New England Fishery Management Council
The New England Fishery Management Council has scheduled seven in-person public information
workshops to help fishermen and other stakeholders learn more about ecosystem-based fishery
management (EBFM).
The workshops will run for three hours each and cover: (1) how EBFM can be used as a tool to assess and
manage fisheries in general; and (2) more specifically, how EBFM potentially could be used to regulate
fisheries on Georges Bank. The Council has developed a Draft Example Fishery Ecosystem Plan (eFEP) for
Georges Bank in preparation for further discussion.
Point Judith, RI – Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at Superior Trawl Conference Room, 55 State Street, Narragansett
Workshops Will Run From 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ~
Q: How many workshops do I need to attend? Is one enough?
A: The presentations and subject matter will be the same at each workshop. However, the discussion will vary depending on who’s in the room and the level of engagement on each topic. Therefore, participants may benefit from attending more than one workshop and are welcome to do so.
Q: Do I need to register for the workshops?
A: Registration is highly encouraged but not mandatory. Advance registration will help the Council plan for and better accommodate participants at each workshop. Just click on this form and check off which ones you plan to attend.
These are in-person workshops with no webinar component.
Q: What will happen at these workshops? Will I be able to express my opinion?
A: Yes! Your comments are important to the Council. The workshops include a mix of presentations and breakout sessions. The presentations will cover:
- An introduction to ecosystem-based fishery management;
- An overview of catch ceilings and floors as used in EBFM management; and
- The science supporting EBFM.
Following each presentation, attendees will participate in breakout sessions to discuss the contents of what was presented. Everyone will have a chance to ask questions and express opinions and concerns. The Council is interested in
hearing your views on the strengths and weaknesses of EBFM and how it compares to the current single-species approach to fishery management.
Q: What kinds of questions will I likely be asked?
A: Workshop organizers have developed several questions to spur the discussion. Here are two examples.
What opportunities do you see to use EBFM to improve existing assessment and management systems?
What do we stand to gain or lose in shifting towards an EBFM approach?
Q: How can I prepare for the workshops?
A: The Council has posted an extensive mix of professionally developed EBFM outreach materials on this
webpage. Here’s what you’ll find there.
- Supporting documents for the EBFM workshops, including the meeting notice with all workshop dates and details, a link to the registration form, and an EBFM outreach report that was produced in preparation for the workshops.
- Four stakeholder brochures for: (1) Commercial Fishermen and Seafood Dealers and Processors; (2) Commercial Pelagic Fishermen and Recreational Anglers; (3) Environmental Organizations and the General Public; and (4) a summary.
- Two infographics, a Guide to the eFEP for Georges Bank, an EBFM Glossary of Terms, four presentations, background documents, and more, including a five-minute introductory video
Don’t forget to watch the Council’s five-minute introductory video titled “Stakeholder Perspectives” to hear what
people are saying about EBFM. The video, which was produced with contracted support from Green Fin Studio,
provides a simple overview of a complex topic.