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Division of Marine Fisheries Stakeholder Meeting
January 12, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Division of Marine Fisheries will host a stakeholder meeting at 6PM on Thursday, January 12, 2023 to address the management of the commercial menhaden fishery. The meeting will be held in the main conference room at DMF’s Annisquam River Field Station located at 30 Emerson Avenue in Gloucester, MA 01930.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss recent fishery performance and changes in the overarching interstate fishery management plan in order to inform potential regulatory and policy changes for the upcoming 2023 fishing season. Recent actions by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have increased the 2023 coastwide total allowable catch (TAC) by about 20% compared to 2021-2022; enhanced Massachusetts’ state share of the TAC; eliminated purse seines as an allowable gear in the incidental catch and small-scale fishery; and adopted additional accountability measures for landings after a quota closure. Additionally, DMF has received preliminary feedback from stakeholders regarding quota management; enforcement and compliance challenges; Boston Harbor fishery access and net restrictions; and avoiding user group conflicts. DMF seeks additional input on these and any other issues germane to the commercial menhaden fishery in 2023 and beyond.
For more information about these stakeholder meetings, please contact Nichola Meserve (nichola.meserve@mass.gov; 978-619-0017)