NOAA Fisheries Proposes Measures to Promote Fleet Diversity

NOAA Fisheries is proposing Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, as developed by the New England Fishery Management Council to promote fleet diversity in the groundfish fishery and enhance sector management. 

Amendment 18 proposes to limit the number of permits and annual groundfish allocation that an entity could hold in order to reduce future consolidation in the fishery. It also removes several effort restrictions to increase operational flexibility for limited access Handgear A vessels.

Read the proposed rule as published today in the Federal Register, and the supplemental document on our website.The comment period for the proposed rule closes on February 3, 2017.

Public comments on the Notice announcing the Amendment 18 are due February 6, 2017.

Submit your comments through the e-rulemaking portal or by mailing:

John Bullard, Regional Administrator
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

Please mark the envelope: "Comments on Northeast Multispecies Amendment 18."

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel at 978-281-9175 or jennifer.goebel@noaa.gov