The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, October 7 – Thursday, October 9, 2025, at The Notary Hotel Philadelphia (21 North Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-496-3200) with a webinar option for those who choose to participate virtually.
Webinar Information
Click here to join the meeting (if prompted, enter access code:2342 852 3245 and password: YNdWeRfF979)
To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2342 852 324
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, September 24, 2025, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 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 September 26 Supplemental materials will be added as they become available.
Tuesday, October 7th
10:00 a.m. – 10:30a.m. Executive Committee (Closed Session)
Review 2025 Ricks E Savage Award nominations
10:30 a.m. – 12:00p.m. Executive Committee (Open Session)
Review draft deliverables of 2026 Implementation Plan
12:00 p.m. – 1:00p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 2:30p.m. Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Framework Meeting #1
Review current reporting requirements and recommendations from the 2024 program evaluation
Provide guidance on preliminary draft alternatives
2:30 p.m. – 3:30p.m. Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP)
Review recent program actions, including Fishing Effort Survey (FES) improvements
3:30 p.m. –5:00p.m. Mackerel Rebuilding and 2026-2027 Specifications Framework, Including River Herring and Shad Cap: Meeting #1
Review draft alternatives
Adopt range of alternatives for further development and analysis
Wednesday, October 8th
9:00 a.m. – 11:00a.m. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment
Review and approve public hearing document
11:00 a.m. – 12:00p.m. Gear Marking/On-Demand Gear Framework
Update from Plan Development Team/ Fishery Management Action Team (PDT/FMAT)
Consider final action
12:00 p.m. – 1:00p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 3:00p.m. Joint MAFMC-NEFMC Spiny Dogfish Framework (Including Accountability Measures Modifications and 2026-2027 Specifications) Meeting #2: Final Action
Review joint Committee recommendations
Review recommendations from the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
Select preferred alternatives and take final action
3:00 p.m. – 3:30p.m. Joint NEFMC-MAFMC Monkfish Specifications Framework: Final Action
Review New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) actions
Review joint Committee recommendations
Review recommendations from the NEFMC SSC, Plan Development Team (PDT), and Advisory Panel
Select preferred alternatives and take final action
3:30 p.m. – 4:00p.m. New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) Omnibus Management Flexibility Amendment: Monkfish Provisions
Review the monkfish sections of the Omnibus and NEFMC’s preferred alternatives
Select preferred monkfish alternatives and take final action
4:00 p.m. – 4:30p.m. Habitat Activities Update – Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division
Presentation on activities of interest in the region
4:30 p.m. – 5:00p.m. Atlantic Coast Regional Fisheries Compensation Program
Updates on development of a regional offshore wind fisheries compensation program
Thursday, October 9th
9:00 a.m. – 1:00p.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