Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Monkfish Fishery; Scoping Process

Resumen

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) announces its intent to prepare an amendment (Amendment 6) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for monkfish (Lophius americanus) and an EIS to analyze the impacts of any proposed management measures. The purpose of Amendment 6 is to consider one or more catch share management approaches for the monkfish fishery, including, but not limited, to Individual Fishery Quotas (IFQs), sectors, and/or community quotas. The NEFMC is initiating a public process to determine the scope of issues and range of alternatives to be addressed in Amendment 6 and its EIS. The purpose of this notification is to alert the interested public of the commencement of the scoping process and to provide for public participation in compliance with environmental documentation requirements.