New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a hybrid public meeting of its Habitat Joint Committee and Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New En...
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of public meeting.
SUMMARY:
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a hybrid public meeting of its Habitat Joint Committee and Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
This meeting will take place at the Fairfield Inn & Suites/Waypoint Event Center, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740 Phone: (774) 634-2000.
Council address:
New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cate O'Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Habitat Committee and Advisory Panel will meet to review the draft 2026 Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Framework including EFH designation alternatives and identify a preferred alternative for Council consideration at the September 15-17 meeting. Species list: Acadian redfish, American plaice, Atlantic halibut, Atlantic sea scallop, Atlantic wolffish, haddock, ocean pout, offshore hake, pollock, red hake, silver hake, white hake, windowpane flounder, winter flounder, witch flounder, and yellowtail flounder. They will also review a draft report about the clam dredge exemption program within the Great South Channel Habitat Management Area. Other business will be discussed, if necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal
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action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate O'Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, at (978) 465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.