Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 10/12/1999

American Lobster; Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

NMFS announces its intent to prepare an EIS to assess the impact on the human environment of possible management measures for the American lobster fishery in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This NOI requests public input in the form of written comments on issues that NMFS should consider in preparing the EIS. The document will evaluate recommendations made by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) for lobster management actions in Federal waters that complement management measures being taken by the states under the provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (ACFCMA). These recommendations include the evaluation of historical participation as a basis for restricting trap harvest of lobsters in the offshore EEZ, as well as in nearshore EEZ areas between New York and North Carolina. Additional action recommended by the Commission includes the implementation of vessel upgrade restrictions in the offshore EEZ fishery and a ban on lobster possession in certain Federal waters off the coast of New York. The purpose of these measures, in combination with other management actions already taken under the ACFCMA, is to end overfishing