September 2023 Council Meeting - Calendar

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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, September 21, 2023 to be considered at this meeting. Please address comments to Council Chair Eric Reid 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 September 2023 meeting at Hotel 1620 in Plymouth, MA. 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 Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 4:30 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.

Monday, September 25, 2023

12:00 p.m. Introductions and Announcements (Council Chair Eric Reid)

12:05 Swearing-In of New and Reappointed Council Members (GARFO Regional Administrator Mike Pentony)

12:15 Election of 2023-2024 Officers

12:30 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), Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2:15 Regional EEJ Engagement Strategy (GARFO Regional Administrator Mike Pentony)

2:45 Whiting Report (Rick Bellavance)

3:15 Procedural Directive on MSA 304(f) (Mike Ruccio, NOAA Fisheries)

4:15 East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning (Staff)

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

9:00 a.m. Scallop Committee Report (Melanie Griffin)

10:30 Northeast Fisheries Science Center Fishery Independent Surveys (Dr. Kathryn Ford and Peter Chase, NEFSC)

12:30 p.m. Council Photo

12:45 Lunch Break

2:00 Northern Edge (Council Chair Eric Reid)

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

3:30 June 2023 Management Track Stock Assessments (Dr. Mike Simpkins, NEFSC)

4:15 Deep-Sea Red Crab (Dr. Lisa Kerr, SSC Chair; Dr. Willy Goldsmith, Pelagic Strategies)

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

9:00 a.m. Atlantic Cod Research Track Assessment (Working Group Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr; Dr. Mike Simpkins, NEFSC)

10:30 Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC) (U.S. Co-Chair Tara Trinko Lake, NEFSC)

11:00 Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (U.S. Co-Chair Daniel Salerno; SSC Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr)

11:30 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr)

12:00 p.m. Groundfish Committee Report Part 1 (Rick Bellavance)

12:30 Lunch Break

1:45 Groundfish Committee Report Part 2 (Rick Bellavance)

3:30 Risk Policy Working Group Report (Megan Ware)

4:30 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)

4:45 Draft Technical Guidance for National Standard 1 (Staff)

Thursday, September 28, 2023

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

10:00 North Atlantic Right Whales (Colleen Coogan, GARFO Protected Resources Division)

10:30 On-Demand Fishing Gear Conflict Working Group (Mike Pierdinock)

11:15 Monkfish/Dogfish Joint Action to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch (Matt Gates)

11:45 Monkfish Committee Report (Matt Gates)

12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 Skate Committee Report (Scott Olszewski)

2:00 Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Committee Report (John Pappalardo)

2:30 Initial Discussion on 2024 Council Priorities (Executive Director Cate O’Keefe)

3:45 Other Business