Council Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel

50 Ferncroft Road

Danvers, MA 01923

Telephone (978) 777-2500 | Fax (978) 750-7991

8:00 a.m. Introductions (Thomas Hill)

8:05 Open period for public comments (Thomas Hill)

8:20 Groundfish Committee Report (Frank Blount)

Reconsider and finalize Groundfish Amendment 13 reference point and rebuilding alternatives and control rules. In considering options, the Council will review rebuilding projections prepared by the PDT and the NMFS and peer review reports and add to or reduce the number of alternatives.

noon Lunch

1:00 p.m. Groundfish Committee Report (continued)

Ø Finalize TAC management alternatives including defining and controlling

directed and incidental catch;

Ø Review and approval of Groundfish Committee suggestions for clarifying

Amendment 13 management measures;

Ø Finalize alternatives to implement the U.S. Canada Resources Sharing

Agreement including the handling of TAC overages and underages

5:00 Other business

Times listed next to the agenda items are estimates and are subject to change.

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.

Council member financial disclosure forms are available for examination at each meeting of the full Council.

Fishermen and members of the public are strongly encouraged to closely track the development of Amendment 13 to the Groundfish FMP. It will be especially important to attend Groundfish Committee meetings, as well as Council meetings, between now and July. The range of alternatives available for consideration in the amendment will be finalized during this period.

Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this 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.

Framework Adjustments to Fishery Management Plans

The New England Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two Council meetings before making its recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrator on any framework adjustment to a fishery management plan. If she concurs with the adjustment proposed by the Council, the Regional Administrator has the discretion to publish the action either as proposed or final regulations in the Federal Register. Documents pertaining to framework adjustments are available for public review 7 days prior to a final vote by the Council. Please call (978) 465-0492 for copies or check the Council website at www.nefmc.org.