January 18, 2023 — 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 24 through Thursday, January 26, 2023. This will be an in-person meeting coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person.
COVID PROTOCOLS: The Council continues to follow all public safety measures related to COVID-19 and intends to do so for this meeting. Please participate remotely if you are experiencing COVID symptoms or do not feel well. Updates will be posted on the meeting webpage as needed.
START TIME: 9:00 a.m. each day. The first day will begin with a short closed session. The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day.
Here are a few items of note for Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
NGOM CONTROL DATE: The Council will discuss and then decide whether to recommend a control date to potentially limit the movement of limited access general category (LAGC) permits in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) scallop fishery. A control date by itself is not binding, and it does not commit the Council to taking any specific management action. The purpose of a control date is to discourage speculative entry or fishing activity while the Council considers if and how participation in the fishery may be affected or controlled. If the Council decides to recommend a control date for the NGOM scallop fishery, the control date itself will be the day NOAA Fisheries publishes a notice in the Federal Register.
MOBILE GEAR AND GILLNET FISHERMEN: Gear researchers from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center will give the Council a presentation on engaging mobile gear fishermen to visualize ropeless gear positions to prevent gear conflicts. Ropeless gear is being tested and used by some fishermen to reduce right whale entanglements. In addition to answering questions during the Council meeting, the gear researchers will be available afterward to meet with fishermen to gather additional feedback and respond to any remaining questions.
- The Council will receive an update on the development of Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Phase 2 measures, including proposals to reduce entanglements of large whales in gillnet fisheries. Also on the agenda is a short update on Council coordination with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to develop sink gillnet measures to protect Atlantic sturgeon and potentially large whales.
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 19, 2023. 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 Wednesday, January 25, 2023 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 at jplante@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.
- THIS IS KEY! If you want to speak during opportunities for public comment, you need to: (1) register for the webinar; and (2) actually “join” the webinar. People who call in by telephone without joining the webinar will be in listen-only mode. Those who take both steps – register and then join the webinar – will see the meeting screen and be able to click on a “raise hand” button, which will let the meeting organizer know you want to be unmuted to speak.
- 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 (415) 655-0052. The access code is 424-643-767. Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply. Remember, you will not be able to speak if you do not first join the webinar as described above. This phone number provides a “listen-only” option without the webinar component.
AGENDA: All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC January 24-26, 2023 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 available HERE.
COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS: Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.