Arlington, VA – The Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section will hold a meeting via conference call on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM. The purpose of the call is to review preliminary northern shrimp landings data and discuss potential management options to prevent significant landings overages that might occur if the fishery continues through April 15.
The Northern Shrimp Section set the 2010/2011 fishing season at 136 days with the intention that landings would not exceed 4,000 metric tons. When the Section set the season, it agreed to review the landings in February to determine is an adjustment to the season is warranted.
Interested stakeholders may listen-in on the conference call at 1-877-679-3924 (Passcode # 751653). Procedures for public comment during the call will be detailed at the beginning on the conference call. Meeting materials can be found on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/meetings/NorthenShrimpSectionMtgMaterialsFeb14_2011.pdf
In addition to the conference call, the Northern Shrimp Advisory Panel and Section will meet on February 28, 2011 at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Advisory Panel will meet from 9:00 am to Noon, followed by the Section meeting from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Both the groups will review the performance of this year’s fishery as well as a draft Public Information Document (PID) for an amendment to the Northern Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. The PID will seek public input on a number of issues including gear modifications, limited entry, and clarification of the fishing mortality target. The Section will consider approving the PID for public comment at this meeting. Upon its approval, the document will be released for public comment. A subsequent press release will announce its availability as well as the details of state-scheduled hearings.
For more information, please contact Robert Beal, Director, Interstate Fisheries Management Program, at (703) 842-0740.