# Index Based Methods and Harvest Control Rules Research Track Assessment Public Meeting
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of public meeting.
**SUMMARY:**
NMFS and the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) Panel will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing Index Based Methods and Harvest Control Rules. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a formal scientific peer-review process for evaluating and presenting stock assessment results to managers for fish stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the northwest Atlantic. Assessments are prepared by Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) working groups and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts from the Center of Independent Experts (CIE). The public is invited to attend the presentations and discussions between the review panel and the scientists who have participated in the stock assessment process.
**DATES:**
The public portion of the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting will be held from December 7, 2020-December 11, 2020. The meeting will commence on December 11, 2020 at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Please see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* for the daily meeting agenda.
**ADDRESSES:**
The meeting will be held via Google Meet ( *https://meet.google.com/urc-hmkh-jdw* ).
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:**
Michele Traver, 508-495-2195; email: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
For further information, please visit the NEFSC website at *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/new-england-mid-atlantic.* For additional information about the assessment process and the stock assessment peer review, please visit the NMFS/NEFSC SAW web page at *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/population-assessments/fishery-stock-assessments-new-england-and-mid-atlantic.*
**Daily Meeting Agenda—Research Track Peer Review Meeting (Subject to Change; All Times are Approximate and May Be Changed at the Discretion of the Peer Review Chair)**
**Monday, December 7, 2020**
| Time | Activity | Lead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8 a.m.-8:30 a.m | Welcome/Logistics | Russ Brown/ |
| 8:30 a.m.-9 a.m | Material Introduction and Background | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 9 a.m.-10 a.m | TOR #1 | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 10 a.m.-10:15 a.m | Break | |
| 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m | TOR #1 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 11:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 11:45 a.m.-12 p.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 12 p.m.-1 p.m | Lunch | |
| 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m | TOR #2 | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 2:45 p.m.-3 p.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 3 p.m | Adjourn | |
**Tuesday, December 8, 2020**
| Time | Activity | Lead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8 a.m.-8:15 a.m | Brief Overview and Logistics | Michele Traver/Panel Chair. |
| 8:15 a.m.-9:15 a.m | TOR #2 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m | TOR #3 | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m | Break | |
| 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m | TOR #3 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 12 p.m.-12:15 p.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m | Lunch | |
| 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m | TOR #4 | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 2:45 p.m.-3 p.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 3 p.m | Adjourn | |
**Wednesday, December 9, 2020**
| Time | Activity | Lead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8 a.m.-8:15 a.m | Brief Overview and Logistics | Michele Traver/ |
| 8:15 a.m.-9:15 a.m | TOR #4 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m | TOR #5 | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m | Break | |
| 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m | TOR #5 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 12 p.m.-12:15 p.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m | Lunch | |
| 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m | TOR #6 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 2:45 p.m.-3 p.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 3 p.m | Adjourn | |
**Thursday, December 10, 2020**
| Time | Activity | Lead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8 a.m.-8:15 a.m | Brief Overview and logistics | Michele Traver/Panel Chair. |
| 8:15 a.m.-9:15 a.m | TOR #6 cont | Chris Legault, WG Chair. |
| 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m | Discussion/Review/Summary | Review Panel. |
| 10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m | Break | |
| 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m | Discussion/Follow-ups | Review Panel. |
| 11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m | Public Comment | Public. |
| 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m | Lunch | |
| 12:45 p.m.-3 p.m | Report Writing | Review Panel. |
| 5 p.m | Adjourn | |
**Friday, December 11, 2020**
| Time | Activity | Lead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8 a.m.-3 p.m | Report Writing | Review Panel. |
| 3 p.m | Adjourn | |
The meeting is open to the public; however, during the `Report Writing' session on Thursday, December 10th and Friday, December 11th, the public should not engage in discussion with the Peer Review Panel.
**Special Accommodations**
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Special requests should be directed to Michele Traver, 508-495-2195, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
**Authority:**
16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.*
Dated: November 20, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.