The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. The purpose of this meeting is to review the Monitoring Committee’s recommendations for 2023 recreational management for all three species and to provide Advisory Panel input on 2023 recreational management measures.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (if prompted enter Meeting number: 2335 477 9283; Password: advisors)

• Audio Options: Participants can use their computer mic/speakers or telephone for webinar audio. Once you have joined the webinar at the link above, you will be able to select your audio options.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2335 477 9283. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Summary of October 26, 2022 Monitoring Committee meeting (Note that a summary of the Monitoring Committee’s November 15 meeting is not yet available. However, the MC’s recommendations are summarized in the staff presentations linked below.)

• Staff presentation on Percent Change Approach and Recreational Fishery Models

• Council staff memo on scup recreational management measures for 2023

• Staff presentation on scup measures

• Council staff memo on black sea bass recreational management measures for 2023

• Staff presentation on black sea bass measures

• Council staff memo on summer flounder recreational management measures for 2023

• Staff presentation on summer flounder measures

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet together, via webinar on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 from 9am until 12pm. The purpose of this meeting is for the EOP Committee and AP to begin a comprehensive review of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) risk assessment. The Council completed the initial risk assessment in 2017 to provide a snapshot of the current risks to meeting management objectives and helps the Council decide where to focus resources to address priority ecosystem considerations. This comprehensive review will allow the Council to evaluate new and existing objectives and risk elements and consider new information and analyses that are available to help update the risk assessment. It is anticipated the review will be completed in the fall of 2023.

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

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the November 30, 2022 EOP Committee and AP meeting (if prompted, enter Meeting number: 2343 678 8844; Meeting password: 8TrcRda3Vs4). After you connect, you will have an opportunity to choose whether you want to use your phone or computer mic/speakers for audio.

• For telephone-only access, dial +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll) and enter access code 2343 678 8844.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Initial EAFM Risk Assessment (2017)

• EAFM Risk Assessment Update (2022)

• EAFM Guidance Document (2019)

• Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report (2022)

The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly via webinar on Wednesday, November 16 2022, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss potential follow-up actions regarding the disapproved Illex Permit Amendment.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2349 074 9396; Password: JBzGpH53WJ4). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2349 074 9396. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• Staff Memo

• July 2020 MAFMC Press Release on Council Action: https://www.mafmc.org/newsfeed/2020/council-approves-changes-to-management-of-illex-fishery

• September 2022 NOAA Disapproval Bulletin: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/amendment-22-mackerel-squid-and-butterfish-fishery-management-plan-decision?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

• September 2022 NOAA Disapproval Letter to MAFMC

The Council is holding a joint meeting with our Tilefish AP and Communications and Outreach AP to discuss ways to improve angler awareness of the tilefish permit and reporting requirements. Webinar details are posted below. Supporting documents and additional details will be posted at a later date.

Webinar Information

• Click here to join the September 28 Joint Communications and Outreach and Tilefish Advisory Panel meeting  (if prompted, enter Meeting number: 2337 519 8806; Meeting password: Tilefish). After you connect, you will have an opportunity to choose whether you want to use your phone or computer mic/speakers for audio.

• For telephone-only access, dial +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll) and enter access code 2337 519 8806.

Meeting Materials

• Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting - Outreach Overview

• GARFO Outreach Flyer and Rack Card

Supplemental:

• MAFMC recreational tilefish permitting and reporting web page

Staff Contact: Hannah Hart - hhart@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5263

The Council’s Bluefish Advisory Panel will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Bluefish Advisory Panel on Monday, August 1, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held via webinar.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Advisory Panels to comment on bluefish recreational management measures for 2023. Feedback will be solicited on the current measures and the Monitoring Committee recommendations and AP feedback will be provided to inform the Council and Board’s specifications discussions.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2335 614 6563; Password: bmVaisCn458). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2335 614 6563. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Staff Memo: Review of 2023 Bluefish Specifications Measures

• Staff Memo: Review of 2023 Bluefish Recreational Management Measures

The Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel will meet via webinar on Thursday, July 28, from 3-6 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss recent fishery performance and develop a fishery performance report.

