The New England Fishery Management Council will meet September 24-26, 2019 at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA. Additional information will be posted at https://www.nefmc.org/calendar/sept-24-26-2018-council-meeting.
The Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a webinar meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review recent operational stock assessment information for scup and black sea bass, and to review the recommendations of the Scientific and Statistical Committee and Monitoring Committee for 2020-2021 specifications for all three species. The advisory panel will also review an analysis of commercial scup discards, and will be asked for input on commercial minimum mesh size requirements.
Audio: 1-800-832-0736, room number 4472108
SSC and Monitoring Committee Reports
Summer Flounder
Black Sea Bass
Staff Memo: 2020-2021 Black Sea Bass ABC recommendations, revised 9/4/19
Supplemental memo on black sea bass 2020-2021 specifications, added 9/11/19 with minor revisions 9/13/19
2019 Operational Assessment and Peer Review Panel Report: Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Scup, revised 9/4/19
Scup
Commercial Mesh Size Regulations
The Northeast Regional Marine Fish Habitat Assessment Inshore Team will meet September 24, 2019, from 9:30am to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the University of Connecticut Avery Point (1084 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, CT 06340). There is parking onsite for a $1 per hour fee – see here: https://park.uconn.edu/avery-point-guest-parking/.
For additional details visit the October 2019 Council Meeting page
The Northeast Regional Marine Fish Habitat Assessment Offshore Team will meet October 9, 2019, from 9:30am to 5:00pm. The meeting will be held at the Fairfield Inn & Suites New Bedford (West Chop Room) - 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740.
The New England Fishery Management Council will meet December 3-5, 2019 at the Hotel Viking in Newport, RI. Additional information will be posted at https://www.nefmc.org/calendar/dec-3-5-2019-council-meeting.
The Council will meet December 10-12, 2019 in Annapolis, MD. The meeting will be held at theWestin Annapolis (100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-972-4300). Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Council will meet February 11-13, 2020 in Duck, NC. The meeting will be held at the Sanderling Resort, 1461 Duck Road, Duck, NC 27949; (855)-412-7866. Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Council will meet April 7-9, 2020 in Galloway, NJ. The meeting will be held at the Stockton Seaview, 401 South New York Road, Galloway, NJ 08205; (609) 652-1800. Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Council will meet June 2-4, 2020 in Virginia Beach, VA. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 3001 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23151; (757) 213-3000. Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Council will meet August 10-13, 2020 in Philadelphia, PA. The meeting will be held at The Notary Hotel, 21 N. Juniper St., Philadelphia, PA 19107; (215) 496-3200. Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Council will meet October 6-8, 2020 in Riverhead, NY. The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Place Long Island East End, 451 East Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901. (631) 208-0002. Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Council will meet December 15-17, 2020 in Baltimore, MD. The meeting will be held at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, 550 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21202. (410) 234-0550. Additional information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
The Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel will meet on Monday, September 23, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to review and provide input on options for modifying access to the Illex squid fishery as well as for revisions to the MSB Plan Goals/Objectives. The terms of reference for a working group on in-year Illex quota adjustments will also be discussed.
The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only audio connection: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/msb-ap-illex/. Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or the public can call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.
The Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee will meet on Thursday, September 19 (10:00 AM start) through Friday, September 20 (12:00 PM tentative end) at the Hyatt Place Inner Harbor (511 South Central Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21202; telephone 410-558-1840). There will also be a webinar connection for remote participation.
The purpose of this meeting is to review and provide feedback on a draft summer flounder conceptual model, data availability and draft management questions that could be explored with the conceptual model. As part of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) decision framework, the Council agreed to pilot the development of a summer flounder conceptual model that will consider the high priority risk factors affecting summer flounder and its fisheries. A technical workgroup has been working throughout 2019 to develop a draft conceptual model and document the presence/absence of all supporting data and pertinent information.
Webinar URL: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/sept2019eop/
Audio connection instructions will pop up automatically when you join the webinar. For audio-only access, dial 1-800-832-0736; and enter room number 5939710.
