# Research Track Assessment for American Plaice
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of public meeting.
**SUMMARY:**
NMFS will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing American plaice. 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 the research track working group 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 July 18, 2022-July 21, 2022. The meeting will conclude on July 21, 2022 at 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Please see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* for the daily meeting agenda.
**ADDRESSES:**
The meeting will be held via WebEx.
*Link: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=mf97d5121d96d26f36e88243f0dd9e013.*
*Meeting number (access code):* 2763 669 5649.
*Meeting password:* mP4vVXESd74.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Michele Traver, phone: 508-257-1642; email: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
For further information, please visit the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) website at *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/population-assessments/fishery-stock-assessments-new-england-and-mid-atlantic.* For additional information about research track stock assessments, please visit the NEFSC web page at *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/population-assessments/research-track-stock-assessments.*
**Daily Meeting Agenda—Research Track Peer Review Meeting**
The agenda is subject to change; all times are approximate and may be changed at the discretion of the Peer Review Chair.
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 7 a.m.-7:15 a.m | Welcome/Logistics | Michele Traver, Assessment Process Lead | |
| 7:15 a.m.-7:45 a.m | Introduction and Overview | Steve Cadrin | |
| 7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m | Term of Reference (TOR) #1 | Lisa Kerr and Jamie Behan | Environmental Effects. |
| 8:45 a.m.-9 a.m | Break | | |
| 9 a.m.-11a.m | TOR #2 | Steve Cadrin | Fishery Data. |
| 11 a.m.-11:15 a.m | Break | | |
| 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m | TOR #3 | Paul Nitschke and Alex Hansell | Survey Data. |
| 12:15 p.m.-12:30 p.m | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | |
| 12:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m | Public Comment | Public | |
| 12:45 p.m | Adjourn | | |
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 7 a.m.-7:05 a.m | Welcome/Logistics | Michele Traver, Assessment Process Lead | |
| 7:05 a.m.-8 a.m | TOR #3 cont | Paul Nitschke and Alex Hansell | Survey Data. |
| 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m | TOR #4 | Amanda Hart, Tim Miller, Steve Cadrin, Dan Hennen, and Alex Hansell | Assessment Models. |
| 9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m | Break | | |
| 9:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m | TOR #4 cont | Amanda Hart, Tim Miller, Steve Cadrin, Dan Hennen, and Alex Hansell | Assessment Models. |
| 11:45 a.m.-12 p.m | Break | | |
| 12 p.m.-12:30 p.m | TOR #4 cont | Amanda Hart, Tim Miller, Steve Cadrin, Dan Hennen, and Alex Hansell | Assessment Models. |
| 12:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | |
| 12:45 p.m.-1 p.m | Public Comment | Public | |
| 1 p.m | Adjourn | | |
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 7 a.m.-7:05 a.m | Welcome/Logistics | Michele Traver, Assessment Process Lead | |
| 7:05 a.m.-8 a.m | TORs #5 and #6 | Steve Cadrin, Paul Nitschke and Jamie Cournane | Reference Points Projections. |
| 8 a.m.-9 a.m | TOR #7 | Steve Cadrin | Alternative Assessment Approach. |
| 9 a.m.-9:15 a.m | Break | | |
| 9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m | TOR #8 and Near Term Plans | Steve Cadrin | Research Recommendations. |
| 10:45 a.m.-11 a.m | Break | | |
| 11 a.m.-11:15 a.m | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | |
| 11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m | Public Comment | Public | |
| 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m | Key Points/Follow ups/Panel Wrap Ups | Review Panel | |
| 12 p.m | Adjourn | | |
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 7 a.m.-12 p.m | Report Writing | Review Panel | |
The meeting is open to the public; however, during the `Report Writing' session on Thursday, July 21st, 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, via email.
Dated: July 13, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.