Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

• Main Authors: National Marine, Fisheries Service
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Dover; Arctica islandica; Ocean quahog
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.304.5157; http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/frdoc/10/10SCOQ2011-2013FishingQuotasEA.pdf

This document provides a summary of relevant information for recommending quotas for surfclams (Spisula solidissima) and ocean quahogs (Arctica islandica) in federal waters for 2011, 2012, and 2013. Management responsibility for these two species resides with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, based in Dover, Delaware. The management regime is detailed in the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery (MAFMC 1977) and subsequent Amendments. Amendment 8 (MAFMC 1988) provided the most substantial change in the management regime through introduction of Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs), which replaced a complex system of time and effort restrictions. Amendment 10 (MAFMC 1998) was approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1998, and provided more appropriate management measures for the small, artisanal fishery for ocean quahogs operating off of the northeast coast of Maine. Amendment 12 (MAFMC 1999) implemented a new overfishing definition for ocean quahogs, identified and described essential fish habitat for both species, implemented a framework adjustment process, and required Operator Permits. Amendment 13 (MAFMC 2003) was approved in 2004 and provided: a new surfclam overfishing definition, multi-year fishing