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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 22, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0740<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 align="center" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:center"><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">States Schedule Hearings on Tautog Draft Amendment 1</span></a><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="BodyText1" align="center" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Arlington, VA &#8211; The states of Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public comment on Draft Amendment
 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Tautog. The details of those hearings follow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:justify"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 6 p.m.<br>
</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Massachusetts Maritime Academy<br>
101 Academy Drive<br>
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:jared.silva@state.ma.us"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Jared Silva</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">at 617.626.1534<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 6 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">University of Rhode Island Bay Campus
<br>
Corless Auditorium<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">South Ferry Road
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Narragansett, Rhode Island
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:jason.mcnamee@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Jason McNamee</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">at 401.423.1943</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-right:0in"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Monday, June 26, 2017 at 7 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">CT DEEP Boating Education Center, Building 3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">333 Ferry Road<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Old Lyme, Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:Mark.Alexander@ct.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Mark Alexander</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"> at 860.447.4322<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">New York State Department of Environmental Conservation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">205 Belle Mead Road, Suite 1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">East Setauket, New York<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:john.maniscalco@dec.ny.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">John Maniscalco</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">at 631.444.0437<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Tuesday, June 27, 2017 from 6:30 &#8211; 9:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Ocean County Administration Building&nbsp;&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Public Hearing Room 119
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">101 Hooper Avenue
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Toms River, New Jersey
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:russ.allen@dep.nj.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Russ Allen</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">at 609.748.2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Wednesday, June 28, 2017 from 6 &#8211; 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">DNREC Lewes Facility<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">901 Pilottown Road<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Lewes, Delaware<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:John.Clark@state.de.us"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">John Clark</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">at 302.739.9914<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Maryland Department of Natural Resources<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 6 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Ocean Pines Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">11107 Cathell Road<br>
Berlin, Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:Angel.Willey@maryland.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Angel Willey</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">at 410.456.0311<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><br clear="all">
</span></u></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Virginia Marine Resources Commission<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">2600 Washington Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Newport News, Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Contact:
</span><a href="mailto:Joe.Cimino@mrc.virginia.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0070C0">Joe Cimino</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"> at 757.247.2236<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always">
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">The Draft Amendment proposes a fundamental change in tautog management, moving away from management on a coastwide basis towards
 regional management. In addition, Draft Amendment 1 proposes the establishment of a commercial harvest tagging program, as well as new goals and objectives, biological reference points and fishing mortality targets, and a stock rebuilding schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Specifically, Draft Amendment 1 proposes delineating the stock into four regions due to differences in biology and fishery characteristics,
 as well as limited coastwide movement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoCaption" style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Table 1. Four-Region Management Approach<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:59.4pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:15.3pt">
<td width="546" style="width:4.55in;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.3pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">1) Massachusetts &#8211; Rhode Island<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:13.45pt">
<td width="546" style="width:4.55in;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:#EDEDED;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:13.45pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">2) Long Island Sound (CT and NY LIS)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:12.55pt">
<td width="546" style="width:4.55in;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:12.55pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">3) New Jersey &#8211; New York Bight
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:11.65pt">
<td width="546" style="width:4.55in;background:#EDEDED;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:11.65pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">4) Delaware &#8211; Maryland &#8211; Virginia
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Management options by region have been developed in response to the 2016 stock assessment update. Long Island Sound and New Jersey-New
 York Bight would be required to take harvest reductions due to the regional overfishing stock status, while Massachusetts-Rhode Island and Delaware-Maryland-Virginia would not have to take harvest reductions, but are proposing regional measures.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">A commercial harvest tagging program is being proposed to address an illegal, unreported and undocumented fishery that has persisted
 for more than a decade. Reports of illegally harvested fish have been documented in cases against fishermen, fish houses, and at retail markets and restaurants. The tagging program, which would accommodate both the live and dead commercial markets, was recommended
 by the Commission&#8217;s Law Enforcement Committee to increase accountability in the fishery and curb illegal harvest. A tautog tag trial was conducted to investigate the impact of the tags on the resource and found no mortality or degradation to fish health.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">The Draft Amendment is available
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">at </span>
<a href="http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/Tautog_DraftAmendment1_PublicComment_May2017.pdf"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/Tautog_DraftAmendment1_PublicComment_May2017.pdf</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">or on the Commission website,
</span><a href="http://www.asmfc.org"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">www.asmfc.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">(under Public Input). Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Amendment either by attending state public hearings or providing
 written comment. Public comment will be accepted until <b>5:00 PM (EST) on July 14, 2017
</b>and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at
</span><a href="mailto:aharp@asmfc.org"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">aharp@asmfc.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">(Subject line: Tautog Draft Amendment 1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Final action on the Amendment is scheduled to occur in August. For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, Fishery Management
 Plan Coordinator, at </span><a href="mailto:aharp@asmfc.org"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">aharp@asmfc.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">or 703.842.0740.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-right:13.5pt;text-align:right;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">PR17-26</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">----------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Tina Berger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Director of Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Arlington, VA 22201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">703.842.0740
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:tberger@asmfc.org"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:blue">tberger@asmfc.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="www.asmfc.org"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:blue">www.asmfc.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Visit us on
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticStatesMarineFisheriesCommission"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#4472C4">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">
 and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ASMFC"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:blue">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Vision: Sustainably Managing Atlantic Coastal Fisheries<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D">You are receiving this notice from the RIDEM, DFW, Marine Fisheries, rimarinefisheries listserve. This is an automated message system; please do not reply to
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