Staff Contact: Jason Didden, jdidden@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5254

Webinar Connection Information

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2355 743 4339; Password: iHhYSUtQ348). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2355 743 4339. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• 2022 Fishery Information Document

• 2021 Fishery Performance Report (last year’s report)

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet together, via webinar on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 10am until 12pm. The purpose of this meeting is for the EOP Committee and its Advisors to develop comments for Council consideration related to the NOAA proposal to designate the Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2349 264 3872; Password: MAFMC2022). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2349 264 3872. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Staff Memo: Background and Considerations for Council Comments

• June 8, 2022 Federal Register Public Scoping Notice of Intent

• July 2022 ONMS letter to MAFMC regarding consultation during the designation process

• April 2017 Mid-Atlantic Council comment letter on Hudson Canyon Sanctuary nomination

• Staff Memo: Landings and Revenue Assessment for Original Nominated Area

• Staff Presentation

• Supplemental:

  • November 2016 WCS nomination for Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary

  • GARFO analysis: Assessment of Commercial Landings and Revenues in Original Nominated Area (downloads as html file)

  • GARFO analysis: Assessment of Recreational For-Hire Landings and Revenues in Original Nominated Area (downloads as html file)

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Bluefish Advisory Panel will meet jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Bluefish Advisory Panel on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via webinar. Webinar connection, agenda items, and any additional information will be posted on this page at a later date.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Advisory Panel to develop a fishery performance report (FPR). The intent of the FPR is to facilitate a venue for structured input from the Advisory Panel for the bluefish specifications process. The FPR will be used by the MAFMC’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Bluefish Monitoring Committee (MC) when reviewing 2023 management measures designed to achieve the recommended bluefish catch and landings limits.

Staff Contact: kcoutre@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5259

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• 2022 Bluefish Fishery Information Document

Webinar Connection Information

• Click Here to join the webinar (if prompted enter the meeting number: 2347 391 1854; password: bluefishAPJune). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone only access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 234 739 11854. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts when you join the webinar.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will meet jointly via webinar with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel on Thursday, June 16, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss recent performance of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass commercial and recreational fisheries and develop Fishery Performance Reports. These reports will be considered by the Scientific and Statistical Committee, the Monitoring Committee, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission when reviewing 2023 catch and landings limits and management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass.

Webinar Connection

• Click Here to Join the Webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2334 491 4396; Password: FlukeScupBSB). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 233 449 14396. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts when you join the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Summer Flounder Fishery Information Document

• Scup Fishery Information Document (minor revisions 6/15/22)

• Black Sea Bass Fishery Information Document

The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel (AP) and River Herring and Shad (RH/S) AP will meet jointly by webinar on Friday, May 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is for the APs to provide input on several topics for the June Council meeting including:

• Mackerel Rebuilding (final action)

• RH/S Cap (action with mackerel)

• RH/S spatial revenue analyses (review)

Agenda - Mackerel Rebuilding and 2023 Specifications

• Review Public Comments

• Review updated analyses and potential alternative modifications

• AP Input

Agenda - RH/S Spatial Analyses

• Review Spatial Analyses

• AP Input

Meeting Materials - Mackerel Rebuilding and 2023 Specifications

• Public Hearing Document and related materials

• Written Comments

• Hearings Summaries (partial, one in progress)

Meeting Materials - River Herring and Shad (RH/S)

• RH/S White Papers

• River Herring Maps

• RH/S Seasonal Analyses

Contact: Jason Didden - jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254

Webinar Details

• Click Here to Join the Meeting (If prompted, enter Meeting number 2333 558 5881, Meeting password: sPJXJQap588)

• To join by phone: 1-415-655-0001, Access Code: 2333 558 5881

The Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel will meet on April 26, 2022, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to generate fishery performance reports for chub mackerel and longfin squid.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• 2022 Longfin Squid Fishery Information Document

• 2022 Chub Mackerel Fishery Information Document

Webinar Connection Information

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2336 686 8099; Password: FZedyMRx872)

• Phone-Only Access: 415-655-0001; Access code: 2336 686 8099. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts when you join the webinar.

Contacts:

• Jason Didden - jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254 (butterfish, longfin squid)

• Julia Beaty - jbeaty@mafmc.org, 302-526-5250 (chub mackerel)

The Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel will meet on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. The objective of this is to review available 2021 fishery information and prepare the 2022 Fishery Performance Report (FPR). The FPR will be considered by the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Council during their review of surfclam and ocean quahog measures for the upcoming fishing year (2023).

