ANNOUNCEMENT: Agenda Changes and Cancellations

Due to inclement weather, several items scheduled for the Council's February meeting have been cancelled or rescheduled. The meeting will continue to be streamed online until it adjourns on Wednesday afternoon. Additional information and updates about rescheduling will be posted on the February meeting page.

Cancelled:

Rescheduled:

The following items have been rescheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, February 12.  Additional information about specific times will be posted at www.mafmc.org/briefing/february-2014.


Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, February 12 

  • 9:00 a.m.  Council convenes
  • 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.  Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish as a Committee of the Whole
    • Slippage Framework (Framework Meeting 2 - action to minimize slippage events on observed mackerel trips)
  • Omnibus Observer Funding Amendment
    • review purpose, goals, and preliminary alternatives
  • 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.    Ricks E Savage Award
  • 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.    Lunch
  • 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Omnibus Allowable Biological Catch (ABC) Framework
    • Tier 2 assessment revisions, multiyear issues, automatic incorporation of new reference points
    • Framework Meeting 1
  • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.        Framework 8 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP- Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs)
    • Framework Meeting 1
    • Review data/analyses on the current Northern and Southern GRAs
    • Consider options to maintain, modify, or remove the current GRAs
  • 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Amendment CANCELLED
    • Doug Potts, NMFS 
    • Approve Amendment for submission
  • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Data Portal Presentation CANCELLED
    • Kevin St. Martin, Rutgers
    • Review project goals, methods and illustrative draft maps of Mid-Atlantic fishing activity summarized by port and gear groups
    • Provide advice to MARCO Portal team on best approaches and opportunities for engaging fishermen to review, discuss and improve project data and maps
  • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Public Hearing South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 1 CANCELLED
    • The amendment will update the Annual Catch Limits (ACL) for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel and Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel based on the recent stock assessment and new ABC recommendations from the Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs). 

Thursday, February 13  

CANCELLED - Agenda Items Rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon

  • 8:30 a.m. - 09:00 a.m.    Monkfish Framework 8 Rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon 
    • Approve final measurements which include: 
    • 2014‐2016 ABC/Annual Catch Target (ACT), Days‐at‐Sea, and Trip Limits 
    • Northern boundary for Permit Category H vessels
  • 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Business Session Rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon 
    • Organizational Reports
      • NMFS Regional Administrator
      • NMFS NEFSC Director
      • NOAA Office of General Counsel
      • Federal Enforcement Officials (NMFS and USCG)
      • ASMFC Executive Director
    • Liaison Reports
      • New England Council (January 28-30, 2014)
      • South Atlantic Council
    • Executive Director's Report - Chris Moore
    • Science Report - Rich Seagraves
    • Committee Reports
    • Continuing and New Business