March 16, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Today, NOAA Fisheries announces that the proposed Amendment 17 to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan is available for public review and comment.  

Amendment 17:

• Establishes a cost recovery program for the individual transferable quota (ITQ) fisheries;
• Makes administrative changes to how biological reference points are incorporated into the management plan; and 
• Removes the optimum yield range from the plan

For more details, read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and the supporting documents available on our website.

Comments are due April 15, and may be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or by regular mail to:

John K. Bullard

Regional Administrator

NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

55 Great Republic Drive

Gloucester, MA  01930. 

Please mark the outside of the envelope: “Comments on Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Amendment 17.”

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel at 978-281-9175 or email jennifer.goebel@noaa.gov.