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