The Council’s Bluefish Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar on Wednesday, September 18, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to recommend 2020-2021 annual catch limits, trip limits, discards and other management measures for the bluefish fishery.
Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/bf2019mc
Room #: 5068609
Conference #: 1-800-832-0736
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Airport, 9000 Bartram Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153; telephone: 215-365-4500.
The purpose of this meeting is to review and provide comments on the Fishery Management Action Team’s recommendations to address potential actions from the Catch Share Program review conducted by Northern Economic, Inc. The input from the Committee on this topic will be presented to the Council’s Executive Committee at the October 2019 Council meeting, when the Council discusses its 2020 Implementation Plan.
In addition, the Committee will also review and provide input on the public hearing comments from the Excessive Shares Amendment. The input from the Committee on this topic will be presented to the Council at its December 2019 Council meeting, when the Council discusses the final action/approval of the Excessive Shares Amendment. An agenda and background documents will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.
Excessive Shares Amendment Public Comments
SCOQ FMAT Technical recommendations for Follow on Actions from the Catch Share Program Review
Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/sept17scoqctte/
To join the webinar, go to the link above, select “Enter as Guest,” and type your name in the box. Please note that this is listen-only webinar, meaning that participants must use their computer or the Adobe Connect mobile app to access the meeting. There is no call-in option. In listen-only mode, webinar attendees are not able to provide comments or participate in any way.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Advisory Panel (AP) will meet on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Airport, 9000 Bartram Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153; telephone: 215-365-4500.
The purpose of this meeting is to review and provide comments on the Fishery Management Action Team’s recommendations to address potential actions from the Catch Share Program review conducted by Northern Economic, Inc. The input from the AP on this topic will be presented to the Council’s Executive Committee at the October 2019 Council meeting, when the Council discusses its 2020 Implementation Plan.
In addition, the AP will also review and provide input on the public hearing comments from the Excessive Shares Amendment. The input from the AP on this topic will be presented to the Council at its December 2019 Council meeting, when the Council discusses the final action/approval of the Excessive Shares Amendment. An agenda and background documents will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.
Excessive Shares Amendment Public Comments
SCOQ FMAT Technical recommendations for Follow on Actions from the Catch Share Program Review
Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/sept17scoqap/
To join the webinar, go to the link above, select “Enter as Guest,” and type your name in the box. Please note that this is listen-only webinar, meaning that participants must use their computer or the Adobe Connect mobile app to access the meeting. There is no call-in option. In listen-only mode, webinar attendees are not able to provide comments or participate in any way.
The Spiny Dogfish Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar on Monday, September 16 at 1:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review annual specifications and management measures and make any appropriate recommendations.
The meeting will be held via webinar at the following link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/spinydogmc-2019/. Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#. Anyone may also participate in the meeting from the Council office, located at 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331. Please call the Council at least 24 hours in advance if you wish to attend at the Council office.
The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will meet on Monday, September 16 at 1PM through Tuesday, September 17 at 12:30PM at the Hyatt Place Inner Harbor (511 South Central Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21202; telephone 410-558-1840).
The purpose of this meeting is to recommend 2020-2021 commercial and recreational Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Annual Catch Targets (ACTs) for scup and black sea bass based on the results of operational stock assessments. In addition, the Monitoring Committee will review the previously implemented 2020 ACLs and ACTs for summer flounder, and review 2020 commercial management measures for all three species.
Webinar Connection: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/fsb-mc-sept2019/
Audio: 800-832-0736; room number 4472108
2019 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Performance Report (combined) - Final (added 9/11/19)
Mesh Size Study Report
Black Sea Bass Specifications
Staff Memo: 2020-2021 Black Sea Bass ABC recommendations, revised 9/4/19
Supplemental memo on black sea bass 2020-2021 specifications, added 9/11/19 with minor revisions 9/13/19
2019 Operational Assessment and Peer Review Panel Report: Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Scup, revised 9/4/19
Summer Flounder Specifications
Scup Specifications
The Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Committee will meet via webinar on September 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to review preliminary options for modifying access to the Illex squid fishery as well as for revisions to the MSB Goals/Objectives. Additional information and webinar details will be posted on this page at a later date.
Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/illex-com-2019/ Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through September 14, 2019.
The Excessive Shares Amendment considers a variety of approaches to ensure that no individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferrable quota (ITQ) privileges. In addition, this action includes measures to revise the process for specifying multi-year management measures, require periodic review of the excessive share cap level, and allow adjustments to be made under the frameworkable provisions of the FMP. Lastly, this action may also revise the management objectives for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan.
Additional information is available at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment. A public hearing document is available HERE.
Public hearings will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM: The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM: Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events prior to the meeting.
Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM: LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM: Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.
In addition to providing comments at any of the public hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on September 14, 2019. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;
EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;
MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or
FAX to (302) 674-5399.
Please include “SCOQ Excessive Shares Amendment Comments” in the subject line if using email or fax or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Please direct any questions about the amendment to José Montañez, jmontanez@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5258.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through September 14, 2019.
The Excessive Shares Amendment considers a variety of approaches to ensure that no individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferrable quota (ITQ) privileges. In addition, this action includes measures to revise the process for specifying multi-year management measures, require periodic review of the excessive share cap level, and allow adjustments to be made under the frameworkable provisions of the FMP. Lastly, this action may also revise the management objectives for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan.
Additional information is available at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment. A public hearing document is available HERE.
Public hearings will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM: The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM: Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events prior to the meeting.
Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM: LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM: Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.
In addition to providing comments at any of the public hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on September 14, 2019. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;
EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;
MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or
FAX to (302) 674-5399.
Please include “SCOQ Excessive Shares Amendment Comments” in the subject line if using email or fax or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Please direct any questions about the amendment to José Montañez, jmontanez@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5258.
The Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) will meet on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in Foxborough, MA. For specific location information, please contact Jessica Coakley at jcoakley@mafmc.org.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide recommendations to address potential actions from the “Review of the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota Program.” These potential actions include considering mechanisms to align supply and demand for the fisheries, examining ways to promote the participation of independent harvesters in these fisheries, improving social and economic data collections for these fisheries, and evaluating the possibility of using electronic monitoring to assess the discards/commingling of surfclam and quahog in these fisheries.
The Council has scheduled a SCOQ Advisory Panel Meeting and a SCOQ Committee meeting on September 17, 2019 to review and provide comments on the FMAT’s technical recommendations. The input from the AP, Committee, along with the FMAT recommendations will be presented to the Council’s Executive Committee at the October 2019 Council meeting, when the Council discusses its 2020 Implementation Plan.
Contact Jessica Coakley at jcoakley@mafmc.org or 302-526-5252 for additional information.
Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) meetings are working meetings of the Council, NOAA Fisheries, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission staff. Information on FMAT meeting locations and how to connect via phone or webinar (if available) may be obtained by contacting Council staff prior to the meeting. This information is not posted to the Council’s website. The date and time of FMAT meetings are generally posted to the calendar on the Council’s website, sometimes with very little notice. FMAT members may discuss topics listed on the agenda in any order and may also discuss topics not listed. Members of the public may attend FMAT meetings, or listen to the meetings if they are broadcast, but should not expect to participate in the discussion unless the FMAT chair invites public input during a specified public comment period to be noted at the beginning of the meeting. Work carried out by the FMAT is considered during committee and/or Council meetings, during which public comments are encouraged.
The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will meet Thursday, August 29, 2019. The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton BWI and is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude by 3:30 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to develop Fishery Performance Reports for all three species and also discuss preliminary results of operational stock assessments for scup and black sea bass if possible.
