This omnibus amendment increases management flexibility and consistency for all FMPs and applies to the management of 27 species in six FMPS including:
Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish)
Small-Mesh Multispecies (Whiting)
Atlantic Sea Scallop
Monkfish (in joint management with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council)
Atlantic Herring
Northeast Skate Complex
Red Crab
This omnibus action increases management flexibility and consistency across FMPs and helps prevent fishery delays, improves planning of Council actions, allows for a faster response to new information, and makes better use of Council resources. Specifically, it allows for changes to the specifications process, in-season adjustment authority, and preparation of Council reports and reviews.
Background: This action was approved by the New England Council at the September 2025 meeting and by the MAFMC at the October 2025 meeting. A preliminary submission was sent to GARFO on November 6, 2025, and a final submission on February 4, 2026. This action will help the Council respond to changing regional resources and capacity and better support scientific updates and regulatory processes. This omnibus amendment is administrative in nature and complies with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other applicable laws and Executive Orders.