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Squid Amendment Public Hearing #1 - Ocean City, MD

  • he Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce 12320 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, MD, 21842 United States (map)

NOTE: The public hearing document for this amendment is now available HERE (posted 4/19/2017).

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold nine public hearings in April and May 2017 to solicit public input on the Squid Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through 11:59 pm on May 18, 2017.

The amendment considers measures to reduce latent longfin and Illex squid permits. Currently, a relatively small portion of vessels with limited access (“moratorium”) squid permits account for the majority of landings in most years. The Council is concerned that activation of latent permits in the squid fisheries could lead to excessive fishing effort, potentially resulting in shortened seasons and increased catch of non-target species.

The amendment also considers measures to modify the management of longfin squid during Trimester 2 (May-August). The Council is considering this action because there is concern that the productivity of the longfin squid stock may be negatively impacted if excessive fishing in Trimester 2 does not allow sufficient spawning and/or successful egg hatching from egg mops.

Hearing Schedule

  1. April 24, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, 12320 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842, 410-213-0144.
  2. April 25, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland, ME 04101, 207-775-2311.
  3. April 26, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930, 978-282-0308.
  4. May 2, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Congress Hall, 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204, 609-884-8421.
  5. May 3, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  DoubleTree by Hilton Tinton Falls, 700 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, 732-544-9300.
  6. May 4, 2017, 6:00-8:00 PM: Webinar, http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squid2017/  800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.  A listening station will be available at Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 247– 2200. 
  7. May 8, 2017, 5:00-8:00 PM:  University of Rhode Island, Corless Auditorium, Watkins Building, 218 Ferry Rd., Narragansett, RI 401-874-6222.
  8. May 9, 2017, 4:30 – 7:00 PM:  Doubletree by Hilton Cape Cod – Hyannis, 287 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601, 508-771-1700.
  9. May 11, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, 431 East Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901, 631-208-0002.

Written Comments

Written comments may be sent through mail, email, fax, or online through 11:59 pm on Thursday, May 18, 2017.

  • Mail to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901 (please write “Squid Amendment Comments” on the outside of the envelope.)
  • Fax to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council at 302-674-5399 (please include “Squid Amendment Comments” in the subject line.)
  • Email to squid@mafmc.org
  • Online at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/squid-amendment-public-comments

Additional information and relevant background documents are available on the Council’s website at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment and in the public hearing document, available HERE. 

Questions? Please direct any questions about the amendment to Jason Didden (jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254).

Earlier Event: April 18
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel Meeting
Later Event: April 25
For-Hire Electronic Vessel Trip Report Workshop