DANVERS, MA \u2013 The New England Fishery Management Council\u2019s habitat alternatives for the Gulf of Maine cover three distinct subregions \u2013 Eastern, Central, and Western \u2013 and include three options each for spawning area closures and Dedicated Habitat Research Areas (DHRAs).<\/p>\n
Here are the habitat management alternatives:<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Eastern Gulf of Maine<\/b> \u2013 The council has proposed three alternatives for this region with Alternative 2 being \u201cpreferred.\u201d\u00a0 The preferred alternative would designate two new year-round management areas \u2013 a \u201cMachias Habitat Management Area\u201d and a \u201cLarge Eastern Maine Habitat Management Area.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Under this alternative, the council is proposing one preferred option that would completely restrict the use of mobile bottom-tending gear in one or both of the management areas.\u00a0 Its second preferred option is to restrict \u201call gears capable of catching groundfish\u201d in addition to mobile bottom-tending gear.\u00a0 Lobster traps would not be impacted by the restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Central Gulf of Maine<\/b> \u2013 The council has proposed four alternatives for this region with Alternative 4 being \u201cpreferred.\u201d\u00a0 This alternative, when coupled with the council\u2019s preferred gear option, calls for a prohibition on the use of mobile bottom-tending gear in modified versions of the current Jeffreys Bank and Cashes Ledge habitat closure areas and the establishment of a new habitat management area on Ammen Rock, which, under this preferred alternative, would be closed to all fishing gear and activities except lobster trapping.\u00a0 And,<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM)<\/b> \u2013 The council has proposed eight alternatives here with Alternatives\u00a01, 7a, and 8 being preferred.\u00a0 In combination, these alternatives would retain the existing WGOM Habitat Closure Area and WGOM Closed Area as they are \u2013 so \u201cno action\u201d \u2013 but include an exemption for shrimp trawling in the northwestern portion of the WGOM Habitat Closure Area and define the current 12″ maximum diameter Inshore Roller Gear Restricted Area as a \u201chabitat management measure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The combined preferred habitat alternatives for the Gulf of Maine can be seen on the accompanying chart (this page).<\/p>\n
Read online\u00a0immediately and download for future reference.<\/p>\n [add_to_cart=4704]<\/p>\n DANVERS, MA \u2013 The New England Fishery Management Council\u2019s habitat alternatives for the Gulf of Maine cover three distinct subregions \u2013 Eastern, Central, and Western \u2013 and include three options each for spawning area closures and Dedicated Habitat Research Areas (DHRAs). Here are the habitat management alternatives: \u2022 \u00a0Eastern Gulf of Maine \u2013 The council … <\/p>\n![\"CFN_5_14cover\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/CFN_5_14cover-243x300.jpg\")
Read the rest and much, much more in the May issue of Commercial Fisheries News.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"