NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed specifications for the 2014 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including an annual catch limit, total allowable landings, a commercial quota and recreational harvest limit, and a recreational possession limit.
NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed management measures for spiny dogfish that include implementing a research set- aside program, updating essential fish habitat definitions, allowing rollover of specifications, and eliminating the seasonal allocation of the commercial quota.
The Council has published a report on the Offshore Wind Best Management Practices Workshop held in Baltimore, MD on February 5 - 6, 2014. Click here to read the report..
NOAA Fisheries has published 2014 specifications for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish. Specifications are effective April 4, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
Guest Speaker: Tom Watson, Fishery Liaison Officer for DONG Energy, UK
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - 5:00 to 6:00 pm.
NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed modifications to 2014 summer flounder quotas and proposed quotas for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass for the fishing year 2015, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
On Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 7 p.m., the MAFMC will hold a brief public information webinar to gather additional fishery industry perspectives on the likely impacts of the alternative spiny dogfish trip limits under consideration in the 2014-2015 specifications package.
Last week more than 70 fishery managers, scientists, policy makers, and other stakeholders convened in Washington, D.C. for the East Coast Climate Change and Fisheries Governance Workshop.
The Council will hold its next meeting in Montauk, New York on April 8 - 10, 2014.
NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will be convening the River Herring Technical Expert Working Group on March 27th from 1-4pm to discuss the working group structure and river herring conservation planning.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced that it is seeking public comment as it prepares an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze potential impacts from proposed wind energy research activities off the coast of Virginia. Comments will be accepted through April 14, 2014.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled seven community port meetings in North Carolina to gather stakeholder input for a vision and strategic plan for the snapper grouper fishery.
The following summary highlights major actions approved at the Council's meeting on February 11 - 13, 2014 meeting in New Bern, North Carolina.
Understanding climate change and the associated impacts on the ocean environment has emerged as one of the major challenges facing fishery science and management. On February 11, 2014, the Council hosted a Climate Change and Fishery Science Workshop in New Bern, North Carolina. Presentations and audio recordings from the workshop are all available at the link below.
During last week's Council meeting, Red Munden was named this year's recipient of the Ricks E Savage award. The award is given each year to a person who has added value to the MAFMC process and management goals through significant scientific, legislative, enforcement, or management activities.
The National Marine Fisheries Service, in partnership with North Carolina Sea Grant, is providing competitive funding for research in support of the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan.The deadline for submitting proposals is 4 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2014.
Due to inclement weather, several items scheduled for the Council's February meeting have been cancelled or rescheduled.
The Council is accepting applications from individuals interested in serving on its newly-formed river herring and shad advisory panel. Deadline: February 28, 2014.
NOAA Fisheries has changed the name of the Northeast Regional Office to the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in order to better reflect the broad extent of its region, which spans from Maine to North Carolina and includes the Great Lakes.
