New Groundfish plan amendment may bring some suprises.

[MakoMike]

Some you might have seen ( I didn't) the notice in Yesterday's Federal Register that the NEFMC is starting work on a new amendment to the groundfish management plan. At discussions yesterday two relatively controversial points that we have discussed here in the past came to the surface for possible inclusion in any new amendment. They Are:

1) A proposal to prevent the entry of new Party/charter boats into recreational groundfishing.

and

2) To Require a permit or license for all recreational fishermen fishing for groundfish.

The period for public comment is open for the next sixty days and there may not be another public comment period before the entire amendment is finalized, so I would suggest that anyone who feels strongly about either of those two issues should submit their comments now!