The Council's Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly on December 1 in Baltimore, MD. The meeting will be broadcast for listen-only webinar access (no remote participation) via this link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squid-com-ap/

Additional ongoing analyses described in the Sept 13 AP Meeting Summary will be posted on November 29, but the following documents will support the meeting:

Meeting Materials

• Decision Points
• Updated Preliminary Re-Qualificaton Analysis
• Sept 13, 2016 Advisory Panel (AP) Meeting Summary
• Dec 1 FR Notice
• 2006 Trimester Discussions
• Correspondence
• Lisa Hendrickson Analyses
• Action Plan
• May FMAT Meeting Summary
• Requalification – Possible options for longfin/Illex re-qualification criteria
• Discards in the Longfin Squid Trawl Fishery

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.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC’s) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC’s) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel on Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 p.m.

The meeting will take place over webinar with a telephone-only connection option. 

• Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/ap_nov16/
• Audio: 800-832-0736, room number 4472108

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss recreational management measures (e.g., bag limits, size limits, and seasons) and strategies for recreational summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries in 2017.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda
• Summer Flounder Recreational Staff Memo
• Scup Recreational Staff Memo
• Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures Staff Memo 
• Monitoring Committee recommendations

This meeting 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel, together with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Advisory Panel, will meet via webinar on Monday, November 14, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The meeting will take place over webinar with a telephone-only connection option. 

• Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/scup_quota_ap/
• Audio: 1-800-832-0736, room number 5068871

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss potential changes to the dates of the three commercial quota periods for the scup fishery. The three quota periods are each allocated a different percentage of the annual commercial quota and different possession limits are in effect during each period. The Council is considering initiating a framework adjustment, or other management action, to modify the dates of these quota periods, based on past requests from Advisory Panel members. During this meeting, advisors will review a preliminary analysis of the potential impacts of modifying the quota period dates, will review recommendations from the Monitoring Committee, and will have an opportunity to provide the Council with additional input on a potential management action to modify these dates.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda
• Staff memo: initial analysis of scup commercial seasons modification

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 Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel will meet on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to review analyses and develop recommendations for the Squid Capacity Amendment. The meeting will be held at the Radisson Hotel Providence Airport, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886. 

The Advisory Panel will provide input on an Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.  The amendment could reduce the capacities of the longfin squid and Illex squid fleets. The Council is considering this action because of concern that activation of latent capacity in the squid fisheries could lead to excessive fishing effort and increased catch of non-target species. Several other issues are being considered as well: (1) new permits for Maine/northern states; (2) re-evaluation of longfin squid trimesters; and (3) longfin squid buffer zones (e.g. 10 miles) beyond state waters in the area south of Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket. 

Contact Jason Didden for more information - (302) 526-5254, jdidden@mafmc.org. 

Agenda

9-9:05am:     Welcome and introductions
9:05-10:45am: Squid capacity discussion
10:45am-11am: Public comment on squid capacity
11am – noon.  Possibly additional capacity discussions, possibly moving on to trimester issues
Noon-1pm      Lunch
1-3:30 pm:    Trimester, Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket, and Maine Issues
3:30-3:45:    Public comment on Trimester, Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket, and Maine Issues
3:45-5pm:     Additional Advisory Panel discussion on any issues that need further consideration.

We recently received a request for a remote phone connection by a member of the public and one will be available for listening only: (800) 832-0736, Room: *7833942#  No comments will be taken over the phone – it is listen only.

Meeting Materials

• 2006 Discussions
• Correspondence
• Lisa Hendrickson Documents
• Updated Action Plan
• May FMAT Meeting Summary
• Requalification – Possible options for longfin/Illex re-qualification criteria
• Discards in the Longfin Squid Trawl Fishery

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.

The Council's Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review recent fishery performance and develop a Fishery Performance Report and/or other recommendations in preparation for the Council's review of specifications at the October 2016 Council meeting.

The meeting will be held via webinar, but anyone can also attend at the Council office address (see below). The webinar link is: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/dogfishap2016/. Please call the Council at least 24 hours in advance if you wish to attend at the Council office.

Council address:  Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone:  (302) 674-2331.

