Correspondence/Amendment 5 Comments - New England Fishery ...

New England Fishery Management Council
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John Pappalardo, Chairman I
Paul J. Howard, Executive Director
Captain Vince O'Shea, Executive Director
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland St., Ste 2004-N
Arlington, VA2220I
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February 1,201,I
At its January 25-27,2011 meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council discussed
the development of Amendment 5 to the Atiantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and
approved a range of alternatives for further developmenlanalysis in the Amendment 5 Draft
Environmental lmpact Statement. The Amendment 5 altematives will consider several
management measures to address river hening bycatch, including:
o A comprehensive catch monitoring pro$am to improve real-time quota
monitoring/reporting, increase sampling, and address net slippage;
o Altematives for River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas and River Herring Protection
Areas, with corresponding management measures to increase monitoring/sampling,
implement long-term avoidance strategies, and/or close areas for river herring protection;
. Options for a river herring catch trigger, which would be associated with measures to
increase monitoring and/or protect river herring in specific oohotspot" areas; and
o A placeholder for a river herring catch cap, to be implemented through a framework
adjustment to the Herring FMP after the ASMFC completes its assessment of the river
herring stock complex.
We understand the importance of this issue and look forward to working with the ASMFC to
coordinate the long-term management of the herring fishery and continued efforts to reduce river
herring bycatch across all fisheries. If you have any questions, please contact me.
cc: Council members
Executive Director