July 23-25, 2024 SSC Meeting

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) met July 23 - 25, 2024 at the Abele Library at the Le Meridien (1421 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA).

Staff Contact: Brandon Muffley, bmuffley@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5260

• July 2024 SSC Meeting Report

• Report on Proposed Approaches to Setting Recreational Measures in the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries for Summer Flounder, Black Sea Bass, Scup and Bluefish

Agenda and Briefing Materials

• Agenda

• Combined Briefing Materials (Part 1 - Bluefish through Butterfish)

• Combined Briefing Materials (Part 2 - Surfclam Specs through Other Business)

Bluefish 2025 ABC Review

1. Staff Memo: Review of 2025 Measures for Bluefish

2. 2024 Bluefish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

3. 2024 Bluefish Fishery Information Document

4. 2024 Bluefish Data Update

5. Presentation

Summer Flounder 2025 ABC Review

1. Staff Memo: Review of 2025 Measures for Summer Flounder

2. 2024 Summer Flounder Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

3. 2024 Summer Flounder Fishery Information Document

4. 2024 Data Update for Summer Flounder

5. Presentation

Scup 2025 ABC Review

1. Staff Memo: Review of 2025 Measures for Scup

2. Updated NEFSC Scup Projections for 2025

3. 2024 Scup Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report (note: same memo as posted under Summer Flounder)

4. 2024 Scup Fishery Information Document

5. 2024 Data Update for Scup

6. Presentation

Blueline Tilefish 2025 ABC Specifications

1. SSC Terms of Reference for Blueline Tilefish

2. Staff Memo: 2025 Blueline Tilefish Specification Recommendations

   • Supplemental: Staff Memo – Revised Recreational Blueline Tilefish Catch Estimates

3. 2024 Blueline Tilefish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

4. 2024 Blueline Tilefish Fishery Information Document (revised 8/2/24)

5. Presentation

Golden Tilefish 2025-2027 ABC Specifications

1. SSC Terms of Reference for Golden Tilefish

2. Staff Memo: 2025-2027 Golden Tilefish Specifications Recommendations

3. 2025-2027 Golden Tilefish OFL/ABC Projections

4. Draft Golden Tilefish OFL CV Decision Criteria Summary - to be posted

   • General OFL CV Framework Discussion Table

5. Draft 2024 Golden Tilefish Management Track Assessment Report

   • Additional Information: See the Stock Assessment Support Information (SASINF) Search Tool for additional information on the 2024 Golden Tilefish Management and Research Track assessments, including tables/figures, working papers, and presentations.

6. Draft June 2024 Management Track Peer Review Panel Summary Report

7. 2024 Golden Tilefish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report (note: same memo as posted under Blueline Tilefish)

8. 2024 Golden Tilefish Fishery Information Document

9. Supplemental Information:

   • February 28 and April 4, 2024 Assessment Oversight Panel Summary Report

   • 2024 Golden Tilefish Research Track Peer Review Panel Summary Report

10. Presentation 1 - NEFSC

11. Presentation 2 - Council Staff

Black Sea Bass 2025 ABC Specification

1. SSC Terms of Reference for Black Sea Bass

2. Staff Memo: Recommendations for 2025 Black Sea Bass Specifications

3. 2025 Black Sea Bass OFL/ABC Projections

4. Draft Black Sea Bass OFL CV Decision Criteria Summary

5. Draft 2024 Black Sea Bass Management Track Assessment Report

   • Additional Information: See the Stock Assessment Support Information (SASINF) Search Tool for additional information on the 2024 Black Sea Bass Management Track and 2023 Research Track assessments, including tables/figures, working papers, and presentations.

