The New England Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Committee will be hosting a facilitated meeting on August 17, 2023 to discuss draft goals and objectives for modifying or replacing the existing acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rules for groundfish. ABC control rules are used in setting annual catch limits. They define how catch and/or fishing mortality change with stock size.
The Council is inviting members of the Groundfish Committee, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), the Groundfish Plan Development Team, the Groundfish Advisory Panel, the Recreational Advisory Panel, the Risk Policy Working Group, and the public to participate in the discussion.
This will be a hybrid meeting conducted at the Four Points by Sheraton in Wakefield, MA, coupled with a webinar option. The start time is 9:30 a.m.
Planning To Participate?
The Council is encouraging all groundfish stakeholders to engage in the conversation either in person or online. For planning purposes and to ensure a proper meeting room setup, the Council is asking everyone who intends to participate to fill out this Google form to indicate whether you plan to attend in person or tune in via the webinar. Your response is not binding! The form is merely intended to help the Council make appropriate meeting room and webinar accommodations.
Highest Groundfish Priority
Revising the ABC control rules is the Council’s highest groundfish priority for 2023. The Council and SSC have been discussing the issue, and on June 28, 2023, the Council initiated Framework Adjustment 68 to consider alternatives for adjusting the ABC control rules.
During this meeting, the Council clarified that the framework should consider, among other factors, the challenges identified in this discussion document. The Council also clarified that the August 17, 2023 facilitated meeting should be designed to discuss draft goals and objectives for the ABC Control Rules that are consistent with National Standard 1, the National Standard 1 guidelines, and the Council’s Risk Policy, which is being revised.
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