Amendment 21 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
Photo Credit: Alessandro Duci
The Chub Mackerel Amendment established long-term conservation and management measures for Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) off the U.S. Atlantic coast by integrating this species as a stock in the fishery under the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The amendment established catch limits, accountability measures, and other conservation and management measures required for stocks “in the fishery.” The Council approved the amendment in March 2019, and a final rule was published on August 4, 2020.
Contact
Julia Beaty, (302) 526-5250, jbeaty@mafmc.org
Action Development Timeline and Status
August 2016: The Council approved the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment, which included an annual landings limit and a possession limit for chub mackerel. These temporary measures, set to expire 12/31/20, were the first regulations on chub mackerel fisheries off the east coast.
December 2016: The Council initiated an action to develop measures to formally manage Atlantic chub mackerel as a stock in the fishery under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP.
May 2017: The Council held six public scoping hearings.
July 2018: The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee approved an Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) level for upcoming years. Click here for more information.
December 2018/January 2019: The Council held five public hearings to collect public input on the draft Chub Mackerel Amendment. Read the public comment summary.
March 2019: The Council selected preferred alternatives and approved the Chub Mackerel Amendment for submission to the Secretary of Commerce. Click here for a summary of preferred alternatives.
March 2020: NMFS published a proposed rule and request for comments on March 9, 2020.
August 2020: NMFS published a final rule on August 4, 2020.
Documents
Listed in reverse chronological order
Final Documents
Amendment 21: Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
Final Rule, August 4, 2020
Proposed Rule, March 9, 2020
Public Hearings and Final Action
Press release on final action, March 2019
Staff memo on recommendations for final action, February 2019
Summary of February 2019 Committee meeting, February 2019
Summary of February 2019 AP meeting, February 2019
Public Comment Summary / All Public Comments (456 pages), January 2019
Public Hearing Document, November 2018
Alternative Development
Summary of the May 15 joint AP and Committee meeting, May 2018
Summary of April 27, 2018 FMAT meeting, April 2018
Summary of November 9, 2017 webinar on chub mackerel in HMS diets, November 2017
Staff Memo: Chub Mackerel Amendment Update, July 2017
Summary of June 19, 2017 FMAT meeting, including summary of available data
Scoping
Chub Mackerel Amendment Scoping Document, 4/21/2017
Scoping Comment Summaries, 6/5/2017