February 2023 Council Meeting

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met Tuesday, February 7 – Thursday, February 9, 2023 in Washington, DC.

• Meeting Motions

• Meeting Summary

Meeting Recordings

View the complete playlist of meeting recordings here.

• February 7, 2023

• February 8, 2023 (AM)

• February 8, 2023 (PM)

• February 9, 2023

Agenda and Briefing Materials

• Agenda - revised 2/7/23

• Status Update Documents

• Combined Briefing Book

Executive Committee Meeting (Closed Session)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 1)

NOAA Fisheries Overview

(Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator, NOAA Fisheries)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 2)

Monkfish Framework Adjustment 13 & Research Set-Aside Priorities

(Dr. Rachel Feeney, New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC))

• Briefing Materials (Tab 3)

• Presentation

Squid Squad Update

(Kim Hyde, Anna Mercer, and Sarah Salois - Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC))

• Briefing Materials (Tab 4)

• Presentation

Illex Permit Action Follow-Up

• Briefing Materials (Tab 5)

• Presentation

Lessons Learned – Piloting an Automatic Jigging Machine in Southern New England Squid Fisheries (Longfin)

(Dr. David Bethoney, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 6)

• Presentation

Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Update

(Randy Blankinship, Chief, Atlantic HMS Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NOAA Fisheries)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 7)

• Presentation

Bluefish and Spiny Dogfish Research Track Assessments

(Russ Brown, Supervisory Research Fishery Biologist, NEFSC, NOAA Fisheries)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 8)

• Presentation

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team

(Coleen Coogan, Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 9)

• Supplemental: January 2023 ALWTRT Update

• Presentation

Financial Disclosure and Recusal Presentation

(John Almeida, General Counsel, NOAA Fisheries)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 10)

• Presentation

-------- 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)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 11)

• Presentation

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment

• Briefing Materials (Tab 12)

• Presentation

NEFSC Cost Survey for Commercial Fishing Businesses Presentation

(Samantha Werner, Economist, NOAA Fisheries)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 13)

• Presentation

Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) Overview

(Lauren O’Brien, Senior Program Manager, Marine Resource Education Program, Gulf of Maine Research Institute)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 14)

• Presentation

Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) Presentation

• Briefing Materials (Tab 15)

• Supplemental: Draft Summary of January 19 NTAP Meeting

• Presentation

Business Session

• Committee Reports – SSC

• Executive Director's Report (Tab 16)

  • Supplemental:

    • Draft Path for Joint Dogfish/Monkfish Framework Action to Reduce Sturgeon Bycatch

    • MAFMC Letter to GARFO: 2023 SFSBSB Recreational Measures Process Issues (2/1/23)

• Review and reappoint SSC membership

• Organization Reports –

  • NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Office

  • NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

  • NOAA Office of General Counsel

  • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement

  • US Coast Guard

• 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 Motions

• Meeting Summary

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

• Agenda

• Combined Briefing Book

• Late comments

Executive Committee (Closed Session)

Ricks E Savage Award Nominations

• Briefing Materials (Tab 1)

Habitat Activities Update

Presentation from Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division

• Briefing Materials (Tab 2)

• Presentation

Offshore Wind Updates

• Briefing Materials (Tab 3)

• Supplemental

  • NOAA Fisheries and BOEM Federal Survey Mitigation Strategy – Northeast U.S. Region

  • Community Offshore Wind Survey Notice

  • Introduction to Leading Light Wind

  • Fisheries Compensation Fund Request for Information

  • Fisheries Compensation Fund Scoping Document

  • Fisheries Compensation Fund Press Release

• Presentation

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment - Final Action

• Briefing Materials (Tab 4)

• Presentation

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

• Briefing Materials (Tab 5)

• Supplemental:

  • Staff Memo: Updated Recreational Demand Model Results (12/9/22)

  • GARFO Letter to MAFMC Re: 2023 Recreational Measures (12/8/22)

  • American Sportfishing Association Comment (12/8/22)

• Presentation

Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass 2023 Recreational Measures

Joint Meeting with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

Scup

• Briefing Materials (Tab 6)

• Presentation

Black Sea Bass

• Briefing Materials (Tab 7)

• Presentation

Summer Flounder

• Briefing Materials (Tab 8)

• Presentation

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)

• American Sportfishing Association Comment (12/8/22)

• Summary of the November 30, 2022 Advisory Panel meeting

Previously Initiated Recreational Reform Actions

Joint Meeting with ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board

• Briefing Materials (Tab 9)

• Supplemental: American Sportfishing Association Comment (12/8/22)

• Presentation

Climate Change Scenario Planning: Review Final Scenarios and Discuss Applications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 10)

• Presentation

Monkfish Framework 13: 2023-2025 Specifications and Management Measures

• Briefing Materials (Tab 11)

• Staff Memo: Monkfish Actions

• Presentation 1: Monkfish Management Track Assessment (John Deroba, NEFSC)

• Presentation 2: Monkfish Report to MAFMC (Rachel Feeney, NEFMC)

