Bullard, John K. (John Kilburn)

"The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) made recommendations for 2013 specifications and management measures for the Atlantic mackerel (referred to simply as 'mackerel' hereafter), squid (Illex and longfin), and butterfish (collectively 'MSB') fisheries at its June 2012 meeting and herein submits them to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This document examines the impacts expected from implementation of these potential actions. The recommendations are consistent with the recommendations of the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee, which may be accessed at: http://www.mafmc.org/committees/science.htm. The SSC's ABC recommendations account for scientific uncertainty such that overfishing is unlikely to occur. The preferred specifications described in this document also address management uncertainties and optimum yield considerations raised by the MSB Monitoring Committee (NMFS and Council staff) or otherwise brought to the Council's attention."--Executive Summary (page 2).

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)