The Council Process
Amendment and Framework Development
Each fishery managed by the Council has a fishery management plan (FMP) outlining the characteristics of the fishery and how it is managed. The procedure for changing Federal fishing regulations follows a standardized and transparent process. There are two main ways the Council can make changes to an FMP.
Major changes to FMPs are developed and implemented through FMP Amendments. The amendment development process requires a minimum of three Council meetings, although more complex amendments can take several years to complete. The Council usually holds two rounds of public hearings to gather public input on an amendment – scoping hearings are held early in the amendment development process, and public hearings are held after the range of alternatives has been identified. This document describes the timing and steps involved in developing a new FMP or major amendment.
Minor changes and modifications to existing measures can be completed through Framework Adjustments. While amendments may take several years to complete and address a variety of issues, frameworks can be completed in as little as 6‐8 months and address one or a few issues in a fishery. Each of the Council’s FMPs specifies the range of management options that may be added or modified via frameworks. This document provides additional details on the framework development process.
Once the Council has taken final action on an amendment or framework, it is submitted to NOAA Fisheries for a formal review and rulemaking process. Click on the graphics below to learn more about the amendment and framework development processes.
Annual Specifications and Management Measures
This section is coming soon.