The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will hold a public meeting, via webinar, on Monday, November 14, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the PR Committee to review materials resulting from their data request to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) and discuss potential sets of measures. The  ALWTRT is tasked with reducing the risk of entanglement to right whales in U.S. East Coast fixed gear fisheries including gillnet, mixed species trap/pot, and lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. The measures developed by the ALWTRT have the potential to impact several Council managed fisheries and the Protected Resources Committee will develop recommendations and guidance for the Council’s representation on the ALWTRT. The ALWTRT is currently scheduled to make final recommendations at their December 1-2 meeting, however this may be subject to change. The Committee may address other protected resources issues as they arise.

Staff Contact: Karson Cisneros, kcoutre@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2331 361 5721; Password: x6gNNSKWA77). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2331 361 5721. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

1. Agenda

2. Briefing Memo and Data Request Results

Supplemental

1. Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will meet via webinar on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 1 pm to 4:30 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review materials for phase two of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan which focuses on reducing the risk of entanglement to right, humpback, and fin whales in U.S. East Coast gillnet, Atlantic mixed species trap/pot, and Mid-Atlantic lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. The measures developed in phase two of this plan have the potential to impact several Council managed fisheries and the Protected Resources Committee will develop recommendations and guidance for the Council’s representation on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team. This team is making final recommendations at their September 19 and 22, 2022 meetings. The Protected Resources Committee will also review and provide comments on the proposed North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The Committee may address other protected resources issues as they arise.

There will be an Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team webinar on September 8th from 2:30-5:30 p.m., hosted by NMFS, with updated analyses from different sets of risk reduction measures discussed at the Team’s May meeting. This 9/8 webinar meeting is open to the public and will serve as preparation for final deliberations. PR Committee Members interested in these results are encouraged to attend this webinar in preparation for our Committee meeting as well and can register here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-mammal-protection/atlantic-large-whale-take-reduction-team#upcoming-meetings

Staff Contact: Karson Cisneros, kcoutre@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2336 271 3899; Password: mmA3YQFSQ24). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2336 271 3899. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Agenda

Agenda_PR Comm Mtg_9.14.22

Times are approximate and may change based on pace of discussion.

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm     Review phase 2 proposed measures and discuss recommendations

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm     Review proposed rule to reduce NARW vessel strikes and provide comments to be drafted into a letter for the Council to review

4:30 pm                      Adjourn

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will meet via webinar on Monday September 20, 2021, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review scoping materials for phase two of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan which focuses on reducing the risk of entanglement to right, humpback, and fin whales in U.S. East Coast gillnet, Atlantic mixed species trap/pot, and Mid-Atlantic lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. The measures that will be developed in phase two of this plan have the potential to impact several Council managed fisheries and the Protected Resources Committee will develop recommendations for Council engagement in the scoping process, which extends to October 21, 2021. The Council will consider these recommendations at their October meeting.

Contact: Karson Coutre, kcoutre@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5259

Webinar Information

Click here to join the meeting (If prompted, enter meeting number 2338 067 6871 and password H6PjnaNrE33)

Join by phone: 1-844-621-3956, access code: 2338 067 6871

Meeting Materials

1. Agenda and Meeting Objectives

2. ALWTRT Update Memo 2021

3. FR NOI Scoping

4. Scoping Announcement and Schedule