WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) Sept. 26, 2011 – Five months ago, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) released a report compiled by Preston Pate and SRA-Touchstone Consulting Group which noted that "Fisheries management in New England is beset with problems and challenges that are characteristic of fisheries management in general but may be even more acute in this area now due to concurrently changing factors of law, management programs, and economics."
At a New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Mystic, Connecticut last April, NOAA's Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, Eric Schwaab, announced steps the agency planned to take in response to the initial results and recommendations from an independent review of the fishery management process in New England. He also opened an informal 30-day public comment period on the report.
Pat Kurkul (NOAA/NMFS Regional Administrator) and Frank Almeida (NEFSC Acting Science and Research Director) addressed the Council's meeting today on the Regional office and Science Center initiatives; Patricia Fiorelli (Council staff) spoke on about improving communications with stakeholders; and Rip Cunningham addressed the development of a shared vision and strategy to guide the management process
Read the Preston Pate and SRA-Touchstone Consulting Group report
Touchstone Report – Graph of Councils
NEFMC Presentation: NEFMC Response to Touchstone Report
NMFS Presentation: September 26, 2011 Response to Management Review
Letter from NMFS to NEFMC re: Management Review
Guidelines For Public Comments at Meetings