"This framework and Environmental Assessment (EA) presents and evaluates management measures and alternatives to achieve specific goals and objectives for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. This document was prepared by the New England Fishery Management Council and its Scallop Plan Development Team (PDT) in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). This framework was developed in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA, M-S Act) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the former being the primary domestic legislation governing fisheries management in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This document also addresses the requirements of other applicable laws"--Executive summary.

The Law Library presents the complete text of the Fisheries of the Northeastern United States - Amendment 15 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation) (NOAA) (2018 Edition). Updated as of May 29, 2018 NMFS hereby implements measures approved in Amendment 15 to the Scallop FMP (Amendment 15), which was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). Amendment 15 was developed primarily to implement annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) to bring the Scallop FMP into compliance with requirements of the MSA as reauthorized in 2007. Amendment 15 includes additional measures recommended by the Council, including: A revision of the overfishing definition (OFD); modification of the essential fish habitat (EFH) closed areas under the Scallop FMP; adjustments to measures for the Limited Access General Category (LAGC) individual fishing quota (IFQ) fishery; adjustments to the scallop research set-aside (RSA) program; and additions to the list of measures that can be adjusted by framework adjustments. NMFS has disapproved a provision that would have allocated additional scallop catch to the LAGC fleet because it was not consistent with National Standard 1 and the ACL requirement of the MSA. This ebook contains: - The complete text of the Fisheries of the Northeastern United States - Amendment 15 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation) (NOAA) (2018 Edition) - A dynamic table of content linking to each section - A table of contents in introduction presenting a general overview of the structure