Tuesday, June 4 – Thursday, June 6, 2024
Riverhead, NY
April 2024 Council Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Tuesday, April 9 – Thursday, 11, 2024 at The Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Recordings
April 9, 2024 - MSA Confidentiality Proposed Rule, Offshore Wind Compensation, State of the Ecosystem Report, EAFM Risk Assessment, Habitat Updates
April 10, 2024 (AM) - Dogfish/Monkfish Sturgeon Bycatch Framework, Industry Based Survey Update
April 10, 2024 (PM) - Golden Tilefish Catch Share Program Review, Golden Tilefish Research Track Assessment Overview, Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Construction Sounds on Longfin Squid and Black Sea Bass, Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework
April 11, 2024 - Business Session
Agenda and Briefing Materials
Tuesday, April 9th
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Proposed Rule to Update Regulations Associated with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act’s Confidentiality Requirements – NOAA Fisheries HQ Staff
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Offshore Wind Fisheries Compensation Programs
Supplemental:
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2024 State of the Ecosystem Report – Dr. Sarah Gaichas, NEFSC
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 2024 Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Risk Assessment Report
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Habitat Activities Update – Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division
Wednesday, April 10th
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Joint MAFMC/NEFMC Framework to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Interactions in the Monkfish/Dogfish Gillnet Fisheries: Final action
Supplemental:
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. NTAP Progress Report for Industry-Based Survey Pilot Program
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Golden Tilefish Catch Share Program Review
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Golden Tilefish Research Track Assessment Overview
Supplemental:
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Construction Sounds on Behavior of Longfin Squid and Black Sea Bass – Aran Mooney, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework Meeting #1 (with ASMFC SFSBSB Board)
Supplemental:
Thursday, April 11th
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
Committee Reports
Organization Reports:
NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office - GARFO Status of Actions Report
NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement - NOAA OLE First Quarter Report
US Coast Guard
Liaison Reports (Tab 14)
Other Business and General Public Comment
February 2024 Council Meeting
December 2023 Council Meeting
October 2023 Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 3 – Thursday, October 5, 2023
Yotel New York - 570 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY, 10036; 646-449-7772
August 2023 Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 8 – Friday, August 11, 2023
Westin Annapolis (100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-972-4300)
June 2023 Council Meeting
Tuesday, June 6 – Thursday, June 8, 2023
Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront (3001 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451)
April 2023 Council Meeting
February 2023 Council Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Tuesday, February 7 – Thursday, February 9, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Meeting Recordings
View the complete playlist of meeting recordings here.
Agenda and Briefing Materials
Agenda - revised 2/7/23
Executive Committee Meeting (Closed Session)
NOAA Fisheries Overview
(Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator, NOAA Fisheries)
Monkfish Framework Adjustment 13 & Research Set-Aside Priorities
(Dr. Rachel Feeney, New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC))
Squid Squad Update
(Kim Hyde, Anna Mercer, and Sarah Salois - Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC))
Illex Permit Action Follow-Up
Lessons Learned – Piloting an Automatic Jigging Machine in Southern New England Squid Fisheries (Longfin)
(Dr. David Bethoney, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation)
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Update
(Randy Blankinship, Chief, Atlantic HMS Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NOAA Fisheries)
Bluefish and Spiny Dogfish Research Track Assessments
(Russ Brown, Supervisory Research Fishery Biologist, NEFSC, NOAA Fisheries)
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team
(Coleen Coogan, Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries)
Financial Disclosure and Recusal Presentation
(John Almeida, General Counsel, NOAA Fisheries)
-------- Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. --------
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Industry Presentation
(Roger Mann, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Site Director for SCEMFIS)
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment
NEFSC Cost Survey for Commercial Fishing Businesses Presentation
(Samantha Werner, Economist, NOAA Fisheries)
Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) Overview
(Lauren O’Brien, Senior Program Manager, Marine Resource Education Program, Gulf of Maine Research Institute)
Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) Presentation
Business Session
Committee Reports – SSC
Review and reappoint SSC membership
Organization Reports –
NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
Liaison Reports (Tab 17) – New England Council, South Atlantic Council
Other Business and General Public Comment
December 2022 Council Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Monday, December 12, 2022 – Thursday, December 15, 2022 in Annapolis, Maryland. Portions of the meeting were conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board.
