July 2, 2019 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Draft Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through September 14, 2019.
The Excessive Shares Amendment considers a variety of approaches to ensure that no individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferrable quota (ITQ) privileges. In addition, this action includes measures to revise the process for specifying multi-year management measures, require periodic review of the excessive share cap level, and allow adjustments to be made under the frameworkable provisions of the FMP. Lastly, this action may also revise the management objectives for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan.
Additional information is available at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment. A public hearing document will be posted no later than July 18.
Attend a Scoping Hearing
Public hearings will be held on the following dates:
- Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM: The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.
- Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM: Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at http://www.mafmc.org/council-events/2019/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment-public-hearing-2 prior to the meeting.
- Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM: LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.
- Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM: Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.
Submit Written Comments:
In addition to providing comments at any of the scoping hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on September 14, 2019. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
- ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;
- EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;
- MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or
- FAX to (302) 674-5399.
Please include “SCOQ Excessive Shares Amendment Comments” in the subject line if using email or fax or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Please direct any questions about the amendment to José Montañez, jmontanez@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5258.