The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, June 3 – Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront (3315 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451; 757-305-9001), with a webinar option for those who choose to participate virtually.
Webinar Information
Click here to join the webinar (if prompted, enter Meeting number (access code): 2342 328 4286; Meeting password: QsPdWPHj632)
To join by phone only, dial (415)-655-0001 and enter the access code shown above.
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, May 21, 2025, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 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 materials will be posted below as they become available.
Tuesday, June 3rd
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Spiny Dogfish Accountability Measures Modification Framework: Framework Meeting #1
Review draft alternatives
Adopt range of alternatives for further development and analysis
Consider merging 2026-2027 specifications into Framework
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 2026-2028 Blueline Tilefish Specifications
Review of 2025 Southeast data, Assessment, and Review 92 (SEDAR 92) operational assessment (SEFSC staff)
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Monitoring Committee, and staff
Adopt specifications for 2026-2028
Review and revise 2026-2028 commercial and recreational measures if necessary
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 2026 Golden Tilefish Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, Monitoring Committee, and staff
Review previously adopted 2026 specifications and management measures, and recommend changes if necessary
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. NEFSC Cost Survey for Commercial Fishing Businesses Presentation (Gregory Ardini, Economist, NOAA Fisheries)
Update on research projects using data from the 2023 Northeast Commercial Fishing Cost Survey
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Rulemaking
(GARFO Protected Resources Division Staff)
Update from NOAA Fisheries on anticipated Take Reduction Team activities and timeline
Wednesday, June 4th
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report
Review report and provide feedback
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 2025 Modular Ocean Model (MOM) 6 Presentation
(Vincent Saba, NEFSC Ecosystem Dynamics & Assessment Branch)
2025 ocean temperature forecast and ten year outlook
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. White Paper on Separate OFLs and ABCs for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
Review progress and provide guidance to SSC sub-group on next steps
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Offshore Wind Monitoring Standards Update
(Northeast Fisheries Science Center staff: Elizabeth Methratta, Chris Orphanides, and Angela Silva)
Update on NOAA Fisheries Offshore Wind monitoring standards
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 2026-2028 Chub Mackerel Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, Monitoring Committee, and staff
Adopt specifications for 2026-2028
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2026 Butterfish Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, Monitoring Committee, and staff
Review previously adopted 2026 specifications and management measures, and recommend changes if necessary
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2026 Longfin Squid Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, Monitoring Committee, and staff
Review previously adopted 2026 specifications and management measures, and recommend changes if necessary
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 2026 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, and staff
Review previously adopted 2026 specifications and management measures, and recommend changes if necessary
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Gear Marking/On-Demand Gear Framework
Update from PDT/FMAT
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Acknowledgment of Outgoing Council Members
Thursday, June 5th
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
Committee Reports:
Scientific and Statistical Committee
Executive Director’s Report – Dr. Chris Moore
Discuss Council response to Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
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