MEETING NOTICE
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has scheduled a scoping meeting to discuss the anticipated changes to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan for the Northeast Fixed/Lobster trap fishery. Recent population status trends have prompted the Take Reduction Team (TRT), under the guidance of NOAA Fisheries, to reduce serious injury and mortality of the North Atlantic Right Whale. These changes will consider federal regulatory adjustments to the Plan through options including vertical line reductions, breaking strength, and seasonal area closures. The TRT, by near consensus, endorsed a 60% risk reduction target for lobster management areas to achieve. The purpose of this meeting will be to review NOAA Fisheries analyses, requesting industry input on how best to achieve this federally imposed risk reduction target. This meeting is to provide an opportunity for the RI lobster industry to assist the Department in helping guide federal rule making. The meeting will be held:
Thursday, March 5th 2020, 6:00 PM
University of Rhode Island GSO, Corless Auditorium
215 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI 02882
For more information, please contact Scott Olszewski at RI DMF (401) 423-1934
Thank you.
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