Document

Research Track Assessment for Longfin Inshore Squid; Public Meeting

NMFS will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing the longfin inshore squid stock. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a ...

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  1. [RTID 0648-XF891]

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

NMFS will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing the longfin inshore squid stock. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by the research track working group and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts from the Center for Independent Experts. The public is invited to attend the presentations and discussions between the review panel and the scientists who have participated in the stock assessment process.

DATES:

The Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting will be held from August 3, 2026-August 7, 2026. The public portion of the meeting will conclude on August 7, 2026 at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Please see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the daily meeting agenda.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held in Room 209 of the C.V. Starr Environmental Sciences Lab building at the Marine Biological Laboratory, 11 Albatross Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 and virtually using this Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/​wdu-ghyv-qbn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Hooper, 508-258-9580; .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For further information, please visit the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​new-england-mid-atlantic/​population-assessments/​fishery-stock-assessments-new-england-and-mid-atlantic. For additional information about research track assessment peer review, please visit the NEFSC web page at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​new-england-mid-atlantic/​population-assessments/​research-track-stock-assessment.

Daily Meeting Agenda—Research Track Peer Review Meeting

The agenda is subject to change; all times are approximate and may be changed at the discretion of the Peer Review Chair.

Monday, August 3, 2026

Time Topic Presenter(s) Notes
9 a.m. Welcome, Introductions, Agenda, Logistics Brian Hooper, Chair
9:15 a.m. Research Track Process Overview Kristan Blackhart
9:30 a.m. Overview of Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Amy Schueller
10 a.m. Historical and Current Management Jason Didden
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Life History John Manderson
12 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. Term of Reference (TOR) 1—Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Report Card Stephanie Owen Ecosystem.
1:45 p.m. TOR 1—Predation Jim Gartland Ecosystem.
2:15 p.m. TOR 1—Stakeholder Summit and Perspectives John Manderson Ecosystem.
3 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. TOR 2 Daniel Hocking Jessica Blaylock Catch.
4:10 p.m. Public Comment Public
4:20 p.m. Discussion/Summary Review Panel Conclusions, Recommendations, & Final Wrap-up for TOR 1 and 2.
5 p.m. Adjourn

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Time Topic Presenter(s) Notes
9 a.m. Welcome, Logistics, Agenda Brian Hooper Chair
9:05 a.m. TOR 3 Jim Gartland Surveys.
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. TOR 4—State-Space Length Structured Assessment Model (SSLAM) Mike Wilberg Jessica Blaylock Cameron Hodgdon Model.
12 p.m. Lunch
( printed page 45259)
1 p.m. TOR 4, continued Mike Wilberg Jessica Blaylock Cameron Hodgdon Model.
2:45 p.m. Break
3 p.m. TOR 8—Seasonal Production Assessment Model (SPAM) Paul Rago Model.
4 p.m. Public Comment Public
4:10 p.m. Discussion/Summary Review Panel Conclusions, Recommendations, & Final Wrap-up for TOR 3 and 4.
5 p.m. Adjourn

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Time Topic Presenter(s) Notes
9 a.m. Welcome, Logistics, Agenda Brian Hooper Chair
9:05 a.m. Review Homework Chair If Needed.
10 a.m. TOR 8—SPAM, continued Paul Rago Model.
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. TOR 5—SSLAM Cameron Hodgdon Mike Wilberg Biological Reference Points (BRPs).
12 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. TOR 5—SPAM Paul Rago BRPs.
1:45 p.m. TOR 6—SSLAM Cameron Hodgdon Mike Wilberg Projections.
3 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. TOR 6—SPAM Paul Rago Projections.
4 p.m. Public Comment Public
4:10 p.m. Discussion/Summary Review Panel Conclusions, Recommendations, & Final Wrap-up for TORs 5, 6, and 8.
5 p.m. Adjourn

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Time Topic Presenter(s) Notes
9 a.m. Welcome, Logistics, Agenda Brian Hooper Chair
9:05 a.m. Review Homework Chair If Needed.
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. TOR 7 Jason Didden Research Recommendations.
12 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. Comparison of SSLAM and SPAM Jessica Blaylock Amy Schueller
2 p.m. Revisit Any Remaining Questions Chair
3 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Review Any Additional Homework Chair
4 p.m. Public Comment Public
4:15 p.m. Discussion/Summary Review Panel Conclusions, Recommendations for TOR 7, & Final Wrap-up.
5 p.m. Adjourn

Friday, August 7, 2026

Time Topic Presenter(s) Notes
9 a.m. Welcome, Logistics, Agenda Brian Hooper Chair
9:05 a.m. Review Any Remaining Homework; Answer Any Additional Questions Chair If Needed (Else Closed Panel Writing Session).
10 a.m. Closed Panel Writing Session Review Panel.
5 p.m. Adjourn

The meeting is open to the public; however, during the `Closed Panel Writing Session' session on Friday, August 7, 2026, the public should not engage in discussion with the Peer Review Panel. ( printed page 45260)

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Special requests should be directed to Brian Hooper, via the email provided in the ADDRESSES section.

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: July 15, 2026.

Shannon Bettridge,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 2026-14532 Filed 7-17-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 45258

Web Citation

Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Research Track Assessment for Longfin Inshore Squid; Public Meeting,” thefederalregister.org (July 20, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-14532/research-track-assessment-for-longfin-inshore-squid-public-meeting.