Meeting Recordings
View the complete playlist of meeting recordings here.
Monday, December 12 - Habitat Updates, Offshore Wind, SCOQ Species Separation Amendment
Tuesday, December 13 (AM) - HCR Framework/Percent Change Approach Presentation, 2023 Scup Rec Measures, 2023 Black Sea Bass Rec Measures (Part 1)
Tuesday, December 13 (PM) - 2023 Black Sea Bass Rec Measures (Part 2), 2023 Summer Flounder Rec Measures, Previously-Initiated Recreational Reform Actions
Wednesday, December 14 (AM) - Climate Change Scenario Planning
Wednesday, December 14 (PM) - Monkfish, Protected Resources, 2023 Implementation Plan
Thursday, December 15 - Hudson Canyon Sanctuary, Business Session
Briefing Materials
Executive Committee (Closed Session)
Ricks E Savage Award Nominations
Habitat Activities Update
Presentation from Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division
Offshore Wind Updates
Supplemental
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment - Final Action
Harvest Control Rule Framework / Addendum Percent Change Approach and Recreational Fishery Models
Joint Meeting with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board
Supplemental:
Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass 2023 Recreational Measures
Joint Meeting with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board
Scup
Black Sea Bass
Summer Flounder
Supplemental Materials for all Three Species
Staff Memo: Updated Recreational Demand Model Results (12/9/22)
GARFO Letter to MAFMC Re: 2023 Recreational Measures (12/8/22)
Previously Initiated Recreational Reform Actions
Joint Meeting with ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board
Supplemental: American Sportfishing Association Comment (12/8/22)
Climate Change Scenario Planning: Review Final Scenarios and Discuss Applications
Monkfish Framework 13: 2023-2025 Specifications and Management Measures
Presentation 1: Monkfish Management Track Assessment (John Deroba, NEFSC)
Presentation 2: Monkfish Report to MAFMC (Rachel Feeney, NEFMC)
Protected Resources Updates
Supplemental: Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries
2023 Implementation Plan
Proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
NMSA Section 304(a)(5) consultation
Business Session
Committee Reports (Tab 15):
Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee and AP Meeting Summary
Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Committee (Please note that Illex Permit Action disapproval follow-up may also be addressed during the “2023 Implementation Plan” agenda item on Wednesday afternoon)
Organization Reports
NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office - Status of Actions Report (12/9/22)
NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement - Fourth Quarter Report
US Coast Guard - USCG Report
New England Council - NEFMC Liaison Report
South Atlantic Council
Other Business and General Public Comment
October 2022 Council Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Tuesday, October 4, 2022 – Thursday, October 6, 2022 in Dewey Beach, DE.
Meeting Recordings
View the complete playlist of meeting recordings here.
October 4, 2022 (Morning) - Executive Committee
October 4, 2022 (Afternoon) - SCOQ Species Separation, Excessive Shares, Robert’s Rules
October 5, 2022 (Morning) - Essential Fish Habitat, Ropeless Roadmap, NEFSC Monitoring and Research Update
October 5, 2022 (Afternoon) - Saltwater Fisheries Policy, Private Tilefish Reporting, Scenario Planning, Spiny Dogfish, Joint Council-SSC, Ricks E Savage
October 6, 2022 - Business Session
Agenda Overview and Briefing Materials
Executive Committee – 2023 Implementation Plan (Open Session)
Supplemental:
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment
Approve Draft Amendment for Public Hearings
Review Excessive Shares Amendment Proposed Rule
Robert’s Rules of Order Overview
Collette Collier Trohan, A Great Meeting, Inc.
