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Sending comments? Written comments must be received at the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) office no later than 8:00 a.m., Thursday, January 19, 2023 to be considered at this meeting. Please address comments to Council Chair Eric Reid or Executive Director Tom Nies at: NEFMC, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Email submissions should be sent to comments@nefmc.org. ** Written comments must address items listed on the agenda for this meeting or issues that will be brought up under the open period for public comment.

IMPORTANT: The Council will hold its January 2023 meeting at The Venue at Portwalk Place in Portsmouth, NH. A webinar option will be available for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person. The Council continues to follow all public safety measures related to COVID-19 and intends to do so for this meeting. Please participate remotely if you are experiencing COVID symptoms or do not feel well. Updates will be posted on the Council’s January 2023 meeting webpage.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Council’s “Guidelines for Providing Public Comments” can be found here. Anyone interested in speaking during the open period for public comment on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 12:15 p.m. should fill out the sign-up sheet on the table at the entrance to the Council meeting room. To speak remotely, email Janice Plante at jplante@nefmc.org to get on the list.

  • Here is the Council’s “Remote Participation Guide” with instructions for how to provide oral comments if you'd like to speak remotely on the webinar.
  • Are you on the webinar and having trouble? We have a Help Desk! Email us at helpdesk@nefmc.org.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

9:00 a.m. Closed Session (Council Chair Eric Reid) - Council discussion on Scientific and Statistical Committee appointments

9:30 Introductions and Announcements (Council Chair Eric Reid)

9:35 Reports on Recent Activities - Council Chair, Council Executive Director, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) Regional Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) General Counsel, Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA Enforcement, Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP)

10:45 North Atlantic Right Whales (Colleen Coogan, GARFO)

11:15 Engaging Mobile Gear Fleet to Visualize Ropeless Gear Positions (Brian Galvez, NEFSC Gear Research Team)

12:15 p.m. Sink Gillnet Measures for Protected Resources (Executive Director Tom Nies)

12:30 Lunch Break

1:45 NEFSC Cost Survey for Commercial Fishing Businesses (Greg Ardini, NEFSC Social Sciences Branch)

2:45 Habitat Committee Report (Council Chair Eric Reid)

4:00 Scallop Committee Report (Melanie Griffin)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

9:00 a.m. Addressing Uncertainty in Council Decision-Making (Executive Director Tom Nies; Dr. Steve Cadrin, UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology)

10:30 Monkfish Committee Report (Libby Etrie, SSC Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr)

12:15 p.m. Open Period for Public Comment - Opportunity for the public to provide brief comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda (please limit remarks to 3-5 minutes)

12:30 Lunch Break

1:45 Groundfish Committee Report (Rick Bellavance; SSC Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr)

4:30 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (Rick Bellavance; Sarah McLaughlin, NOAA Fisheries)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

9:00 a.m. Council Risk Policy (Executive Director Tom Nies)

9:30 Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary (Executive Director Tom Nies)

10:15 Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM) Committee (John Pappalardo; Madeleine Guyant, UMass Dartmouth)

11:15 Spiny Dogfish and Bluefish Research Track Stock Assessments (Dr. Russ Brown, NEFSC)

12:00 p.m. Council Harassment Prevention Policies (Executive Director Tom Nies)

12:30 Other Business

This meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 USC 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.