Coral Amendment Public Hearings Scheduled

The New England Fishery Management Council will be holding seven public hearings on its Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment the week of May 22. Here are the dates, times, and locations:

MONDAY, MAY 22 — MONTAUK, NY:
Montauk Playhouse Community Center, 240 Edgemere Street, Montauk, NY 11954, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 23 — NARRAGANSETT, RI:
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 23 — NEW BEDFORD, MA
Fairfield Inn and Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740, 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 — GLOUCESTER, MA:
Mass. DMF Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Field Station, 30 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930, 1 p.m. (NOTE: This is a revised meeting location.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 — PORTSMOUTH, NH:
Sheraton Harborside, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 25 — ELLSWORTH, ME:
Ellsworth High School, 299 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 26 — WEBINAR:
Details below, 1 p.m.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:
Online access to the meeting will be available at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/98257139389273345.
There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar. Advance registration is encouraged. Additional webinar details are available in the meeting notice.

CALL-IN OPTION:
To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.
The access code is 204-076-626. Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

COMMENT DEADLINE:
The Council is accepting written comments through 5 p.m. EST, Monday, June 5, 2017. Mail, fax, or email written comments to: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950, Fax (978) 465–3116, Email: comments@nefmc.org. Please label written correspondence as “Comments on Deep-Sea Coral Amendment.”

WRITTEN COMMENTS NOTE:
Early submission of written comments is encouraged. The Council’s Habitat Committee will meet May 30 to consider public hearing testimony and written comments received as of May 24. The Habitat Committee will formulate recommendations for consideration by the full Council during its June 20-22 meeting in Portsmouth, NH. The Council is scheduled to take final action on the Coral Amendment at the June meeting.

MATERIALS:
The public hearing document and other Coral Amendment materials are available on the Council’s website at Coral Amendment hearings.

QUESTIONS:
Email Michelle Bachman at mbachman@nefmc.org.