Essential Fish Habitat Amendment
Review NRHA products and consider initiating omnibus amendment
NOAA Fisheries Draft Ropeless Roadmap Report
NEFSC Fishery Monitoring and Research Division Update
NOAA’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy
Private Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Update
Supplemental: Joint Tilefish and Communication/Outreach Meeting Summary
Presentations:
Climate Change Scenario Planning Update
Spiny Dogfish 2023 Specifications
Supplemental: Additional Comments
Joint Council and SSC Meeting
Business Session
Committee Reports
Organization Reports
NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
US Coast Guard
Liaison Reports
New England Council
South Atlantic Council
Other Business and General Public Comment
August 2022 Council Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Monday, August 8, 2022 – Thursday, August 11, 2022 at The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia, PA. This was conducted as a hybrid meeting, with in-person and virtual participation options.
Agenda Overview and Briefing Materials
Late Public Comment Spreadsheet (only includes comments submitted after the supplemental comment deadlines)
Bluefish 2023 Specifications
Supplemental:
Board Only - ASMFC Bluefish FMP Review
EAFM Recreational Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation
Summer Flounder 2023 Specifications
Supplemental:
Scup 2023 Specifications
Supplemental:
Monitoring Committee 7/28/22 Meeting Summary (same report linked under Tab 3)
Black Sea Bass 2023 Specifications
Supplemental:
Monitoring Committee 7/28/22 Meeting Summary (same report linked under Tab 3)
Board Only: ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP Review
BOEM Guidance for Mitigating Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Projects on Commercial and Recreational Fisheries
Supplemental: Surfside Foods Comments
Community Offshore Wind Project (lease OCS-A-0539 off New Jersey)
East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning
Supplemental:
Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee Report - Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary Proposal
Supplemental:
Update on New England Fishery Management Council Activities Affecting Mid-Atlantic
Butterfish 2023 – 2024 Specifications
Supplemental: 2022 Butterfish Management Track Assessment Report
Report on Illex Squid Research Track Assessment Process
Illex Preliminary 2023 Specifications
Supplemental: 2022 Illex Squid Research Track Assessment (see the SSC meeting page for related documents)
Update on Illex Permit Amendment (Amendment 22 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP)
Business Session
Committee Reports - SSC, NTAP (Tab 15) – updated 8/4/22
Supplemental: Final report: Surfclam Population Structure and Population Connectivity (M. Hare and H. Hartung)
Organization Reports
NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
Liaison Reports (Tab 17) – New England Council, South Atlantic Council
Supplemental:
Other Business and General Public Comment
This meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 USC 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.
June 2022 Council Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Tuesday, June 7 – Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Riverhead, New York.
Agenda Overview and Briefing Materials
Update on Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment products
MAFMC Aquaculture Policy
New Jersey Ocean Acidification Monitoring Network
Dr. Grace Saba, Rutgers University
Supplemental:
2023 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Specifications (Review)
Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy Presentation
Sharon Benjamin, NOAA Fisheries
Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation Update
Dr. Gavin Fay, UMass Dartmouth, and Dr. Lou Carr-Harris, NEFSC
Recreational Harvest Control Rule Framework / Addenda
Council Meeting with the ASMFC ISFMP Policy Board
Supplemental:
Mackerel Rebuilding 2.0 Amendment
Supplemental:
2021 RH/S Update information (under “Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding”)
Canadian Comments on the US Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding 2.0 Amendment process (6/2/22)
2023 Longfin Squid Specifications (Review)
Presentation - to be posted
2023 – 2025 Chub Mackerel Specifications
Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report
NEFSC Shad and River Herring Update
Supplemental:
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Phase II
Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Draft Action Plan
Research Set-Aside Program Redevelopment
Business Session
Executive Director's Report (Tab 17) (Dr. Chris Moore)
Organization Reports
NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
US Coast Guard
Liaison Reports - NEFMC, SAFMC
Other Business and General Public Comment
May 5, 2022 (Meeting with ASMFC Policy Board)
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board on Thursday May 5, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to receive a progress update on the Recreational Harvest Control Rule Framework/Addenda. This is an ASMFC-hosted meeting and will be conducted in a hybrid format, with options for both in person and webinar participation. Webinar connection instructions and hybrid meeting details are provided on the ASMFC Spring 2022 Meeting page. The meeting will be held at the Westin Crystal City, 1800 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202.
April 2022 Council Meeting
Seaview, Dolce Hotel (401 South New York Road Galloway, NJ 08205, 609-652-1800)