The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel on Tuesday November 17, 2015 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will take place over webinar with a telephone-only connection option. See below for connection information.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss recreational management measures (e.g. bag limits, size limits, and seasons) for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries in 2016. 

Webinar Information

To connect, visit: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/fsb-ap-nov2015/. (Internet explorer or Firefox browser recommended). 

For audio, dial: 800-832-0736, and use room number 4472108. 

Meeting Materials

• Summer Flounder Staff Memo
• Scup Staff Memo
• Black Sea Bass Staff Memo
• Monitoring Committee Recommendation Summary

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel (AP) will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC’s) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass AP on Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option.

• Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/fsb-ap-oct22/ 
• Telephone-only Connection: 800-832-0736, room number 4472108

The purpose of this meeting is to solicit advisor input on specific commercial management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. These include, but are not limited to, the commercial minimum fish size, trawl mesh size requirements, seasonal possession limits triggering the minimum mesh size requirements (i.e., incidental possession limits), other possession limits, other gear requirements, and exemption programs for all three species. The Council and the ASMFC will consider the input from the AP in December when reviewing recommendations on commercial measures from the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring and Technical Committees.

Meeting Materials

• AP Background and Questions for Commercial Measures Review

This meetings is physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

The Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will meet on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Baltimore – BWI Airport (890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090; telephone: 410-859-8400.)

The purpose of the meeting is to provide input to the Council on the development of written Council policy on non-fishing activities that impact fish habitat. The development of written policy on these activities will allow the Council to comment more quickly on proposed activities and projects, and enable the Council to work more effectively in addressing fish habitat and ecosystem issues in our region. 

Meeting Materials

Download all briefing materials combined

• Agenda
• July 2015 AP Meeting Summary
• Marine Transport
  • Marine Transport Background Document
  • Marine Transport – Draft Council Policy
• Coastal Development
  • Coastal Development Background Document
  • Coastal Development – Draft Council Policy   

For other background and policy documents (liquified natural gas, offshore wind, and offshore oil), please see the Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee Briefing Materials from the August 2015 Council Meeting.

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

The Council's Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. to review recent fishery performance and develop a Fishery Performance Report and/or other recommendations in preparation for the Council's setting of specifications at the October 2015 Council meeting. The FPR will be considered by the the Council and the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) during the development of specifications for the 2016-2018 fishing years.

Webinar link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/dogfishap2015/ 

Spiny Dogfish Fishery Information Document

Trigger Questions:

What factors have influenced recent catch?
  –Markets/economy?
  –Environment?
  –Fishery regulations?
  –Other factors?
Are the current fishery regulations appropriate? How could they be improved?
  -Gear regulations and exemptions?
  -Trip Limits?
  -Others?
Where should the Council and Commission focus their research priorities?
What else is important for the Council and Commission to know?

Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.Briefing materials and and webinar connection details will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel (AP) will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass AP on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option.

Webinar link: 

http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/fsb-ap-july2015/

Audio only: 800-832-0736; Room number 4472108. 

The purpose of this meeting is for the advisors to review and comment on recent stock assessment information as well as the reports of the MAFMC’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee meetings held in July 2015.  The MAFMC and the ASMFC will consider the input from the AP in August when setting fishery specifications (i.e. catch and landings limits and management measures) for 2016-2018.

Background Materials

• SSC Meeting Report

• Monitoring Committee DRAFT meeting summary

Summer flounder 2016-2018 ABC Specifications

• Revised Staff Recommendations Memo, 7-17-2015
• Summer Flounder Staff Memo 7-9-2015
• Summer Flounder Assessment Update for 2015
• Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Reports
  • Additional Advisor Comments
• Summer Flounder Fishery Information Document
• Public Comments:
  • Letter to SSC from Meade Amory
  • Letter to SSC from Virginia Seafood Coalition
  • Letter to SSC from Recreational Fishing Alliance
  • Letter to SSC from North Carolina Fisheries Association
  • Letter from New Jersey Senators Menéndez and Booker, and Rep. Pallone
• Staff Presentation to SSC