Contact: Jessica Coakley, jcoakley@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5252

Webinar Information

• Join the Webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2337 632 6281, Meeting password: SCOQAP2022FPR)

• Join by Phone: +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll), Access Code: 2337 632 6281

Meeting Materials

• 2022 Surfclam Fishery Information Document

• 2022 Ocean Quahog Fishery Information Document

• 2021 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Performance Report

The Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel held a joint meeting via webinar on Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting was for the EOP Committee and AP to provide feedback and input on a research project the Council is collaborating on with a research team from Rutgers University. The project is developing forecast models to predict short-term (1-10 years) climate-induced distribution changes for four economically important Mid and South Atlantic managed species (summer flounder, spiny dogfish, Illex squid, and gray triggerfish). Short-term projections should provide for greater management utility and application since most management considerations and decisions operate at similar timescales. A forecast model has been completed for summer flounder and the research team will present on model development and initial/draft results and outputs. The EOP Committee and AP provided feedback on the model outputs and their potential utility and offered input on future project direction and next steps.

• Webinar Recording

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Project Overview: Short-term forecasts of species distributions for fisheries management

• Presentation

The Tilefish Advisory Panel will meet Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to develop the 2022 Fishery Performance Reports (FPR; produced by the Advisory Panel Members). The intent of the FPRs is to facilitate a venue for structured input from the Advisory Panel members for the Golden and Blueline Tilefish specifications processes, including recommendations by the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee. A meeting agenda and background information will be posted on this page about one week before the meeting.

Questions? Contact José Montañez (302-526-5258, jmontanez@mafmc.org) or Jason Didden (302-526-5254, jdidden@mafmc.org)

Webinar Information

• Click here to join the meeting (If prompted, enter Meeting number: 2330 922 3740; Meeting password: StEQma2c3k2)

• Please connect your audio through your computer, telephone, or other device by following the prompts that appear after opening the webinar. If you must join by phone only, you may dial dial +1-415-655-0001 and enter access code 2330 922 3740. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or other device.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• 2022 Blueline Tilefish Fishery Information Document

• 2022 Golden Tilefish Fishery Information Document

• Last year’s Fishery Performance Reports:

  • 2021 Golden Tilefish Fishery Performance Report

  • 2021 Blueline Tilefish Fishery Performance Report

The Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel will meet February 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to develop fishery performance reports (FPRs) for Illex squid and Atlantic mackerel. These reports will be considered by the SSC in March when it reviews 2022 Illex catch levels and finalizes the Atlantic mackerel rebuilding trajectories. The AP will develop FPRs for butterfish, longfin squid, and chub mackerel at a meeting later in the year.

Contact: Jason Didden, jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254

Agenda: Review each information document and develop fishery performance reports. The Atlantic mackerel rebuilding options will also be reviewed. The Advisory Panel will have a later meeting focused on recommendations for Atlantic mackerel rebuilding.

Webinar Information

• Click here to join the meeting (If prompted, enter Meeting number: 2341 284 7181; Meeting password: rdJd8Q6Jp5j)

• Please connect your audio through your computer, telephone, or other device by following the prompts that appear after opening the webinar. If you must join by phone only, you may dial dial +1-415-655-0001 and enter access code 2341 284 7181. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or other device.

Meeting Materials

• 2022 Atlantic Mackerel Fishery Information Document

  • Last Year’s Fishery Performance Report

• 2022 Illex Fishery Information Document

  • Last Year’s Fishery Performance Report

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel and Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Advisory Panel will meet jointly on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. This meeting will be conducted by webinar.

The purpose of this meeting is to review and provide feedback on sea turtle trawl bycatch issues and the ongoing research on mitigation measures in the Greater Atlantic Region. Fisheries bycatch is a primary threat to endangered and threatened sea turtles and occurs at high levels in trawl fisheries such as croaker, longfin squid, and summer flounder. NMFS and other partners have been investigating mitigation measures such as gear modifications called Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) or limited tow durations to reduce mortality of incidentally bycaught sea turtles.

Webinar Information

• Webinar Link: Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting number: 2348 412 7602; Meeting password: CAvm3m4TNj8).

• For phone-only access, dial 1-415-655-0001 and enter access code 2348 412 7602. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or other device.

Briefing Materials

• Agenda

• Sea Turtle Bycatch in Trawl Fisheries - Summary of Issues