NOAA Fisheries has developed a draft policy intended to provide guidance on Council authority for stocks that extend across the geographic area of more than one Council, pursuant to §304(f) of the Magnuson Stevens Act. Given the Mid-Atlantic Council’s shared regional boundaries with two other East coast Councils, as well as the number of Mid-Atlantic stocks that extend beyond the Council region boundaries, this policy has the potential to directly impact a number of Mid-Atlantic Council fishery management plans. The Council is currently developing comments on the draft policy. Learn more here.