February 2026 Council Meeting

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet by webinar Tuesday, February 10 - Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Webinar Information

• Click here to join the webinar (if prompted, enter access code: 2337 629 5457 and password: z4aXVKAA45r)

• To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2337 629 5457

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 or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. Comments received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, will be posted as supplemental materials. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

• Submit Comments

Agenda and Briefing Materials

Briefing materials will be posted on January 30. Supplemental materials and presentations will be posted as they become available.

• Agenda

• Stock Status

• Combined Briefing Book

Tuesday, February 10th

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

• Briefing Materials (Tab 1)

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  River Herring & Shad (RH/S) Update - Bycatch Risk Prediction Project
Dr. Janet Nye and Kaitlynn Wade, University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences

• Briefing Materials (Tab 2)

• Presentation

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Introduction to Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Illex Quota Issue

• Briefing Materials (Tab 3)

• Presentation

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) Planning Update

• Briefing Materials (Tab 4)

• Presentation

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

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Legal Review, Financial Disclosure and Recusal Training
John Almeida, NOAA Fisheries General Counsel

• Briefing Materials (Tab 5)

• Presentation

1:30 p.m. Council convenes with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Policy Board

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Updates on Recreational Fisheries Issues

• Briefing Materials (Tab 6)

  • Supplemental:

    • Sector Separation Workshop Memo

    • Sector Separation Amendment Draft Action Plan

• Presentation

4:00 p.m. Joint meeting with ASMFC Policy Board adjourns

Wednesday, February 11th 

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

• Committee Reports:

  • Executive Committee - review and approve SSC membership

  • Presentation

• Executive Director’s Report (Tab 7) – Dr. Chris Moore

  • Supplemental:

    • Letter to SAFMC: Joint Subcommittee

    • CCC Letter to NMFS Regarding Proposed Risk/Value Matrix (2/2/26)

    • Memo: Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Photo Contest

    • Request for Council Review of Seafood EO Public Comments and Updated Work Plans:

      • Email from Kelly Denit to Council EDs

      • Spreadsheet: Public Comments Submitted on the Seafood Executive Order 14276 Federal Register Notice

      • Appendix: Organization Summary of Public Comments on Seafood EO 14276 for Regional Fishery Management Councils

  • Presentation

• Organization Reports:

  • NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office - Status of Actions Report

  • NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

  • NOAA Office of General Counsel

  • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement

  • US Coast Guard

• Liaison Reports (Tab 8)

  • New England Council

    • Supplemental: Liaison Report

  • South Atlantic Council

• Other Business and General Public Comment

  • Comment Letter - Todd Elder