Chairman Wise reported that, due to scheduling problems, the By-catch Reduction Subcommittee had not been able to meet, but there were three topics it hoped to present to the full Council at its January 2001 meeting: a NYS initiative to study/develop fishing gear averse to by-catch, recreational by-catch issues, and the establishment of a commercial by-catch observer program. Byron Young of DEC added that there would be an ASMFC-sponsored by-catch workshop in the spring, probably in the Baltimore area.