No-Fishing Zones Proposed for East Coast
NO FISHING ZONES PROPOSED IN NEFMC AMENDMENT 13 FOR EAST COAST
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS MESSAGE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
A ‘no-fishing zone’ option and various alternatives regarding where they should be sited have been included in the proposed Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Species managed under the plan include cod, haddock, pollock, yellowtail flounder, white hake, and winter flounder (blackbacks). The proposal is found in section 3.7 of Amendment 13. In the public hearing document, the proposal begins on page 65.
The first proposal is, "Should they be established?" and the second is "Where?".
No-Fishing zones may be established under what is called 'Level 1 Habitat Closure'. The document clearly states on page 67 that this option will, "ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISH NO-TAKE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS AND WOULD PROHIBIT THE USE OF ALL FISHING GEAR IN THESE CLOSURES. THIS LEVEL OF CLOSURE WOULD CLOSE THE AREA TO ALL FISHING GEAR, BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL."
If 'Level 1 Habitat Closure' is chosen, there are a series of maps showing various schemes for where closed areas would be sited. The maps begin on page 69 of the Amendment 13 public hearing document. There are several alternatives for where these areas will be established.
Here are the highlights:
Beginning 3 miles off the coast of Chatham, MA, extending north almost as far as Provincetown and out to 20 miles. About 900 square miles total.
Depending on location, beginning anywhere from 3 miles to 20 miles off the North Shore of MA and extending out about 20 miles. About 800 square miles total.
About 10 miles south of the western end of Nantucket and extending west to about 20 miles south of the western shore of Buzzards Bay and for 20 miles south. A total of about 800 square miles.
Another is about 15 miles due east of Montauk, or to think of it another way, 20 miles due south of the Southwest tip of Block Island, extending east to about 60 miles south of the western shore of Narragansett Bay and then heading due south for 40 miles. About 800 square miles total.
Another is off of New Jersey and Long Island. From the New Jersey perspective, this area would extend from about Asbury Park New Jersey to the tip of Sandy Hook beginning 3 miles from shore and extending out about 20 miles. From the Long Island perspective, this area would start about 10 miles offshore from the Western end of LI and continue east to the western end of Great South Bay and extending 20 miles beyond that. This area is 900 square miles.
Another would encompass the area off of New Jersey/New York known as 'The Mudhole'.
Finally, an area that would begin about 20 miles off of Cape Hatteras. From North to South, this area runs from about Manteo to Ocracoke Island and extends about 40 miles out to sea for a grand total of 800 square miles.
The public hearings are underway. See the list below of the remaining hearings.
If you are attending the public hearings, demand that the New England Council reject 'Level 1 Habitat Closures' for all areas.
NEFMC is accepting comments via email until October 15th. Send your comments to:
<comments@nefmc.org>
In the subject line, NEFMC request that comments be labeled, "Comments on Groundfish Amendment 13".
PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE
Hyannis, MA
Monday, September 15th
2:00pm
(Recreational Issues at 7:00pm)
Gloucester, MA
Monday, September 22
4:00pm
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Tuesday, September 23rd
2:00pm
(Recreational Issues at 7:00pm)
Ellsworth, Maine
Wednesday, September 24
5:00pm
Portland, Maine
Thursday, September 25
4:00pm
Fairhaven, MA
Tuesday, September 30
4:00pm
Michael J. Doebley
Deputy Director for Government Affairs
Recreational Fishing Alliance
1-888-Join-RFA
|
Linear Mode
