NOAA Fisheries has published a notice of availability for the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus Amendment. This amendment would implement an annual landing limit, possession limits, and permitting and reporting requirements for certain previously unmanaged forage species and species groups within Mid-Atlantic Federal waters. The purpose of this action is to prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain forage species until the Council has adequate opportunity and information to evaluate the potential impacts of forage fish harvest on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem.
A proposed rule seeking comment on the implementing regulations for this amendment will publish soon.
Comments will be accepted through May 30, 2017. Please see the Notice of Availability for details and instructions for submitting comments.
For further information, contact Douglas Christel, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9141; fax 978-281-9135.