ASMFC Releases Draft Addendum I to the Spiny Dogfish FMP for Public Comment Comment Accepted until September 26, 2005 The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved sending forward Draft Addendum I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Spiny Dogfish for public comment and review. The Draft Addendum proposes establishing a multi-year specification setting process for the spiny dogfish fishery for up to five years. Its intent is to streamline the annual specification process for spiny dogfish, thereby, reducing administrative costs while also providing fishermen with the ability to set long-term business plans and goals for their fishery operations. Under the current management system for spiny dogfish, the specification of commercial quotas and trip limits are conducted every year and apply only to the following fishing year. Lastly, Tthe Draft Addendum modifies the current FMP to allow for specification of total allowable landings (TALs) for the spiny dogfish fishery in any given year for up to five years. The three management options under consideration in the Draft Addendum are (1) status quo; (2) allow for multi-year management measures without annual review; and (3) allow for multi-year management with annual review. Implementation of Addendum 1 would provide the option, not the requirement, for the Commission to specify multi-year management measures. The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils have already taken similar action under Framework 1, recommending the adoption of multi-year management measures without annual review to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has scheduled the date and time of its public hearing; its details follow: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Monday, September 19, 2005; 7:00 PM Holiday Inn 55 Ariadne Road Dedham, MA 02026 Contact: Melanie Griffin at (617) 626-1528 The Board will meet in early November to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Copies of the Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at
ASMFC Releases Draft Addendum I to the Spiny Dogfish
FMP for Public Comment Comment Accepted until September 26, 2005
The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved sending forward Draft Addendum I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Spiny Dogfish for public comment and review. The Draft Addendum proposes establishing a multi-year specification setting process for the spiny dogfish fishery for up to five years. Its intent is to streamline the annual specification process for spiny dogfish, thereby, reducing administrative costs while also providing fishermen with the ability to set long-term business plans and goals for their fishery operations. Under the current management system for spiny dogfish, the specification of commercial quotas and trip limits are conducted every year and apply only to the following fishing year. Lastly, Tthe Draft Addendum modifies the current FMP to allow for specification of total allowable landings (TALs) for the spiny dogfish fishery in any given year for up to five years. The three management options under consideration in the Draft Addendum are (1) status quo; (2) allow for multi-year management measures without annual review; and (3) allow for multi-year management with annual review. Implementation of Addendum 1 would provide the option, not the requirement, for the Commission to specify multi-year management measures. The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils have already taken similar action under Framework 1, recommending the adoption of multi-year management measures without annual review to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has scheduled the date and time of its public hearing; its details follow: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Monday, September 19, 2005; 7:00 PM Holiday Inn 55 Ariadne Road Dedham, MA 02026 Contact: Melanie Griffin at (617) 626-1528 The Board will meet in early November to review public comment on the Draft Addendum and consider its final approval. Copies of the Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at
www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM Monday, September 26, 2005 and should be forwarded to Ruth Christiansen, Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (fax) or co******@as***.org (Subject line: Spiny Dogfish). For more information, please contact Ruth Christiansen at (202) 289-6400 or rc***********@as***.org.