Protected Resources Updates

• Briefing Materials (Tab 12)

• Supplemental: Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries

• Presentation

2023 Implementation Plan

• Briefing Materials (Tab 13)

• Supplemental: Wild Oceans Comment (12/9/22)

• Presentation

Proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary

NMSA Section 304(a)(5) consultation

• Briefing Materials (Tab 14)

• Presentation (updated with Council revisions)

Business Session

• Committee Reports (Tab 15):

  • SSC: 2023 Meeting Dates and Topics

  • 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)

• Executive Director's Report (Tab 16)

  • Supplemental:

    • Staff Memo: River Herring and Shad (RH/S) Run Data Portal

    • Letter to GARFO: 2023 Implementation Plan/Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment (12/14/22)

•  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

•  Liaison Reports (Tab 17)

  • 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 Motions

• Meeting Summary

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

• Detailed Agenda

• Stock Status Updates

• Combined Briefing Book

Executive Committee – 2023 Implementation Plan (Open Session)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 1)

• Supplemental:

  • Surfside Foods Comments Re: BOEM Fisheries Mitigation (Aug 2022)

  • NMFS Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment

Approve Draft Amendment for Public Hearings

• Briefing Materials (Tab 2)

• Presentation

Review Excessive Shares Amendment Proposed Rule

• Briefing Materials (Tab 3)

• Presentation

Robert’s Rules of Order Overview

Collette Collier Trohan, A Great Meeting, Inc.

• Briefing Materials (Tab 4)

Essential Fish Habitat Amendment

Review NRHA products and consider initiating omnibus amendment

• Briefing Materials (Tab 5)

• Presentation

NOAA Fisheries Draft Ropeless Roadmap Report

• Briefing Materials (Tab 6)

• Presentation

NEFSC Fishery Monitoring and Research Division Update

• Briefing Materials (Tab 7)

• Presentation

NOAA’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy

• Briefing Materials (Tab 8)

• Presentation

Private Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Update

• Briefing Materials (Tab 9)

• Supplemental: Joint Tilefish and Communication/Outreach Meeting Summary

• Presentations:

  • GARFO Update

  • Outreach and Communication

Climate Change Scenario Planning Update

• Briefing Materials (Tab 10)

• Presentation

Spiny Dogfish 2023 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 11)

• Supplemental: Additional Comments

• Presentation

Joint Council and SSC Meeting

• Briefing Materials (Tab 12)

• Presentation

Business Session

• Committee Reports

  • SSC Report (Tab 13a)

    • Presentation

  • Protected Resources Committee Report (Tab 13b)

    • Presentation

• Executive Director's Report (Tab 14)

  • Supplemental:

    • H.R. 4690 Markup Review

    • HMS Advisory Panel Overview Presentation

    • Hudson 304a5 Consultation Extension Letter

    • Omega Electronic Mesh Measurement Gauge Method for Measuring Net Mesh Size

    • NEFMC Monkfish Press Release

• Organization Reports

  • NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office

    • GARFO Status of Actions Report

  • NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center

  • NOAA Office of General Counsel

  • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement

  • US Coast Guard

• Liaison Reports

  • New England Council

    • NEFMC September Meeting Agenda (Tab 15a)

    • NEFMC Liaison Report

  • South Atlantic Council

    • SAFMC September Meeting News Release (Tab 15b)

    • SAFMC Liaison Report

• 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.

• Meeting Recordings

• Meeting Motions

• Meeting Summary

Agenda Overview and Briefing Materials

• Detailed Agenda

• Stock Status Updates

• Late Public Comment Spreadsheet (only includes comments submitted after the supplemental comment deadlines)

• Combined Briefing Book

Bluefish 2023 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 1)

• Supplemental:

  • Bluefish Advisory Panel 8/1/22 Meeting Summary

  • Bluefish Monitoring Committee 7/27/22 Meeting Summary

• Presentation

Board Only - ASMFC Bluefish FMP Review

• Bluefish FMP Review

EAFM Recreational Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation

• Briefing Materials (Tab 2)

• Presentation

Summer Flounder 2023 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 3)

• Supplemental:

  • Monitoring Committee 7/28/22 Meeting Summary

  • 2021 Summer Flounder Management Track Assessment Report

  • Public Comment

• Presentation

Scup 2023 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 4)

• Supplemental:

  • Monitoring Committee 7/28/22 Meeting Summary (same report linked under Tab 3)

  • 2021 Scup Management Track Assessment Report

• Presentation

Black Sea Bass 2023 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 5)

• Supplemental:

  • Monitoring Committee 7/28/22 Meeting Summary (same report linked under Tab 3)

  • 2021 Black Sea Bass Management Track Assessment Report

• Presentation

Board Only: ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP Review

• Summer Flounder FMP Review

• Scup FMP Review

• Black Sea Bass FMP Review

BOEM Guidance for Mitigating Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Projects on Commercial and Recreational Fisheries

• Briefing Materials (Tab 6)

• Supplemental: Surfside Foods Comments

• Presentation (combined BOEM and MAFMC slides)

