March 10, 2021

State Rep. Greg Howard: MAFMC & ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment

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State Rep. Greg Howard: MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment

STONINGTON- State Rep. Greg Howard wanted to remind his constituents that The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are seeking public comment on management options under consideration in the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment.

This amendment contains alternatives to:

Revise the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives;
Modify the bluefish allocations between the commercial and recreational sectors;
Modify the commercial allocations to the states;
Initiate a rebuilding plan;
Revise the quota transfer processes;
Revise how the FMP accounts for management uncertainty; and
Revise the de minimis provisions in the Commission’s FMP.

Comments may be provided at any of 5 virtual public hearings to be held between March 24 and April 8, 2021 or via written comment until April 23, 2021. We encourage you to visit the Council’s Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment web page or the Commission’s Public Input web page, where you can read the Public Hearing Document, the Draft Amendment, and watch the public hearing presentation (to be posted by March 12, 2021). The Council’s Public Hearing Document is an abbreviated version of the amendment which summarizes proposed management options and impacts.

The Commission’s Draft Amendment is a more comprehensive management document that will resemble the Commission’s final amendment once approved. Both documents contain identical options for public input, but each have been developed according to each management body’s differing requirements. Commenters need only to submit comment on one of the documents. We have also developed a Quick Reference Guide which provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment.

Virtual Hearing Schedule Interested members of the public are encouraged to provide oral comments at any of the following public hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your state or regional grouping, anyone is welcome to participate in any hearing.

Tuesday, March 30 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Connecticut and New York

Justin Davis justin.davis@ct.gov (CT), 860-447-4322 Maureen Davidson maureen.davidson@dec.ny.gov (NY), 631-444-0483

Thursday, April 1 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island

Nichola Meserve nichola.meserve@mass.gov (MA), 617-626-1531, Nicole Lengyel nicole.lengyel@dem.ri.gov (RI), 401-423-1940

Click link for webinar instructions: http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6033ed2bpr21-04_Bluefish-Amendment-Hearings.pdf