Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery and Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework 16 and Framework 39

Zusammenfassung

NMFS proposes regulations to implement concurrently Framework 16 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Scallop FMP) and Framework 39 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP (Multispecies FMP) (Joint Frameworks) developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). The Joint Frameworks would establish Scallop Access Areas within Northeast (NE) multispecies Closed Area I (CAI), Closed Area II (CAII) and the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area (NLCA). The NE multispecies closed areas are currently closed year-round to all fishing that is capable of catching NE multispecies, including scallop fishing. Measures are proposed to allow the scallop fishery to access the scallop resource within the NE multispecies closed areas, and ensure that NE multispecies catches by scallop vessels are consistent with the Multispecies FMP. The Joint Frameworks would also revise the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closed areas implemented under Amendment 10 to the Scallop FMP in order to make the areas consistent with the EFH closures under the Multispecies FMP, as established by Amendment 13 to the Multispecies FMP.