Environmental Assessment for Northeast Multispecies FMP Framework Adjustment 69

The New England Fishery Management Council, in consultation with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, has prepared Framework Adjustment 69 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which includes a final environmental assessment that presents the range of alternatives to achieve the goals and objectives of the action. The proposed action focuses on setting specifications for certain groundfish stocks. The document describes the affected environment and valued ecosystem components and analyzes the impacts of the alternatives on both. It addresses the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and other applicable laws.