January 21, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a three-day meeting from Tuesday, January 28 through Thursday, January 30, 2025. This will be an in-person meeting coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person. Please participate remotely if you do not feel well.
LOCATION: The Venue at Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
START TIME: 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day.
SPECIAL EVENT – COUNCIL PUBLIC OUTREACH / POSTER SESSION ON FISHERIES RESEARCH IN OFFSHORE WIND AREAS: Join the Council on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. for an informational exchange to foster open lines of communication among Council members, staff, industry, and meeting attendees. This event will be coupled with a poster session on fisheries research in offshore wind areas. The dual public outreach/poster session will take place at the AC Hotel at 299 Vaughn Street, a 4-minute walk from the Council meeting room at The Venue at Portwalk Place. All are welcome. Light snacks will be provided.
PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES: The Council wants to hear from you. Here’s how you can let the Council know what you think.
- WRITE A LETTER: The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Please note that written comments must address items listed on the agenda for this meeting.
- TALK TO THE COUNCIL: You’ll be able to address the Council directly through two different avenues:
- By commenting on motions at the discretion of the Council chair (if commenting remotely, raise your hand on the webinar and unmute yourself when called upon); and
- By speaking during the open period for public comment. Here are the Guidelines for Providing Public Comment.
- OPEN PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: On Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 12:15 p.m., the Council will offer the public an opportunity to provide comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda. Given the Council’s busy meeting schedule, we ask that you limit remarks to 3-5 minutes.
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- SIGN UP: Interested in speaking? If attending in person, fill out the sign-up sheet on the table at the entrance to the Council meeting room. To speak remotely, email Janice Plante atjplante@nefmc.org to get on the list.
WEBINAR REGISTRATION: Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live. There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.
- Here are instructions in the Remote Participation Guide for successfully joining and participating in the webinar.
- We have a Help Desk in case you get stuck joining the webinar or have trouble along the way. Just email helpdesk@nefmc.org and we’ll get right back to you.
CALL-IN OPTION: To listen by telephone without joining the webinar, dial +1 (562) 247-8422. The access code is 597-718-535. Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply. This phone number provides a “listen-only” option without the webinar component. You will not be able to speak if you do not first join the webinar.
AGENDA: All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC January 28-30, 2025 meeting webpage. Additional documents will be posted as they become available.
THREE MEETING OUTLOOK: A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is availableHERE.
COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS: Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.