Community Offshore Wind Project (lease OCS-A-0539 off New Jersey)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 7)

• Presentation

East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning

• Briefing Materials (Tab 8)

• Supplemental:

  • Scenario Deepening Webinars Announcement

  • Scenario Creation Workshop Summary

  • Draft Scenario Narratives

• Presentation

Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee Report - Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary Proposal

• Briefing Materials (Tab 9)

• Supplemental:

  • MAFMC Scoping Comments on Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary Proposal

  • Other Organization Comments on Sanctuary Proposal:

    • Seafreeze Ltd. Comments (7/22/22)

    • American Saltwater Guides Association Comments (8/8/22)

    • Long Island Commercial Fishing Association Comments (8/8/22)

  • MAFMC Hudson Canyon Action Page

• Presentation

Update on New England Fishery Management Council Activities Affecting Mid-Atlantic

• Briefing Materials (Tab 10)

• Presentation

Butterfish 2023 – 2024 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 11)

• Supplemental: 2022 Butterfish Management Track Assessment Report

• Presentation

Report on Illex Squid Research Track Assessment Process

• Briefing Materials (Tab 12)

• Presentation

Illex Preliminary 2023 Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 13)

• Supplemental: 2022 Illex Squid Research Track Assessment (see the SSC meeting page for related documents)

• Presentation

Update on Illex Permit Amendment (Amendment 22 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 14)

• Presentation

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)

• Executive Director’s Report (Tab 16)

  • Supplemental:

    • NOAA Fisheries Recreational Fisheries Policy

    • SAFMC Mackerel/Cobia AP Solicitation

• 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 (Tab 17) – New England Council, South Atlantic Council

  • Supplemental:

    • SAFMC Press Release

    • NEFMC Liaison Report

• 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.

• Meeting Motions

• Meeting Report

• Meeting Recordings

Agenda Overview and Briefing Materials

• Agenda

• Stock Status/Council Action Updates

• Combined Briefing Book

Update on Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment products

• Briefing Materials (Tab 1)

• Presentation

MAFMC Aquaculture Policy

• Briefing Materials (Tab 2)

• Presentation

New Jersey Ocean Acidification Monitoring Network

Dr. Grace Saba, Rutgers University

• Briefing Materials (Tab 3)

• Supplemental:

  • Opportunities to Address Ocean Acidification Impacts in New Jersey

  • Developing a Statewide New Jersey Ocean Acidification Monitoring Network – Workshop Summary

• Presentation

2023 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Specifications (Review)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 4)

• Presentation

Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy Presentation

Sharon Benjamin, NOAA Fisheries

• Briefing Materials (Tab 5)

• Presentation

Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation Update

Dr. Gavin Fay, UMass Dartmouth, and Dr. Lou Carr-Harris, NEFSC

• Briefing Materials (Tab 6)

• Presentation

Recreational Harvest Control Rule Framework / Addenda

Council Meeting with the ASMFC ISFMP Policy Board

• Briefing Materials (Tab 7)

• Supplemental:

  • Summary: Joint Meeting of the MAFMC and ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Advisory Panels (5/25/22)

  • FMAT/PDT Meeting Summary (5/26/22)

  • Supplemental Public Comment

  • GARFO Letter to MAFMC: HCR Final Action (6/3/22)

• Presentation

Mackerel Rebuilding 2.0 Amendment

• Briefing Materials (Tab 8)

• Supplemental:

  • March 2023 SSC input on Mackerel Rebuilding

  • 2021 Atlantic Mackerel Management Track Assessment Summary

  • 2021 RH/S Update information (under “Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding”)

  • Canadian Comments on the US Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding 2.0 Amendment process (6/2/22)

  • Joint Letter from Bennett Nickerson Environmental Consulting, Conservation Law Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Wild Oceans (6/2/22)

• Presentation

2023 Longfin Squid Specifications (Review)

• Briefing Materials (Tab 9)

• Presentation - to be posted

2023 – 2025 Chub Mackerel Specifications

• Briefing Materials (Tab 10)

• Presentation

Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report

• Briefing Materials (Tab 11)

• Presentation

NEFSC Shad and River Herring Update

• Briefing Materials (Tab 12)

• Supplemental:

  • Annual Revenue Analyses - Supporting Tables

  • Seasonal Revenue Analyses - Supporting Tables

• Presentation

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Phase II

• Briefing Materials (Tab 13)

• Presentation

Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Draft Action Plan

• Briefing Materials (Tab 14)

• Presentation

Research Set-Aside Program Redevelopment

• Briefing Materials (Tab 15)

• Presentation

Business Session

• Committee Reports - SSC (Tab 16)

• Executive Director's Report (Tab 17) (Dr. Chris Moore)

  • Supplemental:

  • Save The Date: Meetings on Draft Guidance on Mitigating Impacts from Offshore Wind Projects on Fisheries

  • Comment Letter - MRIP Estimates

  • Conceptual Outline: Fisheries Governance Policy/Guidance pursuant to MSA 304(f)

• 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 - 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.

• Briefing Materials