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Sending comments? Written comments must be received at the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) office no later than 8:00 a.m., Thursday, April 13, 2023 to be considered at this meeting. Please address comments to Council Chair Eric Reid or Executive Director Tom Nies at: NEFMC, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Email submissions should be sent to comments@nefmc.org. ** Written comments must address items listed on the agenda for this meeting or issues that will be brought up under the open period for public comment.

IMPORTANT: The Council will hold its April 2023 meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Mystic, CT. A webinar option will be available for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person. 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 Council’s April 2023 meeting webpage.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Council’s “Guidelines for Providing Public Comments” can be found here. Anyone interested in speaking during the open period for public comment on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 1:45 p.m. should 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.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

9:00 a.m. Closed Session (Council Chair Eric Reid) - Closed session to discuss executive director search

9:30 Introductions and Announcements (Council Chair Eric Reid)

9:35 Reports on Recent Activities - Council Chair, Council Executive Director, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) Regional Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) General Counsel, Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA Enforcement

10:45 Monkfish Report (Libby Etrie)

11:00 Protected Resources – Atlantic Sturgeon (Staff)

11:30 On-Demand/Ropeless Fishing Gear Conflict Working Group (Staff)

12:00 p.m. NOAA Fisheries National Seafood Strategy (Michael Rubino, NOAA Fisheries)

12:30 Lunch Break

1:45 Socioeconomic Survey of Hired Captains and Crew in New England and the Mid-Atlantic (Matt Cutler, NEFSC)

2:15 Enforcement Committee Report (Pat Keliher)

2:45 Scallop Committee Report (Melanie Griffin)

3:05 Habitat Committee Report (Council Chair Eric Reid)

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

9:00 a.m. Groundfish Committee Report (Rick Bellavance; SSC Vice Chair Dr. Cate O’Keefe)

12:00 p.m. Skate Committee Report (Scott Olszewski)

12:30 Lunch Break

1:45 Open Period for Public Comment - Opportunity for the public to provide brief comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda (please limit remarks to 3-5 minutes)

2:00 Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM) Committee (John Pappalardo)

2:30 State of the Ecosystem (Dr. Sean Lucey, NEFSC)

3:30 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC Vice Chair Dr. Cate O’Keefe)

4:15 Congressional Update (Dave Whaley)

Thursday, April 20, 2023

9:00 a.m. Atlantic Herring Committee Report (Cheri Patterson)

12:00 p.m. Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) (Liz Moore, Gulf of Maine Research Institute)

12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 Understanding Uncertainty: Stock Projections (Staff)

2:45 Risk Policy Working Group (Staff)

3:45 Other Business