2024-11751. 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 webinar meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel 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 meeting will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 9 a.m.

ADDRESSES:

Webinar URL information:https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/​meeting/​register/​tJcvceigrjMoHdT6FMrSt_​LLX8eyIkn3DHq7.

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 Scallop Advisory Panel will meet to discuss Northern Edge: Review and discuss draft alternatives for the Northern Edge Habitat-Scallop Framework. Recommend modifications to the draft alternatives and rationale. Provide general direction on preparation of this management action, as needed. Recommendations will be discussed during the June Council meeting. The panel will also discuss Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA): Develop research recommendations for the notice of funding opportunity announcement (NOFO). Discuss recommending two-year research priorities and consider longer-term enhancement project awards. They will also review Scallop specifications and management measures: Receive an update on the timeline and possible measures, including data on flatfish accountability measures and seasonal closures. This action will be initiated at the June 2024 Council meeting. Other business will be discussed, if 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 [phone], at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

Dated: May 23, 2024.

Diane M. DeJames-Daly,

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