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Fishing for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
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This notice clarifies the current status of commercial fishing in the Canyons and Seamounts Monument by Fishermen in Atlantic HMS Fisheries.
A June 5, 2020 Presidential Proclamation (Proc. 10049; 85 FR 35793; June 11, 2020) has lifted the prohibition on commercial fishing in the Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument that was implemented in a 2016 Presidential Proclamation (Proc. 9496). Given the 2020 Proclamation, commercial fishing for Atlantic HMS is therefore allowed in the area, to the extent consistent with other management measures in place. This includes compliance with applicable federal regulations and other legal requirements. Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed by NMFS under federal regulations in accordance with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan, as amended.
NMFS approved the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment on November 20, 2019, which establishes a deep-sea coral protection area that complements the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area implemented by the Mid-Atlantic Council in 2016. NMFS is preparing a rulemaking to implement the Amendment that, if finalized, would reduce the impacts of commercial fishing gear on deep-sea corals in New England waters. Specifically, the Amendment proposes to prohibit use of bottom-tending commercial fishing gear within the designated Deep Sea Coral Protected Areas while limiting impacts to current fisheries. Given that the Amendment only addresses bottom-tending gear, we do not anticipate that commercial and recreational fishing for Atlantic highly migratory species with gears other than bottom-tending gear would be affected under this Amendment.
If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact staff in the HMS Management Division in Gloucester, MA at (978) 281-9260.
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Fishery Bulletins and Notices
Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations directory to learn more about recent federal management actions affecting Atlantic highly migratory species.
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