The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, June 16 – Thursday, June 18, 2026 at the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria (801 North Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-836-4700) with a webinar option for those who choose to participate virtually.
Webinar Information
Click here to join the meeting (if prompted, enter access code: 2338 634 1746 and password: YRgahfsi237)
To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2338 634 1746
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, June 3, 2026, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 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 below as they become available.
Tuesday, June 16th
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2026 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report
Dr. Abby Tyrell, NEFSC
Review and provide feedback
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Risk Assessment Report
Review and provide feedback
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Vessel Baseline Evaluation
Update on working group progress
Review summary of Advisory Panel meetings
Discuss next steps
Wednesday, June 17th
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report
Review report and provide feedback
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 2027 Golden Tilefish Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, Monitoring Committee, and staff
Review previously adopted 2027 specifications and management measures, and recommend changes if necessary
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 2027-2029 Blueline Tilefish Specifications
Review recommendations from the Advisory Panel, SSC, Monitoring Committee, and staff
Adopt specifications for 2027-2029
Review and revise 2027-2029 commercial and/or recreational measures if needed
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Overview of NEFSC Atlantic Mackerel Cooperative Research Initiative (“MackPack”)
Dr. Anna Mercer, NEFSC
Review and provide feedback
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Overview of NEFSC Fisheries Monitoring and Research Division (FMRD) Programs
Katherine McArdle, NEFSC
Review and provide feedback
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Scup Winter I Framework
Review preliminary analysis and draft alternatives
Adopt range of alternatives for further development
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. NEFSC Surveys Update
Peter Chase, NEFSC
Update on the 2025 and 2026 fishery-independent survey seasons
Update on the Regional Industry Trawl Survey (RIBTS)
Other survey related topics
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Acknowledgment of Outgoing Council Members
Thursday, June 18th
9:00 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