This omnibus amendment would increase management flexibility and consistency for all FMPs and apply 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
If approved, the omnibus action would increase management flexibility and consistency across FMPs and help prevent fishery delays, improve planning of Council actions, allow faster responses to new information, and make better use of Council resources. Specifically, it would allow 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, and the preliminary submission (sent to GARFO on November 6, 2025) is currently under review by GARFO. 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.