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Published: 2013

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The New England Fishery Management Council, in consultation with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, proposes to adopt and implement Amendment 5 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP) pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). This Final EIS presents the proposed action selected by the Council in Amendment 5, which relates to the goals and objectives outlined in the document. Amendment 5 was developed through a public process consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed action focuses on establishing a comprehensive catch monitoring program for the limited access herring fishery, addressing river herring bycatch in the herring fishery, establishing criteria for midwater trawl vessel access to groundfish closed areas, and adjusting other aspects of the fishery management program to keep the Herring FMP in compliance with the MSA. This FEIS document also includes a detailed description of the affected environment and valued ecosystem components (VECs), and analyses of the impacts of the proposed action on the VECs, as well as a cumulative effects analysis. It addresses the requirements of the MSA, NEPA, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), and other applicable laws and Executive Orders. Several alternatives to the proposed action and other management approaches were considered by the Council during the development of Amendment 5; the non-preferred alternatives are described and analyzed in this document as well, relative to the proposed action and relative to taking no action. Alternatives considered but rejected by the Council are also discussed.