Council Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Holiday Inn

One Newbury Street, Route 1 North

Peabody, MA 01960

Telephone (978) 535-4600 | Fax (978) 535-8238

9:00 a.m. Introductions (David Borden)

9:05 Open period for public comments (David Borden)

9:20 Groundfish Amendment 13 Discussion (Frank Blount)

Consider and respond to comments submitted in response to Draft Amendment 13

to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and its Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Final decisions on the Amendment 13 alternatives are scheduled to occur at the November 4-6 Council meeting.

noon Lunch

1:00 p.m. Groundfish Amendment 13 Discussion - (continued)

4:00 Dogfish Committee Report (Mark Amorello)

Consider and approve recommendations for Spiny Dogfish specifications for the 2004-2005 fishing year.

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 November. In addition, public hearing meeting summaries will be posted on the Council website, www.nefmc.org, as they are completed.

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.