# Research Track Assessment for Three Stocks of Yellowtail Flounder Including Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic, and Georges Bank
**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 Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine (CCGOM), Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNEMA), and Georges Bank (GB) stocks of Yellowtail flounder. 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. and Canadian 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 November 18, 2024-November 22, 2024. The meeting will conclude on November 22, 2024 at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Please see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* for the daily meeting agenda.
**ADDRESSES:**
The meeting will be held in the Clark Conference Room at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Aquarium Building: 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543; and via Google Meet:
Google Meet joining info: *https://meet.google.com/fdr-vztn-jxd* Or dial: (US) +1 443-892-2999
PIN: 475 421 044#
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Kristan Blackhart, (206) 289-0383; *[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 assessment peer review, 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.
**Monday, November 18, 2024**
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 a.m.-10:15 a.m. | Welcome/Logistics | Blackhart, Chen | |
| 10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m. | Research Track (RT) Overview | Adams | |
| 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Terms of Reference (TOR) #1 | Cadrin | Ecosystem. |
| 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. | Lunch | | |
| 1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m. | TOR #2 | Alade, Hansell, Hodgdon | Catch. |
| 2:45 p.m.-3 p.m. | Break | | |
| 3 p.m.-3:15 p.m. | Public Comment | Public | |
| 3:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m. | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | Conclusions, Recommendations, and Final Wrap-up for TORs 1-2 |
| 3:45 p.m. | Adjourn | | |
**Tuesday, November 19, 2024**
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 a.m.-10:05 a.m. | Welcome/Logistics | To be determined (TBD), Chen | |
| 10:05 a.m.-11:35 a.m. | TOR #3 | Alade, Hansell, Hodgdon | Survey Data. |
| 11:35 a.m.-12:05 p.m. | Woods Hole Assessment Model (WHAM) Overview | Miller | |
| 12:05 p.m.-1:05 p.m. | Lunch | | |
| 1:05 p.m.-1:20 p.m. | Overview of approach for TORs #4-6 | Adams | All Stocks. |
| 1:20 p.m.-3:20 p.m. | TORs #4-6 | Hodgdon | SNEMA: Models, Biological Reference Points (BRPs) and Projections. |
| 3:20 p.m.-3:35 p.m. | Break | | |
| 3:35 p.m.-3:50 p.m. | Public Comment | Public | |
| 3:50 p.m.-4:20 p.m. | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | Conclusions, Recommendations, and Final Wrap-up for TOR 3, SNEMA TORs 4-6. |
| 4:20 p.m. | Adjourn | | |
**Wednesday, November 20, 2024**
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 a.m.-10:05 a.m. | Welcome/Logistics | TBD, Chen | |
| 10:05 a.m.-12:05 p.m. | TORs #4-6 | Hansell | GB: Models, BRPs and Projections. |
| 12:05 p.m.-1:05 p.m. | Lunch | | |
| 1:05 p.m.-3:05 p.m. | TORs #4-6 | Alade | CCGOM: Models, BRPs and Projections. |
| 3:05 p.m.-3:20 p.m. | Break | | |
| 3:20 p.m.-3:35 p.m. | Public Comment | Public | |
| 3:35 p.m.-4:05 p.m. | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | Conclusions, Recommendations, and Final Wrap-up for GB & CCGOM TORs 4-6. |
| 4:05 p.m. | Adjourn | | |
**Thursday, November 21, 2024**
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 a.m.-10:05 a.m. | Welcome/Logistics | TBD, Chen | |
| 10:05 a.m.-11:35 a.m. | TOR #8 | Legault | All Stocks. |
| 11:35 a.m.-12:05 p.m. | TOR #7 | Dolan | |
| 12:05 p.m.-1:05 p.m. | Lunch | | |
| 1:05 p.m.-2:05 p.m. | Wrap up TOR #7 | Dolan | |
| 2:05 p.m.-2:20 p.m. | Public Comment | Public | |
| 2:20 p.m.-2:50 p.m. | Discussion/Summary | Review Panel | Conclusions, Recommendations, and Final Wrap-up for TORs 7-8. |
| 2:50 p.m.-3:05 p.m. | Break | | |
| 3:05 p.m.-4 p.m. | Homework, if needed; else closed panel writing session | TBD | |
| 4 p.m. | Adjourn | | |
**Friday, November 22, 2024**
| Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Closed panel writing session | Review Panel | * If necessary, revisit any remaining issues via open session. |
| 4 p.m. | Adjourn | | |
The meeting is open to the public; however, the `Report Writing' session on Friday, November 22nd will be closed.
**Special Accommodations**
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Special requests should be directed to Kristan Blackhart, via email.
Dated: October 21, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.