TNC ME Campaign Impact Report 2023 pages - Flipbook - Page 8
CLIMATE & OCEANS
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF FISHERIES
IN NEW ENGLAND
As a voting member of the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC), TNC Maine’s Oceans Program
Director Geoff Smith plays a leadership role in advancing fisheries rules and policies that benefit nature and people
in a changing climate.
For example, in 2022, Geoff helped to broker an agreement that resulted in the NEFMC formally recognizing
the critical ecological importance of Coxes Ledge by designating it as a Habitat Area of Particular Concern. Coxes
Ledge lies just south of Cape Cod, and the ledge and surrounding waters are especially important habitat for
scallops, Atlantic cod, and other species.
Designating Coxes Ledge as a “Habitat Area of Particular Concern” does not close it to fishing, but it does ensure
that any future development projects—such as offshore wind infrastructure or aquaculture projects —will receive
greater scrutiny to help ensure ecological values are protected.
Improved management policies like these are yielding results. Based on the most recent round of fishery stock
assessments, six groundfish stocks have now reached their sustainable population targets, up from four in 2019!
Our Join Maine campaign set a goal of rebuilding eight groundfish stocks by 2024, and thanks to your support, we
are well on our way.
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8 | A TOUR OF YOUR IMPACT