January 31, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
On January 30, midway through its three-day meeting in Portsmouth, NH, the New England Fishery Management Council covered a wide range of groundfish-related issues. These included:
- The Fishery Data for Stock Assessment Working Group’s final report;
- The peer review of the working group’s report by a subpanel of the Scientific and Statistical Committee;
- A brief overview of the December 17, 2018 meeting of the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP), which included an announcement that NTAP is soliciting candidates through February 22, 2019 to serve on the panel;
- A progress report on Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23;
- Consideration of whether the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) should approve a new lease-only groundfish sector called Mooncusser Sector, which the Council supported based on a recommendation from its Groundfish Committee that followed guidance on the process for new sectors;
- A short update on the Council’s Groundfish Catch Share Review – here’s the draft outline; and
- A number of recreational fishing issues.