The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, October 6 – Thursday, October 8, 2026 at The Sanderling (1461 Duck Road, Duck, NC 27949; 855-412-7866), with a webinar option for those who choose to participate virtually.
Webinar Information
To be posted
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 16, 2026, will be included in the relevant briefing tab. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 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 tabs will be posted on September 25. Supplemental materials will be added as they become available.
Tuesday, October 6th
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Executive Committee (Closed Session)
Review 2026 Ricks E Savage Award nominations
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Executive Committee (Open Session)
Review draft deliverables for the 2027 Implementation Plan
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Evaluation of Vessel Baseline Restrictions
Review and consider initiating management action
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs) Project
Review scup GRAs, previous analysis, and summary of IRA project results
Consider potential management action
Wednesday, October 7th
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 2027 Illex Squid Specifications
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
Review previously adopted 2027 specifications, including commercial measures, and revise as necessary
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Illex Quota Issues
Review staff and SSC input
Decide on next steps
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 2027 Atlantic Mackerel Specifications
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
Review previously adopted 2027 specifications, including commercial and recreational measures, and revise as necessary
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ---------- LUNCH ----------
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Longfin Squid Research Track Assessment
Overview of recently completed Research Track stock assessment results
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2027 Spiny Dogfish Specifications
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
Review previously adopted 2027 specifications, including commercial measures, and revise as necessary
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Joint MAFMC and SAFMC Blueline Tilefish Subcommittee Update
Review recommendations from the Subcommittee and consider next steps
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Habitat Activities Update – Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division
Presentation on activities of interest in the region
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Regional Offshore Wind Fisheries Compensatory Mitigation Fund Update – Deirdre Boelke, Fisheries Insight Network
Presentation on draft design of regional fisheries compensation fund administration and public comment opportunities
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Scoping Presentation – Corie Grewal, NOAA Fisheries
Review information on the scoping process for potential future ALWTRP modifications
Thursday, October 8th
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
Committee Reports:
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC)
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