Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP Goals/Objectives and Illex Permits Amendment (Amendment 22)

Amendment 22 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan proposed modifications to the permitting and management of the Illex squid fishery. These changes were intended to both reduce excess capacity in the fishery and reduce the negative effects from a race to fish in recent years.

Council Action: The Council took final action on this amendment during a webinar on July 16, 2020. Additional details on the selected alternatives are provided in the Draft Environmental Assessment.

NOAA Fisheries Review and Disapproval: On June 7, 2022 NOAA Fisheries published a notice of availability and requested public comments on the proposed amendment. On September 6, 2022, NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator, Mike Pentony, notified the Council that he was disapproving the majority of the provisions in Amendment 22:

Our review of Amendment 22 determined the amendment and supporting analyses do not demonstrate how the Council’s proposed action (1) meets the purpose and need of the Amendment and the goals and objectives of the FMP; (2) is consistent with National Standard 4 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which requires fishery conservation and management measures allocate fishing privileges fairly and equitably; (3) is consistent with National Standard 5 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which requires fishery conservation and management measures consider efficiency in the utilization of fishery resources; (4) is consistent with National Standard 6 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which requires fishery conservation and management measures take into account variations and contingencies in a fishery; or (5) is consistent with National Standard 7 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which requires fishery conservation and management measures minimizes costs to the extent practicable.

The revised FMP goals and objectives that were included in this action will be approved in a future Federal Register notice. Additionally, NOAA Fisheries intends to make the Council’s recommended clarification that Illex squid moratorium permits must report daily catch via the vessel monitoring system on Illex squid trips.

Council Response: In January 2023, the Council sent a letter to GARFO requesting additional explanation for the agency’s decision, particularly with respect to how Amendment 22 differs from the previously-implemented Amendment 20. This letter, along with GARFO’s response, are linked below.

• MAFMC to GARFO: Request for Additional Explanation of MSB Amendment 22 Disapproval (1/18/23)

• GARFO Response to MAFMC Re: Amendment 22 (3/8/23)

Next Steps: The Council may submit a revised amendment or consider a follow-up action. Additional updates will be posted on this page.

Documents

• NMFS Letter of Disapproval (9/6/22)

  • NOAA Fisheries Bulletin

• Notice of Availability (6/7/22)

• Amendment 22 Draft Environmental Assessment

• Press Release: Council Approves Changes to Management of Illex Fishery (7/20/20)

• Public Hearing Document - Full Version With Appendices (3/17/20)

• Hearing Announcement

• Public Hearing Presentation Video

• February 2020 Council Meeting Materials - scroll down to Tab 6

• November 2019 FMAT Meeting Summary

• October 2019 Council Meeting Materials - scroll down to Tab 4

• Meeting Materials for September 23, 2019 AP Meeting, including summary of September 12, 2019 Committee Meeting with updated requalification options.

• Meeting Materials for September 12, 2019 MSB Committee Meeting

• April 2019 FMAT Meeting Summary

• Written scoping comments, Draft Hearing Summaries

• Scoping Guide

Contact

Jason Didden, Fishery Management Specialist, jdidden@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5254