April 8, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a three-day meeting from Tuesday, April 16 through Thursday, April 18, 2024. This will be an in-person meeting coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person. Please participate remotely if you do not feel well.
LOCATION: Hilton Mystic in Mystic, Connecticut.
START TIME: 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day.
*** Please take note of the following highlighted items. ***
NORTHERN EDGE / SCALLOPS / HABITAT: The Council has reserved a large block of time on Tuesday, April 16 for an afternoon-long discussion on: (1) the analysis of concept areas for potential scallop fishery access to the habitat closure area on the Northern Edge of Georges Bank; and (2) possible Council action or direction on next steps. In advance of this agenda item, the Council will hear from its Enforcement Committee, which developed feedback on, among other issues, the enforceability of the Northern Edge concept areas. Anyone with a stake or interest in the outcome of this discussion is encouraged to attend the meeting in person or join the webinar.
COUNCIL PUBLIC OUTREACH: Join the Council on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for an informational exchange to foster open lines of communication among Council members, staff, industry, and meeting attendees. The event will be held in the restaurant/lobby area of the Hilton Mystic, right down the hall from the Council’s meeting room. All are welcome. Light snacks will be provided.
OFFSHORE WIND: On Wednesday, April 17 at 1:45 p.m., the Council will receive short updatesfrom Ørsted, SouthCoast Wind, Avangrid, and Vineyard Wind about the status of their offshore wind projects, related surveys, fisheries mitigation programs, and other topics.
ATLANTIC HERRING AMENDMENT 10 SCOPING MEETING: The Council will hold a public scoping meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 on Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Fishery Management Plan. The meeting will be held in person at the Hotel Mystic with a webinar option. Visit the Amendment 10 webpage for more information.
PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES: The Council wants to hear from you. Here’s how you can let the Council know what you think.
- WRITE A LETTER: The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Please note that written comments mustaddress items listed on the agenda for this meeting.
- TALK TO THE COUNCIL: You’ll be able to address the Council directly through two different avenues:
- By commenting on motions at the discretion of the Council chair (if commenting remotely, raise your hand on the webinar and unmute yourself when called upon); and
- By speaking during the open period for public comment. Here are the Guidelines for Providing Public Comment.
- OPEN PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: On Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., the Council will offer the public an opportunity to provide comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda. Given the Council’s busy meeting schedule, we ask that you limit remarks to 3-5 minutes.
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- SIGN UP: Interested in speaking? If attending in person, 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 are instructions in the Remote Participation Guide for successfully joining and participating in the webinar.
- We have a Help Desk in case you get stuck joining the webinar or have trouble along the way. Just email helpdesk@nefmc.org and we’ll get right back to you.
CALL-IN OPTION: To listen by telephone without joining the webinar, dial +1 (562) 247-8422. The access code is 837-291-781. Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply. This phone number provides a “listen-only” option without the webinar component. You will not be able to speak if you do not first join the webinar.
AGENDA: All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC April 16-18, 2024 meeting webpage. Additional documents will be posted as they become available.
THREE MEETING OUTLOOK: A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is available HERE.
COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS: Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.