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<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt; color:black">Public Hearings on Summer Flounder Commercial Issues
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">FMP <span style="color:black">Amendment</span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are seeking public input on a draft amendment to address several potential changes to the management
of the commercial summer flounder (fluke) fishery, as well as modifications to the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives for summer flounder. Ten public hearings
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">are being held from NC through MA <span style="color:black">
between September 10 and September 27. The hearing </span>in Rhode Island <span style="color:black">
will be held at the following location and time:</span></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 6:00 PM</span></u></b></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">URI Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Those unable to attend the RI hearing (or any other held along the coast) may participate in an Internet Webinar, jointly conducted by the Council and Commission. Details for that are as follows:</p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Internet Webinar</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Thursday, September 27, 2018, 6:30 PM</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:black; background:white; font-weight:normal">Registration URL</span></i></strong><em><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:black; background:white">:</span></b></em><em><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:black; background:white">
</span></em><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__attendee.gotowebinar.com_register_5467929991483514883&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=CgkwAmIywUB3bIJR2P7r1KkZjWMcKV9-glrPCnRXy3c&m=kgWJEPDD2xziJxFvzrQ5mExbQtCJgZKnbhiv8urxVGw&s=krbVi8teFUzGz_Rmj1w8h_LyDSouXahM0z8c_PNQtWM&e=" target="_blank" id="LPlnk656643" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:#247BC2; background:white">https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5467929991483514883</span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; background:white">
[attendee.gotowebinar.com]</span></i></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:black; background:white">Webinar ID: 658-611-667; Phone: 1-888-585-9008; Room Number: 853-657-937</span></em><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> </p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Also, written comments may be submitted to the Council and Commission
<u>through October 12, 2018</u>. Information pertaining to that option is as follows:</p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><b> </b></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Written Comment</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Due Friday, October 12, 2018, 11:59 PM</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Online</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">:
</span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_comments_summer-2Dflounder-2Damendment&d=DwMFAg&c=lDF7oMaPKXpkYvev9V-fVahWL0QWnGCCAfCDz1Bns_w&r=eSZXqIjkT3dDOILqurn9wQfZYfznhYi0BrFAE1mh6i8&m=2mGda4kATj8yeMPMFst5IfMPvm2EvvPSM164llUEGNw&s=zrvNwc_a7gHrjabM9ZiguS2lT_IAUMfUfTD-Y8YgI8s&e=" id="LPlnk692940" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">www.mafmc.org/comments/summer-flounder-amendment</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">E-mail</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">:
</span><a href="mailto:nmfs.flukeamendment@noaa.gov" id="LPlnk237585" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">nmfs.flukeamendment@noaa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Mail</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">: Chris Moore, MAFMC, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901
</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Fax:
</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Chris Moore, MAFMC, 302-674-5399</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Include “Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment Comments” in the subject line or on the envelope.</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Please do not send separate comments to the Council and Commission.</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">The specific issues under consideration in this amendment include: </span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1" style="margin-top:0in">
<li class="x_MsoNormal" style="color:black; margin-top:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Requalifying criteria for federal commercial moratorium permits to address latent effort in the fishery:
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The amendment includes options to reduce the number of eligible commercial federal moratorium permits by implementing requalifying criteria for existing permits.</span></li><li class="x_MsoNormal" style="color:black; margin-top:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Modifying commercial quota allocation</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">: The amendment proposes several options for revising the current commercial allocation
to the states, which has been in place since 1993 and is based on average landings from 1980–1989.</span></li><li class="x_MsoNormal" style="color:black; margin-top:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Adding commercial landings flexibility as a framework issue in the Council's FMP</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">: This action does not consider implementing
landings flexibility policies at this time but considers allowing the Council to implement landings flexibility through a future framework action instead of an amendment. The Commission’s adaptive management process already allows for landings flexibility.
</span></li><li class="x_MsoNormal" style="color:black; margin-top:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Revising the FMP objectives for summer flounder</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">: This amendment proposes revisions to the current FMP objectives for summer
flounder management to provide more meaningful and up-to-date guidance to managers.</span></li></ol>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">Learn More:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> Additional information about the amendment and the management alternatives being considered can be found on the Council’s
website at </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mafmc.org_actions_summer-2Dflounder-2Damendment&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=CgkwAmIywUB3bIJR2P7r1KkZjWMcKV9-glrPCnRXy3c&m=kgWJEPDD2xziJxFvzrQ5mExbQtCJgZKnbhiv8urxVGw&s=jMjgq3LUsVLtZ6LHq5ui4GTdS1kYI_O91TZQr0M0T7g&e=" id="LPlnk652292" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">http://www.mafmc.org/actions/summer-flounder-amendment
[mafmc.org]</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> and on the Commission’s website at
</span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.asmfc.org_about-2Dus_public-2Dinput&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=CgkwAmIywUB3bIJR2P7r1KkZjWMcKV9-glrPCnRXy3c&m=kgWJEPDD2xziJxFvzrQ5mExbQtCJgZKnbhiv8urxVGw&s=W79F5aMA55I3_-_kISJdmPB21Ahx9XX-XcccXefBJ-8&e=" id="LPlnk993387" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input
[asmfc.org]</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black">. This information includes three documents: (1) the Public Hearing Document, which includes all proposed management changes and was developed to solicit public comment; (2) the Commission’s
Draft Amendment; and (3) the Council’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Both the Commission’s Draft Amendment and the Council’s DEIS are required under their respective regulatory processes. </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Contacts:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Kiley Dancy, Fishery Management Specialist</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><a href="mailto:kdancy@mafmc.org" id="LPlnk801990" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">kdancy@mafmc.org</span></a><span class="x_xmsohyperlink"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">,
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">302-526-5257</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior FMP Coordinator
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><a href="mailto:krootes-murdy@asmfc.org" id="LPlnk301526" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">krootes-murdy@asmfc.org</span></a><span class="x_xmsohyperlink"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">,
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">703-842-0740</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
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