Scup 2016-2018 ABC Specifications

• Staff Memo: Scup Management Measures for 2016-2018
• Scup Stock Assessment Team Report (SCeMFiS Report), Steve Cadrin, J-J Maguire, and Robert Leaf
• Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Reports (Scup - p. 5)
  • Additional Advisor Comments
• Scup Fishery Information Document
• 60th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW-60)
  • Assessment Summary Report – Prepublication Draft
  • SAW-60 Panelist Reports
  • SAW-60 Working Papers

Black Sea Bass 2016-2018 ABC Specifications

• Black Sea Bass Staff Memo
• Black Sea Bass Data Update for 2015
• Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Reports
  • Additional Advisor Comments
• Black Sea Bass Fishery Information Document 
• Jim Dawson Comments
• 2013 SSC Meeting Report
• Data Limited Techniques for Tier 4 Stocks: An alternative approach to setting harvest control rules using closed loop simulations for management strategy evaluation, Jason McNamee, Gavin Fay, Steven Cadrin
  • Memo: Recommendation for an ABC for black sea bass based on the Data Limited analysis
  • Data and code (zip file)
• Staff Presentation to SSC

Related Meeting Pages:

• SSC Meeting - July 21
• Monitoring Committee Meeting - July 23
• Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass AP Meeting - June 17

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will hold a joint bluefish advisory panel meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option available. 

Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/blue2015ap/

Telephone-only connection instructions: (1) Dial 1-800-832-0736; (2) Enter the MeetingOne Conference Room Number: 3412055; (3) Once joined to the audio, identify yourself: Press *65*6787# on your phone.

The purpose of this meeting is to review and comment on reports of the upcoming Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting and Bluefish Monitoring Committee (MC) meeting. The SSC will be discussing and recommending bluefish ABCs specifications for 2016-2018, and the MC will be recommending multi-year (2016-2018) annual catch targets (ACTs) and other associated management measures for the Atlantic bluefish fisheries. The MAFMC and the ASMFC will consider the input from the Bluefish AP in August when setting fishery specifications (i.e. catch and landings limits and management measures) for 2016-2018.

Meeting Materials: 

• July SSC Meeting Report

Related Meeting Pages:

• SSC Meeting - July 21
• Monitoring Committee Meeting - July 27
• Bluefish AP Meeting #1 - June 25

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton Baltimore (BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090; telephone: (410)-859-8400.)

The objective of this meeting is to provide input to the Council on the development of written Council policy on anthropogenic activities that impact fish habitat in our region (i.e., Coastal Development Issues, Liquefied Natural Gas, Marine Transport, Offshore Oil and Gas, Offshore Wind Energy, and Fishing Gear Impacts). The development of written Council policy on these activities will allow the Council to comment more quickly and effectively on activities and projects proposed in the Mid-Atlantic region, and enable the Council to work more effectively in addressing fish habitat and ecosystem issues in our region.

Meeting Materials

DRAFT AGENDA

Briefing Documents

Updated July 16, 2015

Download all briefing materials combined

1. Improving How the Council Addresses Anthropogenic (Human) Activities that Impact Fish Habitat (DRAFT)
2. Introduction and Methods
3. General Policies on Non-Fishing Activities and Projects – Draft Council Policy
4. Liquefied Natural Gas
   1. Liquefied Natural Gas Background Document
   2. Liquefied Natural Gas – Draft Council Policy
5. Offshore Wind Energy
   1. Offshore Wind Background Document
   2. Offshore Wind – Draft Council Policy
6. Offshore Oil
   1. Offshore Oil Background Document
   2. Offshore Oil – Draft Council Policy
7. Marine Transport
   1. Marine Transport Background Document
   2. Marine Transport – Draft Council Policy
8. Coastal Development
   1. Coastal Development Background Document
   2. Coastal Development – Draft Council Policy
9. Habitat Impacts from Fishing
   1. Fishing Background Document
   2. Fishing – Draft Council Policy

Reference Materials

Download all reference materials combined

1. Impacts to Marine Fisheries Habitat from Nonfishing Activities in the Northeastern United States, NOAA Fisheries
2. Living Shorelines: From Barriers to Opportunities, Restore America's Estuaries
3. Offshore Wind Best Management Practices Workshop, MAFMC
4. Offshore Wind Energy Development Site Assessment and Characterization: Evaluation of the Current Status and European Experience, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
5. MAFMC Comments to Delaware Coastal Programs on Proposed Geophysical Seismic Surveys
6. MAFMC Comments to BOEM on the 2017-2022 Proposed Oil and Gas Leasing Program

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

The Council's Atlantic Bluefish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Atlantic Bluefish AP on June 25, 2015 from 9 a.m. until noon. The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option. Details on webinar registration and telephone-only connection details will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.

Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/blue2015ap/

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss recent performance of the commercial and recreational fisheries for Atlantic bluefish. Council staff will work with the AP to write the 2015 Fishery Performance Report, which the Council and ASMFC will review in August when setting fishery specifications (i.e. catch and landings limits and management measures) for 2016-2018.

Briefing Materials

• Meeting Agenda
• 2015 Bluefish AP Fishery Information Document
• 2014 Bluefish Fishery Performance Report (Last year's bluefish FPR)

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel (AP) will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass APs on Wednesday June 17, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton Baltimore –BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090; telephone: (410)-859-8400.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss recent performance of the commercial and recreational fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. Council staff will work with the AP to write 2015 Fishery Performance Reports. The MAFMC and the ASMFC will consider the Fishery Performance Reports in August when setting fishery specifications (i.e. catch and landings limits and management measures) for 2016-2018.

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Meeting Materials

• Final agenda
• Summer Flounder Fishery Information Document
• Scup Fishery Information Document
• Black Sea Bass Fishery Information Document

The Council’s Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Monday, April 27 at 12:30 p.m. to develop its annual fishery performance report. 

Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/msbap2015/

Documents

• 2015 Fishery Information Documents:
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Butterfish
  • Longfin Squid
  • Illex Squid
• Northeast Fisheries Science Center Biological Updates:
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Butterfish
  • Longfin and Illex Squid
• 2014 Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish AP fishery performance report
• Application of Data-Poor Harvest Control Rules to Atlantic Mackerel, John Wiedenmann
• Squid Capacity Amendment Scoping Document

The Council's River Herring and Shad (RH/S) advisory panel will meet via webinar on Friday, April 24 at 10:30 a.m.

Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/rhsap2015/

The objectives of this meeting are to develop recommendations for the 2016– 18 RH/S Cap on the Atlantic mackerel fishery and to provide general input on RH/S conservation.  The Council will utilize the input from the RH/S AP at the June 2015 Council meeting when setting the 2016–18 RH/S Cap on the Atlantic mackerel fishery and discussing RH/S conservation. There will also be time for public questions and comments.

The meeting will be held via webinar, but anyone can also attend at the Council office address.  Please call the Council at least 24 hours in advance if you wish to attend at the Council office.

Documents

• 2015 RHS Cap Specifications Environmental Assessment
• October 2014 Briefing Materials - Includes RHS Committee (not AP) Terms of Reference and list of topics to be addressed as part of the RHS Update in June 
• 2014 and 2015 RHS Cap Performance
• Relevant presentations from April 2015 Council Meeting:
  • Industry Funded Monitoring Amendment
  • River Herring TEWG Update, Diane Borggaard
  • Shad Fishery Presentation, John Punola

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting via webinar on Monday, April 13, 2015 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to develop a fishery performance report for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. The intent of this report is to facilitate structured input from the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel members to the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).

Meeting Materials

• Federal Register Notice
• Staff Memo
• 2015 Atlantic Surfclam Fishery Information Document
• 2015 Ocean Quahog Fishery Information Document
• 2014 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Performance Report

Special Accommodations

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic Council Office (302) 526-5251 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

The Tilefish Advisory Panel will meet on February 24, 2015 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option. 

Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/tilefish/ 
For audio access only, call 800-832-0736, room # 7833942

The purpose of the meeting is to create fishery performance report by the Council’s Golden Tilefish Advisory Panel (AP). The intent of this report is to facilitate a venue for structured input from the Advisory Panel members for the Golden Tilefish specifications process, including recommendations by the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).

Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. 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 Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Meeting Materials

• Meeting Agenda
• Federal Register Notice
• 2015 Tilefish Fishery Information Document
• 2014 Tilefish Fishery Performance Report

• Golden Tilefish Data Update through 2014

Summary Documents

• 2015 Tilefish Fishery Performance Report

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic Council Office (302) 526-5251 at least five days prior to the meeting date.