After a day of conflicting reports, a reconsideration of the Scallop catch limits DOES NOT appear to planned for the agenda of the next NEFMC meeting. After a day of conflicting reports from New England to Capitol Hill, the most recent information suggest that a reconsideration of the Scallop catch limits is NOT planned for the agenda of the next NEFMC meeting.
The following is a timeline of events related to the question of whether or not the scallop catch limits passed in November by the New England Fishery Management Council would be placed on the agenda of the next Council meeting for reconsideration. The decision lies with the Council's Executive Committee.
The agenda is set 21 days in advance of each Council meeting. The next meeting starts on Tuesday, January 26, making the 21st day before the meeting January 5th.
In late December, the Council chair polled members of the executive committee to determine whether there was any objection to putting a reconsideration of the Scallop recommendation on the agenda for the January meeting in Portsmouth.
Today, Monday, January 4th at approximately 2pm, industry leaders received information from Council sources leading them to believe that the item would be placed on the agenda.
Approximately one hour later at 3pm, Congressional staff members also had information from Council sources making them feel with certainty that the item would be placed on the agenda.
At approximately 6 p.m. a Council member advised an industry representative that the item would not be on the agenda due to objections raised by Council staff.
Also in the early evening, an executive committee member was contacted by the council chair, and was told the item would not be on the agenda. The reason cited was objections by groundfish Council staff who felt that a change in the recommendation might endanger Framework 44.
An executive committee member, speaking confidentially, said that the executive committee was never given the opportunity to formally discuss and vote on the issue. Due to the holidays and related vacations, there has not been a meeting of the executive committee.