NOAA Proposes Updates to Northeast Fishery Management Procedures

The National Marine Fisheries Service is asking for public comments on a proposal from the New England Fishery Management Council to update how it manages fisheries in the Northeast. The Council wants to give managers more flexibility and reduce regulatory burden.

Why it matters: This action does not change catch limits or open new areas to fishing. It changes the administrative procedures for how managers plan and update those limits. If approved, the changes would allow managers to set rules for longer periods and adjust them more easily, which could reduce the frequency of rulemaking paperwork. The practical effect depends on how managers use the new flexibility in future years.

Who it affects

• Commercial and recreational fishermen in the Northeast who rely on rules for monkfish, multispecies, skate, herring, scallop, and red crab.

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This notice comes from the National Marine Fisheries Service, part of the Commerce Department; check the Federal Register document for the exact comment deadline and full text of the proposal.

Agency: Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document