2024-04504. New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Groundfish Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES:

This hybrid meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20, at 9 a.m.

ADDRESSES:

Meeting address: This meeting will be held at Hampton Hotel, 20 Hotel Drive, South Kingstown, RI 02879; telephone: [phone].

Webinar registration URL information:https://zoom.us/​webinar/​register/​WN_​-EbmHRCiR2ymGtC40zwOoA.

Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Agenda

The Groundfish Committee will meet to receive recommendations from the Recreational Advisory Panel, Groundfish Advisory Panel, and Groundfish Plan Development Team. They will receive an update on a preliminary analysis of fishery data, draft `roadmap' for changes to the fishery management plan, and overview of regional workshops; provide feedback on next steps. The Committee will also receive an update on a preliminary analysis to review the yellowtail flounder (Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic and Georges Bank) and windowpane flounder (northern and southern) sub-ACLs and AM triggers applied to the scallop fishery. They will review the current list of Council research priorities and suggest changes or additions to the list. Other business will be discussed as necessary.

Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: February 28, 2024.

Rey Israel Marquez,

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.