January 23, 2013 — The NEFMC Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet (one day joint with Advisory Panels) on January 24-25, 2013 at the Marriott Portland at Sable Oaks, 200 Sable Oaks Drive, So. Portland, Maine 04106. Discussion documents are now available at the NEFMC website. Meeting agendas are listed below.
Thursday, January 24, 2013 Agenda:
The Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) and the Recreational Advisory Panel (RAP). The Committee and Panels will:
• Receive an update from the Closed Area Technical Team (CATT) on possible modifications to groundfish fishing closed areas that will be considered in conjunction with the establishment of habitat closed areas. The modifications are being developed as part of the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat amendment (see 76 Federal Register 35408). The CATT will provide an overview of ongoing analyses and may provide suggested closure options for the Committee to consider;
• Other business may be discussed.
The Committee, after considering the advice of the GAP and RAP, may develop recommendations for possible modifications to year-round and seasonal groundfish closed areas for the Council’s consideration. Alternatively, the Committee may provide additional guidance to the CATT for further development.
Friday, January 25, 2013 Agenda:
• Develop a specifications package that will specify Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) and Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) for fishing year 2013. These specifications may be submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service as either a specifications package or a framework adjustment to the Northeast Multispecies FMP;
• May develop recommendations for an interim action designed to reduce overfishing on Gulf of Maine cod and Gulf of Maine haddock in 2013;
• Other business may be discussed.
Read the meeting documents here