposals for area closures for habitat protection, groundfish spawning, and research. Implications include the possibility of closures for the scallop, quahog, halibut, shrimp, herring and groundfish fisheries.
While lobster gear is not currently included in the list of gear potentially affected by the amendment, the possibility remains open that this could change as a result of public input and any supporting scientific information. The Council plans to work with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the coastal states in the Northeast on this issue, but very little information has been available to date.
Meetings will be held December 9 at 5 p.m. at the Casco Bay Lines on Commercial Street in Portland, December 10 at 5 p.m. at the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium, and December 15 at 5 p.m. at the University of Maine Machias, Room 102 in the Science Building.
A schedule of public hearings hosted by NEFMC to solicit public comment can be found at public hearing schedule notice.pdf. There will be one held Monday, January 5 via webinar. Register at http://bit.ly/1yDgJux. A summary document can be located by clicking here summary of proposed habitat measures.pdf.
In Maine, there will be public hearings on Tuesday, January 6 at 6 p.m. at Jeff’s Catering and Event Center in Brewer and Wednesday, January 7 at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.
For more information, call Pat Fiorelli at the New England Fishery Management Council at 978-465-0492, ext. 106.