Please Note: Monday evening, July 14 - 6:30 p.m. - Northeast Fisheries Science Center

staff will present the advisory committee report from the 37^th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop; the status of species/stocks to be covered includes witch flounder, spiny dogfish, Atlantic surfclam, short-finned (illex) squid and Atlantic hagfish

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

9:00 a.m. Introductions and Announcements (Thomas Hill)

9:10 Herring Committee Report (Lewis Flagg)

Review and approval of goals and objectives developed for Amendment 1 to the Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP); Scientific and Statistical Committee recommendations concerning the U.S. and Canadian herring assessments as they relate to amendment development; update on the development of alternatives for consideration and analysis in Amendment 1

Noon Lunch

1:00 p.m. Review of Status of NEFMC-Managed Species addressed at the 37^th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (NEFSC staff)

Brief overview of the status of witch flounder, spiny dogfish, and Atlantic hagfish

2:00 Mid-Atlantic Plans Committee Report (David Pierce)

Review and approval of committee recommendations concerning Amendment 9 to the Mid- Atlantic Council’s Squid, Mackerel and Butterfish FMP

2:45 Coordination of Groundfish and Scallop Management Actions (Council/NMFS staff) Approval of a procedure to coordinate the development of Framework Adjustment 39 to the Multispecies FMP with scallop management; the action proposes to allow scallop vessels controlled access to the Georges Bank groundfish closed areas from 2004-2007

4:45 Enforcement Committee Report (Mark Amorello)

Presentation of habitat enforcement analyses of alternatives in the groundfish, scallop,

and monkfish amendments currently under development; review of Office of Law

Enforcement procedures that address fishing trips cut short because of weather, accident

or unsafe conditions; discussion of horsepower regulations and inconsistencies among FMPs

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

8:30 a.m. Reports on Recent Activities

Council Chairman, Executive Director (to include a review of the Council’s intent concerning the vessel permit upgrading baseline during the development of the Monkfish FMP), NMFS Regional Administrator, NOAA General Counsel, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, and representatives of

the U.S. Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

9:30 Open period for public comments about Council-related issues not otherwise listed

on the agenda

9:45 Groundfish Committee Report (Frank Blount)

Review, consideration and approval of the Northeast Multispecies Amendment 13 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS); the report will include the following:

· Groundfish Advisory Panel recommendations for Amendment 13

· Committee recommendations for Amendment 13, including suggested changes to the Special Access Program management measure

Following approval of this document, the Council will schedule a series of public hearings to seek public comment on the draft Amendment 13 alternatives and the associated DSEIS

Thursday, July 17, 2003

8:30 a.m. Briefing on pre-draft for Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks (NMFS staff)

NMFS will seek comments from the Council and public on upcoming shark regulations

9:15 Groundfish Agenda Items – continued from previous day

5:00 p.m. 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 the meeting.

Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subjects 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.

Documents pertaining to Council action are available for review prior to a final vote by the Council. Please call (978) 465-0492 for copies or check the Council website at www.nefmc.org. Please note that if you are submitting comments for Council consideration at this meeting they must be received at the office at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.

Other Events Scheduled in Portland During the Week of the Council Meeting

Monday, July 14 – 6:00-9:00pm - Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Public Scoping Meeting

Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, ME

Tuesday, July 15 – 6:00-9:00pm - Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Public Scoping Meeting

Holiday Inn, Ellsworth, ME

Wednesday, July 16 – 7:00-10:00pm – USCG Listening Session to Revalidate Fisheries Strategic Plan