APPENDIX C

Workshop Goals and Objectives

Goal: Evaluate the impact of fishing gear used in federally regulated fisheries on habitats of the Northeast shelf ecosystem, and ways to reduce impacts.

Objective 1: Peer review background document prepared by the Workshop Steering Committee.

Objective 2: Evaluate the applicability of national and international fishing gear effects research to the Northeast.

Objective 3: Evaluate the strength of evidence regarding the effects of different types of gear and fishing practices on marine habitats in the Northeast.

Objective 4: Identify and evaluate types of management measures that could reduce the impacts of fishing gear on marine habitats in the Northeast.

Objective 5: Provide advice and recommendations to the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils for minimizing adverse effects of fishing gear on marine habitats in the Northeast.