6. Draft June 2024 Management Track Peer Review Panel Summary Report (note: same report as posted under Golden Tilefish)

7. 2024 Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report (note: same memo as posted under Summer Flounder)

8. 2024 Black Sea Bass Fishery Information Document

9. Supplemental Information:

   • February 28 and April 4, 2024 Assessment Oversight Panel Summary Report  (note: same report as posted under Golden Tilefish)

   • 2023 Black Sea Bass Research Track Assessment Working Group Report

   • 2023 Black Sea Bass Research Track Peer Review Panel Summary Report

   • Center for Independent Experts (CIE) Reports for the 2023 Black Sea Bass Research Track Stock Assessment Peer Review:

     1. Maguire

     2. Rice

     3. Kupschus

10. Presentation 1 - NEFSC

11. Presentation 2 - Council Staff

Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda

1. Draft SSC Recreational Measures Setting Sub-Group Report

2. Supplemental Information:

   • Recreational Measures Setting Framework/Addenda Overview Presentation

   • Working Paper: Extending the Striped Bass Approach to Fleet Specific Reference Points (M. Celestino and S. Truesdell)

   • Working Paper: Linking the Recreational Demand Model (RDM) and Age-Structured Assessment Program (ASAP) Simulations (P. Rago)

     • Working Paper: Direct Incorporation of RDM-ASAP Outputs into Council Risk Policy (P. Rago)

     • Example Application of Methodology to Link RDM Outputs to Council Risk Policy: Effects of Reducing Catch on Probability of Overfishing (P. Rago)

   • Recreational Reform Initiative Management Strategy Evaluation Report (MSE Working Group) - to be posted

3. Presentation

Butterfish 2025-2026 ABC Specifications

1. SSC Terms of Reference for Butterfish

2. Staff Memo: 2025-2026 Butterfish Specification Recommendations

3. 2025-2026 Butterfish OFL/ABC Projections

4. Draft Butterfish OFL CV Decision Criteria Summary - to be posted

5. Draft 2024 Butterfish Management Track Assessment Report

   • Additional Information: See the Stock Assessment Support Information (SASINF) Search Tool for additional information on the 2024 Butterfish Management Track assessment and 2022 Research Track assessment, including tables/figures, working papers, and presentations.

6. Draft June 2024 Management Track Peer Review Panel Summary Report (note: same report as posted under Golden Tilefish)

7. 2024 Butterfish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

8. 2024 Butterfish Fishery Information Document

9. Supplemental Information:

   • February 28 and April 4, 2024 Assessment Oversight Panel Summary Report  (note: same report as posted under Golden Tilefish)

   • 2022 Butterfish Research Track Assessment Working Group Report

10. Presentation 1 - NEFSC

11. Presentation 2 - Council Staff

Atlantic Surfclam 2025-2028 ABC Specifications

1. SSC Terms of Reference for Atlantic Surfclam

2. Staff Memo: 2025-2028 Atlantic Surfclam Specification Recommendations

3. Draft Atlantic Surfclam OFL CV Decision Criteria Summary

4. Draft 2024 Atlantic Surfclam Management Track Assessment Report

   • Additional Information: See the Stock Assessment Support Information (SASINF) Search Tool for additional information on the 2024 Atlantic Surfclam Management Track assessment, including tables/figures and presentations.

5. Draft June 2024 Management Track Peer Review Panel Summary Report (note: same report as posted under Golden Tilefish)

6. 2024 Atlantic Surfclam Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

7. 2024 Surfclam Fishery Information Document

8. Estimated Proportion of Undersized Surfclam Landings for 2023

9. Supplemental Information:

   • February 28 and April 4, 2024 Assessment Oversight Panel Summary Report  (note: same report as posted under Golden Tilefish)

   • 61st SAW/SARC Assessment Summary Report (2016)

10. Presentation 1 - NEFSC

11. Presentation 2 - Council Staff

Ocean Quahog 2025 ABC Review

1. Staff Memo: Review of 2025 Measures for Ocean Quahog (note: same memo as posted under Atlantic Surfclam)

2. 2024 Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report (note: same report as posted under Atlantic Surfclam)

3. 2024 Ocean Quahog Fishery Information Document

4. 2024 Ocean Quahog Data Update

Surfclam Genetics Research

1. Supplemental Final Report (2024): Updated Surfclam Genetics Research (M. Hare, Cornell University)

2. Initial Final Report (2022): Surfclam Population Structure and Population Connectivity

3. Presentation

Other Business

1. OFL CV guidance document (revised June 2024)

2. Draft Agenda for the Scientific Coordination Sub-Committee 8th National Workshop

3. Mid-Atlantic Council Request for Proposals – Inflation Reduction Act Projects:

   • Evaluating the Data Needs and Management Strategies to Support Climate-Ready Fisheries Management