January 6, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council met December 7-9, 2021 by webinar and covered a wide range of issues. Here are some of the highlights.
Spiny Dogfish: The Council supported two actions related to spiny dogfish, which is managed jointly by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. The Mid-Atlantic Council has the administrative lead for this fishery.
- The New England Council supported increasing the spiny dogfish trip limit from 6,000 pounds, which currently is in place, to 7,500 pounds; and
- As a 2022 dogfish priority, the Council supported pursuing a framework adjustment – at the lead of the Mid-Atlantic Council – to develop possible additional changes to the trip limit if warranted pending the results of the 2022 Spiny Dogfish Research Track Assessment.
The Council made these decisions after receiving a considerable amount of information, including:
- Dogfish actions taken by the Mid-Atlantic Council during its October 2021 meeting;
- Recommendations from the Spiny Dogfish Monitoring Committee, the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and the Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee, which includes representation from both Councils; and
- The 2021 Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report.