Notice2026-07110
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 13, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is conducting five scoping meetings to solicit comments on ideas for fishery improvements in the monkfish and skate fisheries. The scoping is designed to identify the challenges the monkfish and skate fishing sectors are grappling with and to identify possible management measures for the Council to address those challenges in the future. In June of 2026, the Council will consider comments received during scoping and in December of 2026, the Council will consider these comments when developing 2027 Council work priorities. Given monkfish is jointly managed with the Mid-Atlantic Council, during its August 2026 meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Council will receive the same scoping summary and an update on any outcomes of the June 2026 New England Council meeting.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 70 (Monday, April 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 18835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07110]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF653]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is
conducting five scoping meetings to solicit comments on ideas for
fishery improvements in the monkfish and skate fisheries. The scoping
is designed to identify the challenges the monkfish and skate fishing
sectors are grappling with and to identify possible management measures
for the Council to address those challenges in the future. In June of
2026, the Council will consider comments received during scoping and in
December of 2026, the Council will consider these comments when
developing 2027 Council work priorities. Given monkfish is jointly
managed with the Mid-Atlantic Council, during its August 2026 meeting,
the Mid-Atlantic Council will receive the same scoping summary and an
update on any outcomes of the June 2026 New England Council meeting.
DATES: These meetings and webinar will be held between Monday, April
27, 2026 and Monday, May 11, 2026. See supplementary information for
more details on specific dates and times.
ADDRESSES:
Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Monday, April 27, 2026 from 4-6:30 p.m. The Westin Portland
Harborview Hotel, 157 High Street, Portland, ME 04101.
2. Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 4-6:30 p.m. Fairfield Inn &
Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740.
3. Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 4-6:30 p.m. Cornell Cooperative
Extension Suffolk County, 423 Griffing Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901.
4. Thursday, May 5, 2026 from 4-6:30 p.m. Stafford Township, 260
East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
5. Monday, May 11, 2026 from 4-6:30 p.m. via webinar. Please
register for the webinar here: <a href="https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/CjSy3wZ4SfSBSOgc87uRiQ">https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/CjSy3wZ4SfSBSOgc87uRiQ</a>.
Public comments: The public comment deadline is on Monday, May 18,
2026. Mail to Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery
Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
Mark the outside of the envelope ``Monkfish and Skate Fishery
Improvements Scoping Comments.'' Comments may also be sent via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70131f1d1d151e0403301e15161d135e1f0217"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="35565a5858505b4146755b505358561b5a4752">[email protected]</span></a>--with ``Monkfish and Skate Fishery Improvements
Scoping Comments'' in the subject line.
Agenda
Council staff will brief the public on prior monkfish and skate
priority ideas, recent monkfish catch per unit effort (CPUE) project
review information, and the Monkfish and Skate 2025 Joint Management
Summary Report before receiving comments. Staff seek feedback on gear-
type dynamics, skate fishery components, and the differences between
the northern and southern monkfish components to help the Council
articulate and prioritize management objectives for both fisheries in
the future. These meetings will begin promptly at the time indicated
above. If all attendees who wish to do so have provided their comments
prior to the end time indicated, the meeting may conclude early. To the
extent possible, the Council may extend scoping meetings beyond the end
time indicated above to accommodate all attendees who wish to speak.
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 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
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director,
at 978-465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 9, 2026.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-07110 Filed 4-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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