NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on a proposed rule to implement the Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Framework Adjustment for the Mid-Atlantic Council's fishery management plans (FMPs). This action proposes to:
- Modify the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's risk policy to allow use of constant multi-year ABCs if the average overfishing probability adheres to the appropriate risk policy goal.
- Automatically incorporate new or updated biological data at the conclusion of stock assessment peer reviews for all the Mid-Atlantic Council's FMPs.
- Add regulatory language clarifying the assessment level designations for the Council's ABC control rule.
Read the proposed rule and supplemental documents.
Please submit comments either through the online e-rulemaking portal or by mailing your comments to:
John Bullard, Regional Administrator
National Marine Fisheries Service
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA, 01930.
Please mark the outside of the envelope, "Comments on the Proposed Rule for ABC Omnibus Amendment."
Comments must be received on or before August 18, 2017.