The Division of Marine Fisheries will be conducting a series of outreach meetings to inform Massachusetts-area gillnet fishermen about recent changes to the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP).  Our goal in conducting these outreach meetings is to help gillnet fishermen comply with the new rules and educate them about the potential consequence areas.  Both Division of Marine Fisheries and National Marine Fisheries Service staff will be at all meetings to review the new regulations and answer questions.  In addition, NMFS staff will be on hand to conduct pinger certification training. For questions regarding this hearing, please contact Erin Burke at 508-990-2860 x134.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 6PM on April 15, 2010 at the Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Field Station (30 Emerson Ave. Gloucester, MA 01930)