The purpose of the meeting is to create a Fishery Performance Report by the Council's Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel.  The intent of the report is to facilitate structured input from the Advisory Panel members into the specifications process.  Spiny dogfish specifications were recently announced for the 2016-2018 fishing years, but the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) review the performance of multi-year specifications each year.

Meeting Materials

• Dogfish AP Information Document
• Webinar Recording

This meeting 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel. The meeting will be held on Friday, July 29, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option.

Webinar Connection: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/ap-july2016/. Audio only connection: (800) 832-0736; conference room number 4472108. 

The purpose of this meeting is for the Advisory Panels to review and comment on recent stock assessment information, as well as the reports and recommendations of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee regarding previously implemented fishery specifications (i.e., catch and landings limits and management measures) for 2017-2018. The Council and ASMFC will consider input from the AP in August when reviewing these specifications.

Meeting Materials

Agenda

• AP 7/29 Agenda

SSC and Monitoring Committeee Reports

• Monitoring Committee Report
• July SSC Meeting Report

Summer Flounder

• Summer Flounder Staff Memo: Specifications Review for 2017-2018
• Summer Flounder Assessment Update for 2016
• Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Reports
  • Additional Advisor Comments (as of 7/8/16)
• Summer Flounder Fishery Information Document

Scup

• Scup Staff Memo: Specifications Review for 2017-2018
• Scup Data Update for 2016
• Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Reports (Scup - p. 4)
  • Additional Advisor Comments (as of 7/8/16; same as document above for summer flounder)
• Scup Fishery Information Document

Black Sea Bass

• Black Sea Bass Staff Memo: Specifications Review for 2017
• Black Sea Bass Data Update for 2016
• Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Reports (Black Sea Bass- p. 7)
  • Additional Advisor Comments (as of 7/8/16; same as document above for summer flounder)
• Black Sea Bass Fishery Information Document

This meeting 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel will meet on Friday, July 29, 2016 from 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via webinar (http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/eop072916/) with a telephone audio connection (provided when connecting). Public access to the webinar will be provided at the Council offices (800 State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE).  

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and provide comments on the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Guidance Document which will be presented to the Council for approval at its August 2016 meeting in Virginia Beach, VA.

Meeting Materials

• Draft Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Guidance Document

This meeting 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a webinar-based meeting with its for-hire advisory panel members and the public on Monday, July 18, 2016 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to gather input regarding an upcoming Council Omnibus Framework action that could require electronic reporting of for-hire Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) starting January 1, 2017 for all Council-managed fisheries that require for-hire VTR reporting.

Webinar: The meeting will be held via webinar (http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/evtr/) with a telephone audio connection. As a reminder, the only way to participate/talk is to call into the webinar on the phone.  Phone connection information pops up when you join the webinar.  If folks happen to be away from their computer at the meeting time, you can also call in directly:  800-832-0736, RM: *7833942#.  

Background: The Council is considering electronic reporting of for-hire Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) starting January 1, 2017.  This action would change the method of transmitting VTRs - the required data elements would not change.  VTRs would be required to be completed before arriving at the dock, and electronic reports would have to be submitted within 24 hours after docking.  This meeting will gather input from the Council’s for-hire advisory panel members and the public in preparation for Council action at the August 2016 meeting in Virginia Beach, VA (http://www.mafmc.org/meetings/). 

Meeting Materials

• Framework Meeting 1 Document
• Draft Comparison of Systems Certified to Submit Electronic Vessel Trip Reports

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 Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will meet on Wednesday July 6, 2016 from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090. A webinar connection will also be available at http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/eop_ap_july2016/. See meeting agenda for additional webinar details.

The purpose of this meeting is to develop recommendations for final action on the Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. This amendment will prohibit the development of new and expansion of existing directed commercial fisheries on unmanaged forage species in Mid-Atlantic Federal waters until the Council has had an adequate opportunity to both assess the scientific information relating to any new or expanded directed fisheries and consider potential impacts to existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem. At this meeting, the AP will consider comments received during public hearings and will develop recommendations to the Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee and to the full Council for final action on the amendment. An EOP Committee meeting on the same topic will be held on July 7, 2016. The Council plans to take final action on the amendment at their meeting in Virginia Beach on August 8-11, 2016. 

