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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 23, 2025 to be considered at this meeting. Please address comments to Council Chair Rick Bellavance or Executive Director Cate O’Keefe 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 2025 meeting at The Venue at Portwalk Place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This will be a hybrid meeting with in-person participation, coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person.

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 Thursday, January 30, 2025 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 28, 2025

10:00 a.m. Executive Committee Closed Session (Council Chair Rick Bellavance) - Executive Committee discussion on Council resources

12:30 p.m. Introductions and Announcements (Council Chair Rick Bellavance)

12:35 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, Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)

1:45 Risk Policy Working Group (Megan Ware)

2:30 Habitat Committee Report (Melissa Smith)

4:30 Council Operations Handbook (Staff)

4:45 Council Adjourns

4:50 Closed Session (Council Chair Rick Bellavance) - Council discussion on Scientific and Statistical Committee appointments

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

9:00 a.m. NEFSC Survey Update (Dr. Kathryn Ford, NEFSC)

10:30 Yellowtail Flounder Research Track Stock Assessment (Kristan Blackhart, NEFSC)

11:00 Marine Recreational Information Program (Dr. Katherine Papacostas, NOAA Fisheries)

12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:45 Groundfish Committee Report (Rick Bellavance)

3:15 Offshore Wind and Fisheries Research (Dr. Reneé Reilly, Executive Director, ROSA)

5:15 Council Adjourns

6:00 Council Public Outreach and Offshore Wind/Fisheries Research Poster Session (AC Hotel at 299 Vaughn Street, a 4-minute walk from the Council meeting room at The Venue at Portwalk Place) - Two events combined: (1) Council Public Outreach, an informational exchange to foster open lines of communication among Council members, staff, industry, and meeting attendees with all welcome and light snacks provided; and (2) poster session on fisheries and habitat research in offshore wind areas plus port hours by offshore wind developers

Thursday, January 30, 2025

9:00 a.m. Atlantic Herring Committee Report (Cheri Patterson)

11:30 Scallop Committee Report (Melanie Griffin)

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 On-Demand Fishing Gear Conflict Working Group (Mike Pierdinock)

1:00 Other Business

Consistent with 16 USC 1852, this meeting will be recorded. Audio files will be available on the website within two-to-three days of the meeting’s conclusion.