April 19, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The deadline to submit written comments on the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment is this Friday, April 23, 2021. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are developing this joint amendment to address a wide range of issues related to management of the Atlantic Bluefish fishery. The amendment contains alternatives to:
- Revise the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives;
- Modify the bluefish allocations between the commercial and recreational sectors;
- Modify the commercial allocations to the states;
- Initiate a rebuilding plan;
- Revise the quota transfer processes;
- Revise how the FMP accounts for management uncertainty; and
- Revise the de minimis provisions in the Commission’s FMP.
Details about the management alternatives being considered in this amendment are available at the following links:
- Public Hearing Document – an abbreviated version of the amendment which summarizes proposed management options and impacts
- ASMFC Draft Amendment – a more comprehensive management document that will resemble the Commission’s final amendment once approved
- Alternatives Quick Reference Guide – provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment
- Public Hearing Presentation on YouTube
Written Comments
Written comments may be submitted through April 23, 2021 by any of the following methods:
- ONLINE: Online Comment Form (recommended)
- EMAIL: mseeley@mafmc.org
- MAIL: Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
800 North State Street, Suite 201
Dover, DE 19901 - FAX: 302-674-5399
Please include “Bluefish Amendment” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Tips for Providing Public Comment
We value your input. To be most effective, we request that your comment include specific details as to why you support or oppose a particular alternative. Specifically, please address the following:
- Which proposed alternative(s) do you support, and which do you oppose?
- Why do you support or oppose the alternative(s)?
- Is there any additional information you think should be considered?
Contacts
If you have any questions, please contact:
- Matthew Seeley, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, mseeley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5262
- Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning@asmfc.org, 703-842-0714