Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 (OEFHA2) & Public Hearing Document

The NEFMC and the Maine DMR have suggested that those interested in learning about the Amendment read the Public Hearing Document and come to the hearings prepared to make comments that will be recorded and included in what the NEFMC considers when selecting alternatives that will be part of the Habitat management plan. The OEFHA2 Public Hearing Document can be read and attendance can also be via the webinar on January 05, 2015. See hearing and webinar dates and locations below.

The first four pages of the Public Hearing Document is a summary. However, reading the whole Document provides a more comprehensive understanding. The reading is slow going and data dense. The Habitat Amendment has been in development a long time and reopresents a significant change in direction for habitat management.

While the OEFHA2 is focused on habitat management it’s broader implications will include restrictions on a range of gear types and fisheries. Some areas will have restrictions on any gear that catches groundfish. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is currently discussing whether lobster traps qualify as gear that catches groundfish. Groundfish occasionally get caught in lobster traps, but that is not what they are designed to do.

There is pressure from some environmental groups to include lobster tarps as gear that catches ground fish, in particular cod. Lobstermen and the Maine DMR are awaiting the ASMFC call on this large wrinkle in habitat management.

OEFHA2 MEETINGS: Mon., Jan. 5 via webinar. Register at http://bit.ly/1yDgJux. A summary document can be found at nefmc.org/NEFMC-Habitat- Doc-Web-1.pdf. In Maine, there will be public hearings on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at 6 p.m. at Jeff’s Catering and Event Center in Brewer; and Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

Read the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 PUBLIC HEARING DOCUMENT.