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NOAA Fisheries is releasing a draft Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries to meet the requirements of the May 27, 2021, Biological Opinion on 10 Fishery Management Plans in the Greater Atlantic Region and the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2.
The Action Plan, which was produced by the Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Working Group, includes a review of available information on Atlantic sturgeon bycatch and recommendations to NOAA Fisheries and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils on measures which should be considered for federal large mesh (greater than or equal to 7 inches) fisheries, including the monkfish, spiny dogfish, northeast multispecies, and skate fisheries.
The Action Plan will be presented at upcoming meetings of the Councils and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and a finalized version incorporating public feedback will be released in September.
Read the Action Plan as released today. Submit written comments via email to Spencer Talmage at Spencer.Talmage@noaa.gov or through the Google Form.
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