# New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of public meeting.
**SUMMARY:**
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is holding a public meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) via webinar to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
**DATES:**
This meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, beginning at 11 a.m. Webinar Registration information: *https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/gm0XQtkiQF-eiM_zbTqBSg.*
**ADDRESSES:**
*Council address:* New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Agenda**
The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet to consider the Council's request to reconsider the SSC recommendations for the white hake overfishing limits and acceptable biological catches for fishing years 2026-2030 based on setting the fishing mortality rate at 75 percent of the rate at maximum sustainable yield (F <sub>MSY</sub> ; 75 percent F <sub>MSY</sub> ). They also plan to review and discuss initial plans for an SSC workshop in 2026 on integrating dynamic reference points into fisheries management. Also, on the agenda is to review and discuss other aspects of the 2026 SSC work plan. Other business will be discussed as necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.
**Special Accommodations**
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, at 978-465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
*Authority:* 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.*
Dated: December 31, 2025.
Becky Curtis,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.