March 4, 2013 — The Groundfish Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP).
Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m.
The primary purpose of the meeting is to resume work on the development of Amendment 18 to the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 18 is being developed with two
broad objectives; 1) to consider the establishment of accumulation caps for the groundfish fishery
and; 2) to consider issues associated with fleet diversity in the multispecies fishery. A Notice of
Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for this amendment was published on
December 21, 2011 (76 Federal Register 79153). After completing a scoping period in early
summer of 2012, progress on this amendment was delayed while the Council completed other
management actions.
At this meeting, the Committee and GAP will:
• Review scoping comments received, analyses developed by the Plan Development Team
(PDT), and other comments.
• Develop a plan to move forward on this amendment.
• May receive an update on a Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC)
meeting that will be held in February.
• May address other groundfish management priorities for FY 2013, including modifications
to rebuilding plans.
• The Groundfish Committee will meet in closed session to discuss Groundfish and
Recreational Advisory Panel membership.
• Other business may be discussed as necessary.
Note:If you are submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting, we must receive them by
noon on Monday, March 4, 2013.
Location: Sheraton Colonial Hotel
One Audubon Road
Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone: (781) 245-9300; Fax: (781) 245-0842
Meeting documents available from NEFMC website