August 2026 Council Meeting

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, August 11 – Thursday, August 13, 2026 at The Westin Philadelphia (99 South 17th Street at Liberty Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103; 215-563-1600) with a webinar option for those who choose to participate virtually.

Webinar Information

  • Click here to join the meeting (if prompted, enter access code: 2345 766 8471 and password: PsFVJvCQ227)

  • To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2345 766 8471

LIVE STREAM: To listen to the meeting without joining the webinar, check out the Council meeting live stream on YouTube.

Public Comment

Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal linked below or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. Comments received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2026, will be posted as supplemental materials. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

Agenda and Briefing Materials

Briefing materials and presentations will be posted below as they become available.

Tuesday, August 11th

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee (Closed Session)

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Swearing in of New and Reappointed Council Members

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Election of Officers

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 2027-2028 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Specifications

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Butterfish

2027-2029 Butterfish Specifications

Alternative Butterfish Trip Limits and Other Measures to Increase Quota Utilization

  • Presentation - to be posted

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monkfish and Skates

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 2027 Chub Mackerel Specifications

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Surveys Update – Dr. Kathryn Ford, NEFSC

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Scoping Presentation – Corie Grewal, NOAA Fisheries

Wednesday, August 12th     

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. 2027 Summer Flounder Specifications

9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 2027 Black Sea Bass Specifications

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 2027 Scup Specifications

11:30 a.m. Council Adjourns

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Only

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------

1:00 p.m. Council Reconvenes with ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Scup Winter I Framework

3:00 p.m. Council Convenes with the ASMFC Bluefish Management Board

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 2027 Bluefish Specifications

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ASMFC Bluefish Board Only

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) Overview and Recruiting

Thursday, August 13th      

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session