Alternative Gear Marking Framework

This joint omnibus framework action will consider revisions to gear marking regulations to allow the use of fixed gear without a persistent buoy line, also called on-demand fishing gear, in all New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council fishery management plans.

Spiny Dogfish Accountability Measures Framework

The spiny dogfish FMP currently requires pound for pound paybacks of any Annual Catch Limit overages as an accountability measure (AM). This action considers if there are some circumstances where the current strict paybacks may be excessive, and if modified/relaxed payback AMs may be sufficient.

Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment

This amendment will consider options for managing for-hire recreational fisheries separately from other recreational fishing modes (referred to as sector separation), as well as options related to recreational data collection and reporting.

Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda

This joint MAFMC-ASMFC action will consider an improved process for setting recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. This is a follow-on action to the Harvest Control Rule Framework/Addenda.

Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment

This action will concurrently conduct the 5-year EFH review required under the Magnuson Stevens Act while amending fishery management plans for the Council, as needed.

Recreational Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation

The Council is conducting a management strategy evaluation (MSE) which will evaluate different management strategies designed to minimize discards in the recreational summer flounder fishery. Development of this MSE is part of the continued implementation of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) structured framework process.