January 6, 2016 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
9:00 a.m. Introductions and Announcements (Council Chairman Terry Stockwell)
9:05 Reports on Recent Activities Council Chairman and Executive Director, NOAA Regional Administrator (Greater Atlantic Region/GAR), NOAA General Counsel, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, and representatives of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, U.S. Coast Guard, and NOAA Enforcement
11:30 Sea Scallop Committee Report (Mary Beth Tooley)
Receive an update on the February sea scallop workshop being held to explore concerns about inshore scallop fishing in the Northeast
12:00 p.m. Open Period for Public Comments (Terry Stockwell)
Opportunity for the public to provide brief comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda for formal discussion (speakers are asked to sign up beforehand and limit remarks to between 3-5 minutes)
12:15 Lunch Break
1:30 Risk Policy Working Group Update (Mary Beth Tooley)
Receive an update on finalizing a “roadmap” that contains guidance on implementation of the NEFMC’s approved risk policy
2:00 Atlantic Herring Committee Report (Peter Kendall)
- Review the development of Amendment 8 — the focus of the action is to establish long-term harvest strategies for Atlantic herring, including an acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule that explicitly accounts for herring’s role in the ecosystem and the issue of localized depletion;
- Discuss revising the Georges Bank haddock catch cap accountability measure through a framework adjustment to the Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP);
- Discuss the use of portside data in river herring/shad catch cap monitoring
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
8:30 a.m. Overview of NOAA Fisheries Fishery Dependent Data Project (GAR staff)
Receive a report on the NOAA Fisheries data project prior to Council and public discussion on the topic
9:30 Observer Policy Committee Report (Terry Stockwell)
Select preferred alternatives among the omnibus elements in the Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) Amendment and approve the associated draft Environmental Assessment for purposes of public review; the action will address standard cost responsibilities, framework provisions for IFM programs, service provider requirements, a prioritization process to allocate federal funding, and a monitoring set-aside option; the Council is expected to select preferred alternatives for the herring and mackerel alternatives at its April 2016 meeting
12:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:15 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Report (Dr. Jake Kritzer)
Review SSC recommendations, if any, for a revised overfishing limit and an acceptable biological catch for witch flounder for fishing years 2016-2018; receive an update on additional topics discussed by the SSC at their January 20 meeting, as appropriate
2:00 Groundfish Committee Report (Frank Blount)
Take final action on the 2016-2018 fishery specifications for witch flounder (preliminary values were selected at the December 2015 Council meeting); receive a committee update on the development of measures to address the 2016 groundfish priorities, including potential changes to the at-sea monitoring program and the management process for recreational fishing
3:30 Review NOAA’s Draft Guidance for Conducting Catch Share Program Reviews (Council staff)
Review NOAA’s Catch Share Guidance document and review/approve NEFMC comments on the draft
Thursday, January 28, 2016
8:30 a.m. Small Mesh Multispecies Committee Report (Mark Gibson)
Review scoping comments for Amendment 22 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP and approve the range of issues to be addressed in the action; the major topic under consideration is the development of a limited access program for the small mesh fishery comprised of whiting (silver and offshore hake) and red hake
9:30 Presentation on the Northeast Region’s Revised Stock Assessment Process (Dr. Bill Karp, Science Director, NEFSC)
Discuss Northeast Regional Coordinating Council-recommended changes to the Stock Assessment Workshop/Stock Assessment Review Committee process
10:30 Other Business
View a PDF of the Meeting Agenda