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).

Agenda and Briefing Materials

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

Tuesday, February 10th

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

  • Review Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) membership applications

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

  • Review progress update on Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) project that is currently forecasting river herring bycatch risks

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

  • Review background information

  • Endorse evaluation approach

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

  • Review ongoing work on NEFMC’s new Risk Policy and NEFMC’s new strategic plan

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

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

  • Review draft workshop plans and action plan updates for the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment

  • Review draft outline of Recreational Data Collection White Paper

  • Update on Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey revisions

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

  • 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