NMFS Holding Public Hearings On Vertical Lines

 

The National marine Fisheries Service (NMFS ) is holding 15 public scoping meetings during July and August. The scoping meetings are an opportunity for public to get involved in the development of the measures to reduce large whale entanglement in vertical lines from commercial fishing gear. The NMFS deadline for publishing a final rule to address vertical line entanglement is 2014.

Information about the scoping meetings is now posted on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) website (http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/) under “What’s New.”

A scoping document summarizing major issues, legal requirements, and identifying potential management options will be posted on the ALWTRP’s website on or about July 1st, and will also be made available at the scoping meetings.

Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings

The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are scheduled as follows:

1. Monday, July 11, 2011- East Machias, ME 6-9 p.m.
Washington Academy, 66 High Street, East Machias, ME 04630

2. Tuesday, July 12, 2011- Ellsworth, ME 6-9 p.m.
Ellsworth City Hall (Auditorium),
1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

3. Wednesday, July 13, 2011- Rockland, ME 6-9 p.m.
Rockland District High School (Auditorium),
400 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841

4. Thursday, July 14, 2011- Portland, ME 6-9 p.m.
Portland City Hall (State of Maine Room),
389 Congress St._Portland, ME 04101

5. Monday, July 18, 2011- Providence, RI 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St., Providence, RI 02903

6. Tuesday, July 19, 2011- Plymouth, MA 6-9 p.m.
Plymouth Public Library (Fehlow Room),
132 South St., Plymouth, MA 02360

7. Wednesday, July 20, 2011- Chatham, MA, 6-9 p.m.
Chatham Community Center (Large Meeting Room),
702 Main St., Chatham, MA 02633

8. Thursday, July 21, 2011- Gloucester, MA 6-9 p.m.

For further information, contact:
• Kate Swails, NMFS, Northeast Region, 978_282-8481

• Barb Zoodsma, NMFS, Southeast Region, 904-321-2806

• NOAA Northeast Regional Office (Hearing Room A&B),
55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930