The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet jointly with the Groundfish Advisory Panel and Recreational Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The meetings will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at 9 a.m., and Friday, January 25, 2013, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Marriott Portland at Sable Oaks, 200 Sable Oaks Drive, So. Portland, ME 04106; telephone: (207) 871-8000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the committee's agenda are as follows:
Thursday, January 24, 2013, Beginning at 9 a.m.
The Groundfish Oversight Committee will hold a joint meeting with
the Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) and the Recreational Advisory Panel
(RAP). The Committee and Panels will receive an update from the Closed
Area Technical Team (CATT) on possible modifications to groundfish
fishing closed areas that will be considered in conjunction with the
establishment of habitat closed areas. The modifications are being
developed as part of the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat amendment (76
Federal Register 35408). The CATT will provide an overview of ongoing
analyses and may provide suggested closure options for the Committee to
consider. The Committee, after considering the advice of the GAP and
RAP, may develop closed area recommendations for the Council's
consideration. Alternatively, the Committee may provide additional
guidance to the CATT.
Friday, January 25, 2013, Beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The Committee will meet to develop a specifications package that
will specify Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) and Annual Catch
Limits (ACLs) for fishing year 2013. The Committee may also develop
advice for an interim action designed to reduce overfishing on Gulf of
Maine cod and Gulf of Maine haddock in 2013. Other business may be
discussed.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's
intent to take final action to address the emergency.