The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's February 2015 Council meeting on February 10 - 12, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The meeting will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Raleigh Brownstone-University, 1707 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27605 (Telephone 919-828-0811).
Actions and issues to be considered:
- Research Set-Aside (Cooperative Research) Program
- Climate Change and Fisheries
- Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Cost Recovery Amendment
- Omnibus Observer Amendment
- Deep Sea Coral Amendment
- Listening Session - MRIP New Effort Estimation Methodology
- ACCSP Presentation - Recent Data Collection Improvements
- Electronic Technology Implementation Plan
Briefing Materials: All briefing materials will be posted at www.mafmc.org/briefing/february-2015 as they become available.
Webinar Access: For online access during the meeting, enter as a guest at: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/february2015/.
Council meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Kathy Collins, (302) 526-5253, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 10
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Research Set-Aside (Cooperative Research) Committee
- Discuss goals for a MAFMC cooperative research program and criteria for evaluating success
- Review and decide on a plan of action, including whether the following are needed: additional committee members, a Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT), and/or an advisory panel
- Discuss workshop and potential invitees
3:00 p.m. Council Convenes
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Climate Change and Fisheries – Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management
- NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy
Roger Griffis - NMFS - Review Climate White Paper
- Discuss incorporation of climate change and variability into Council fishery science and management programs
Wednesday, February 11
9:00 a.m. Council Convenes
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Cost Recovery Amendment
- Review public hearing comments
- Select preferred alternatives for submission to NMFS
10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Omnibus Observer Amendment
- Review and approve document for public comment and hearings
11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ricks E Savage Award
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Deep Sea Coral Amendment
- Review public hearing comments
- Select preferred alternatives for submission to NMFS
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Listening Session - MRIP New Effort Estimation Methodology
- Rob Andrews - NMFS
Thursday, February 12
8:00 a.m. Council Convenes
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. ACCSP Presentation - Recent Data Collection Improvements
Mike Cahall - Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Electronic Technology Implementation Plan – Update
Dan Morris - NMFS
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Business Session
- Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- Stock Assessment Program Review and Follow-up
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Executive Director's Report - Chris Moore
- Review and approval of revised SOPPs
- Science Report
- Rich Seagraves
- Committee Reports
- RSA (Cooperative Research) Committee
- Continuing and New Business
The above agenda items may not be taken in the order in which they appear and are subject to change as necessary. Other items may be added, but the Council cannot take action on such items even if the item requires emergency action without additional public notice. Non-emergency matters not contained in this agenda may come before the Council and / or its Committees for discussion, but these matters may not be the subject of formal Council or Committee action during this meeting. Council and Committee actions will be restricted to the issues specifically listed in this agenda. Any issues requiring emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that arise after publication of the Federal Register Notice for this meeting may be acted upon provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. The meeting may be closed to discuss employment or other internal administrative matters.