The deadline for scoping comments on Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan has been extended from March 1, 2012 to April 30, 2012.
The Council agreed to hold scoping hearings based on concerns related to maintaining the diverse makeup of the groundfish fleet in the Northeast, as well as an interest in preserving active and thriving fishing ports. If adopted, measures could impose limits on the amount of fish allocations that individuals or groups of individuals may control.
To that end, the Council has announced its intent to gather information and ask for suggestions about the range of issues that could be addressed by the Council and possibly included in its Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Management Plan.
Written comments on Amendment 18 must be received by 5 p.m., EST on April 30, 2012 and may be:
· mailed to the Council office at 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950;
· faxed to 978/465-3116; or
· emailed to: Groundfish.Amendment18@noaa.gov (attention/subject line: Groundfish Amendment 18 scoping comments).