The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, December 16 – Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison (1177 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005; 202-862-1600) with a webinar option for those who choose to participate virtually.
Webinar Information
Webinar details coming soon
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, December 3, 2025, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, 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 tabs will be posted on December 5. Supplemental materials will be added as they become available.
Tuesday, December 16th
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Atlantic Mackerel Framework including Rebuilding, 2026-2027 Specifications, and River Herring / Shad Cap
Review joint Committee (Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish; and River Herring and Shad) recommendations
Review recommendations from the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
Select preferred alternatives and take final action
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Joint MAFMC-NEFMC Spiny Dogfish Framework (Including Accountability Measures Modifications and 2026-2027 Specifications
Review NEFMC final action and consider if any modifications to October 2025 MAFMC actions are warranted
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
Council Convenes with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC’s) Policy Board
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Recreational Sector Separation Amendment
Review draft alternatives and recommendations from the Fishery Management Action Team/Plan Development Team, Advisory Panels, and Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee
Provide input to refine draft alternatives for inclusion in Draft Amendment/Public Hearing Document
Council and ASMFC Policy Board Adjourn
Council Convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 2026-2027 Summer Flounder Recreational Measures
Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
Determine percent change in expected harvest required under the Percent Change Approach for 2026-2027
Recommend conservation equivalency or coastwide management and associated measures for 2026-2027
Provide preliminary guidance on development of state measures proposals if necessary
Wednesday, December 17th
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 2026-2027 Scup Recreational Measures
Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
Determine percent change in expected harvest required under the Percent Change Approach for 2026-2027
Recommend 2026-2027 recreational management measures for federal waters
Provide preliminary guidance on development of state measures proposals if necessary
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 2026-2027 Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures
Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
Determine percent change in expected harvest required under the Percent Change Approach for 2026-2027
Recommend conservation equivalency or coastwide management and associated measures for 2026-2027
Provide preliminary guidance on development of state measures proposal if necessary
ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board Adjourns
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Framework
Review and provide input on the modified draft range of alternatives
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 2026 Implementation Plan
Review and approve 2026 Implementation Plan
4:30 p.m. Ricks E Savage Award Presentation
Presentation of the 2025 Ricks E Savage Award
Thursday, December 18th
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Governance Projects Presentation
Overview of East Coast Council governance projects and planned activities
9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
Committee Reports:
Scientific and Statistical Committee
Executive Director’s Report – Dr. Chris Moore
Organization Reports:
NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Office of General Counsel
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
US Coast Guard
Liaison Reports:
New England Council
South Atlantic Council
Other Business and General Public Comment