National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 8, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) announces its intent to prepare an amendment (Amendment 4) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Herring and to prepare an EIS to analyze the impacts of any proposed management measures. The goals of the amendment are to improve monitoring of catch in the Atlantic herring (herring) fishery and to manage the fishery at long-term sustainable levels, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The Council is initiating a public process to determine the scope of alternatives to be addressed in the amendment and EIS. NMFS is alerting the interested public of the commencement of the scoping process and providing for public participation in compliance with environmental documentation requirements.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application that would authorize the harvest of set-aside herring awarded to Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) through the 2008/2009 Atlantic Herring (herring) Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program should be issued for public comment. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made.