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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, September 19, 2024 to be considered at this meeting. Please address comments to Council Acting Chair Rick Bellavance or Executive Director Cate O’Keefe 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 September 2024 meeting at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA. This will be a hybrid meeting with in-person participation, coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person.

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 Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 2:00 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.

  • Here is the Council’s “Remote Participation Guide” with instructions for how to provide oral comments if you'd like to speak remotely on the webinar.
  • Are you on the webinar and having trouble? We have a Help Desk! Email us at helpdesk@nefmc.org.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

9:00 a.m. Introductions and Announcements (Acting Council Chair Rick Bellavance)

9:05 Swearing-In of New and Reappointed Council Members (GARFO)

9:15 Election of 2024-2025 Officers

9:30 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, Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel

10:45 Skate Committee Report (Scott Olszewski)

11:15 Whiting Committee Report (Rick Bellavance)

11:45 Monkfish Committee Report (Matt Gates)

12:15 p.m. Monitoring and Fishery Performance Reports (Executive Director Cate O’Keefe)

12:30 Council Photo

12:45 Lunch Break

2:00 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)

2:30 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Subpanel (SSC Member Dr. Jeremy Collie)

3:00 Scallop Committee Report (Melanie Griffin)

4:45 Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) (Daniel Salerno)

5:15 Council Adjourns

6:00 Council Public Outreach (Beauport Hotel) - Informational exchange to foster open lines of communication among Council members, staff, industry, and meeting attendees; all are welcome.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

9:00 a.m. Risk Policy Working Group Report (Megan Ware)

10:45 June 2024 Management Track Stock Assessment (Kristan Blackhart, NEFSC)

12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:45 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Report (SSC Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr)

2:45 Groundfish Committee Report (Rick Bellavance)

Thursday, September 26, 2024

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

11:00 On-Demand Fishing Gear Conflict Working Group (Mike Pierdinock; Jennifer Goebel, GARFO; Eric Matzen, NEFSC)

12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 Ecosystem, Climate, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Initiatives (Council Executive Director Cate O’Keefe)

3:30 Initial Discussion on 2025 Council Priorities (Executive Director Cate O’Keefe)

4:45 Other Business

Consistent with 16 USC 1852, this meeting will be recorded. Audio files will be available on this webpage within two-to-three days of the meeting’s conclusion. Look under “Related Information” in the sidebar.