Meeting Materials

• Meeting Agenda
• Discussion Document
• Abbreviated Public Comment Summary
• Full Public Comment Summary

Additional Comments

• Jeff Kaelin comments to EOP Committee on forage amendment

Contact

Julia Beaty, Fishery Management Specialist - 302-526-5250, jbeaty@mafmc.org

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 (Council) Atlantic Bluefish Advisory Panel will meet on Monday, June 27, 2016 from 9 a.m. until noon.  The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option.

Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/bluefish-specs-2016/

The purpose of the meeting is to create a fishery performance report (FPR) by the Council’s Atlantic Bluefish Advisory Panel (AP). The intent of this report is to facilitate a venue for structured input from the AP members for the Atlantic Bluefish specifications process. The FPR will be used by the Council, its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Atlantic Bluefish Monitoring Committee (MC), when reviewing (at future meetings), and if necessary revising, the current measures designed to achieve the recommended Atlantic Bluefish catch and landings limits for 2017.

Meeting Materials

• Meeting Agenda
• FR Notice
• 2016 Bluefish AP Fishery Information Document
• 2015 Bluefish Fishery Performance Report

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 (Council’s) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will meet on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 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, and develop annual Fishery Performance Reports for these fisheries. The Council and the ASMFC will consider the Fishery Performance Reports later in 2016 when reviewing previously implemented multi-year fishery specifications (i.e., catch and landings limits and management measures) for 2017. The AP will also discuss summer flounder management alternatives under development for the Council and ASMFC’s ongoing Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment.

Meeting Materials

• Final Agenda
• Scup Fishery Information Document
• Black Sea Bass Fishery Information Document
• Summer Flounder Fishery Information Document
• Summer Flounder Amendment Discussion Document

Supplemental Materials

• Comments from Steve Witthuhn (Council AP member)
• Comments from James Fletcher (Council AP member)
• Comments from Harvey Yenkinson (Council AP member)
• Comments from Ken Neill (Commission AP member)
• Comments from Monty Hawkins (Council AP member)
• Comments from Art Smith (Commission AP member)

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 Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 7491-A New Ridge Road, Hanover, MD, (410) 878-7200.

The purpose of this meeting is for the AP to provide input to the Council on the development of written Council policy on fishing activities that may impact fish habitat. These policies are intended to enable the Council to work more effectively to address fish habitat and ecosystem issues in our region.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda
• Fishing Impacts – Draft Background Document
• Fishing Impacts – Draft Council Policy
• Questions and Issues Re. Process, Draft Policy, and Background Document

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 Council’s Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel will meet via webinar on Monday, May 2, 2016 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Webinar link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/april2016scoq/

The purpose of the meeting is to develop a fishery performance report by the Council’s Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel. 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) on setting catch and landings limits for 2017-2018, changes that may be occurring in the fisheries, and other fishery-related issues.

Meeting Materials

• 2016 Surfclam AP Information Document
• 2016 Ocean Quahog AP Information Document
• 2015 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog 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.

The Council's Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Monday, May 2, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to review recent fishery performance and develop Fishery Performance Reports for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish fisheries in preparation for the Council's review of existing 2015-2017 multi-year MSB specifications. 

The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/msbap2016fpr/. 

Documents

Last Year's Fishery Performance Report

Fishery Information Document

Butterfish Data Update                    Butterfish 2015 Cap Summary

Squid Data Update

Mackerel Data Update

This meeting 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 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Advisory Panel and River Herring and Shad Advisory Panel will meet jointly on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option (you must call in via telephone to participate).

Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/joint_msbrhs_ap/

The purpose of this meeting is to gather input on the Industry-Funded Monitoring Omnibus Amendment, with a particular focus on options for additional coverage for the Atlantic mackerel fishery.  The Council plans to approve preliminary preferred alternatives at its April 2016 meeting, followed by public hearings in May 2016, and final action in June 2016.  See http://www.mafmc.org/actions/observer-funding-omnibus for details on the Amendment.

This meeting 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 Tilefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.  The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option.

Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/april2016gtf/ 
**The only way to participate/talk is to call into the webinar on the phone**  Phone connection information pops up when you join the webinar.  If folks happen to be away from their computer at the meeting time, you can also call in directly:  800-832-0736RM: *7833942#

The purpose of this meeting will gather input on the Council’s Blueline Tilefish Management Amendment.  See http://www.mafmc.org/actions/blueline-tilefish for details on the Amendment.

Details on the proposed agenda, webinar access, and briefing materials will be posted on this page prior to the 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 Tilefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 from 10 a.m. until noon.  The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only connection option. The purpose of this meeting is to gather input on Framework 2 to the Golden Tilefish Fishery Management Plan. 

Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/april2016gtf/ 
**The only way to participate/talk is to call into the webinar on the phone**  Phone connection information pops up when you join the webinar.  If folks happen to be away from their computer at the meeting time, you can also call in directly:  800-832-0736RM: *7833942#

Briefing Materials

• Framework 2 – Draft Document (March 30, 2016)
• Background materials from the December 2015 Council Meeting:
  • Tilefish Framework 2 - Briefing Materials (Tab 4)
  • Supplemental Memo: Issue #6 Alternatives
  • Framework 2 Presentation
  • Framework 2 Webinar Recording

This meeting 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will meet  on Thursday March 17, 2016 from 9:00 am to 3:00 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 for the Ecosystem and Ocean Planning AP to provide input on the development of the Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. The meeting will include a discussion of development of the amendment to date. The AP will provide input on management alternatives and other aspects of the amendment. 

Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/eop_ap_march2016/ 
(This will be a listen-only webinar; however, participants will be able to provide comments via the chat feature. Participants must connect through the internet or the Adobe Connect app. There will not be an option to call in.)

Meeting Materials

• Agenda
• Background materials 
• Comprehensive FMAT list of species
   

This meeting 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 Golden Tilefish Advisory Panel will meet via webinar on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9 a.m. until noon.

The purpose of the meeting is to develop the 2016 Fishery Performance Report (FPR; produced by the Advisory Panel Members). 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).

In April 2014, the Council set Golden Tilefish specifications for 2015, 2016, and 2017. The FPR for 2016 will be reviewed by the SSC during the mid-term review of 2017 specifications, and by the Council at the April 12-14 meeting.

Briefing Materials

• Agenda
• 2015 Fishery Performance Report
• 2016 Golden Tilefish AP Fishery Information Document
• Golden Tilefish Data Update through 2015

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel (AP) and its Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish AP will meet on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Ocean Place Resort, 1 Ocean Boulevard, Long Branch, NJ, 07740; telephone: (732)571-4000. 

• Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/gra_ap_jan2016/
• Phone: 1-800-832-0736, room number 5068871

The purpose of the meeting is for the two advisory panels to provide input on a framework to modify the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs). The scup GRAs are seasonally-effective areas where vessels fishing for or possessing black sea bass, longfin squid, or silver hake (also known as whiting) are prohibited from using trawl nets with codend mesh smaller than 5.0-inches in diameter. The Council has developed a range of alternatives for potential modifications to the GRA boundaries. The APs will provide feedback on those alternatives and may propose additional alternatives. 

• Draft Agenda
• Staff Memo
• Staff Presentation
• December 2015 Meeting Materials
  • December Council Meeting Staff Presentation

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 Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Monday, January 11, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment and develop recommendations for several aspects of the amendment. This amendment will prohibit the development of new, or expansion of existing, directed fisheries on unmanaged forage species in Mid-Atlantic Federal waters until adequate scientific information is available to promote ecosystem sustainability. The webinar will include a discussion of development of the amendment to date. The AP will then be asked to provide input on preliminary management alternatives, a draft list of unmanaged forage species to be addressed in the amendment, and other aspects of the amendment.

Webinar

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

• Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/eop_ap_forage/
• Phone connection: 1-800-832-0736, room # 5068871

Meeting Materials

• Agenda
• Summary of January 6, 2016 FMAT meeting
• FMAT draft list of species to consider for possible inclusion in amendment (Excel file)
• Staff Presentation

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.