Final Agenda (8/15/19)
Supplemental:
2019 Operational Assessment and Peer Review Panel Report: Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Scup (pre-publication copy; posted 8/26/19)
Supplemental:
2019 Operational Assessment and Peer Review Panel Report: Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Scup (pre-publication copy; posted 8/26/19)
James Fletcher email comments (July 2019)
Katie Almeida comments (8/19/19)
James Fletcher email comments (8/26/19)
Harvey Yenkinson fluke comments (8/26/19)
Art Smith comments (8/26/19)
Brent Fulcher comments (8/28/19)
The Bluefish Advisory Panel will meet via webinar on Monday, August 26, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to develop the 2018 Fishery Performance Reports (FPR; produced by the Advisory Panel Members). The intent of this report is to facilitate a venue for structured input from the Advisory Panel members for the bluefish specifications processes, including recommendations by the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). In addition to developing the FPR, the AP will also discuss the current status of the Bluefish Amendment. Specifically, the sector based allocations, commercial allocations to the states, the transfer processes, and the FMP goals and objectives.
Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/bfap2019/.
Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting. For a telephone-only connection, dial 1-800-832-0736 and enter room number 5068609.
(This page originally had the start time as 1pm - the meeting is starting at 1:30pm.)
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Monday, August 19, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The purpose of this meeting is to review recent fishery performance and develop a Fishery Performance Report and/or other recommendations in preparation for review of annual specifications. The Council would like the AP to spend extra time considering trip limits this year. An action to consider modifications to the trip limit is listed on the Council’s “Possible Additions” for deliverables this year, and the Council would like input as it decides how to organize resources for later this year and/or next year.
The meeting will be held via webinar at the following link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/dogfishap2019/ . Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.
The Bluefish Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) will meet via webinar on Monday, August 12th from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the FMAT to discuss draft alternatives for the Bluefish Allocation Amendment based on the scoping comments and recreational/commercial data for sector-based allocations, commercial allocations to the states, the transfer processes, and the Fishery Management Plan goals and objectives.
For additional information, please contact Matt Seeley at mseeley@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5262.
FMAT meetings are working meetings of Council, NOAA Fisheries, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission staff. The Council typically posts announcements of FMAT meetings to the calendar on the Council’s website, sometimes with very little notice. Detailed agendas and information on the meeting location and how to connect via phone or webinar (if available) are not posted but may be obtained by contacting Council staff prior to the meeting. FMAT members may discuss topics listed on the agenda in any order and may also discuss topics not listed. Members of the public may attend FMAT meetings, or listen to the meetings if they are broadcast, but should not expect to participate in the discussion unless the FMAT chair invites public input during a specified public comment period to be noted at the beginning of the meeting. Work carried out by the FMAT is considered during committee and/or Council meetings, during which public comments are encouraged.
The meeting will be held via webinar at http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/excessshareaug7/
Audio connection instructions will pop up when you enter the webinar. For audio-only access via phone, dial 1-800-832-0736 and enter Room Number 9294759.
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before: Test your connection: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through September 14, 2019.
The Excessive Shares Amendment considers a variety of approaches to ensure that no individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferrable quota (ITQ) privileges. In addition, this action includes measures to revise the process for specifying multi-year management measures, require periodic review of the excessive share cap level, and allow adjustments to be made under the frameworkable provisions of the FMP. Lastly, this action may also revise the management objectives for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan.
Additional information is available at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment. A public hearing document is available HERE..
Public hearings will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM: The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM: Internet webinar. Connection information will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.
Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM: LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM: Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.
In addition to providing comments at any of the public hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on September 14, 2019. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;
EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;
MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or
FAX to (302) 674-5399.
Please include “SCOQ Excessive Shares Amendment Comments” in the subject line if using email or fax or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Please direct any questions about the amendment to José Montañez, jmontanez@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5258.
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center will hold a Mid-Atlantic Operational Assessment Peer Review Meeting August 5-7, 2019. The meeting will be held at the NEFSC office in the Clark Conference Room. Additional information about this meeting is available here.
Webinar Details
Call in number: 877 652-6612
Participant Code: 8116908
Enter your name when prompted, then click on “Ask to Join Meeting.” Once you are in, mute your computer microphone and turn off your webcam in order to see the presenter’s screen.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through September 14, 2019.
The Excessive Shares Amendment considers a variety of approaches to ensure that no individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferrable quota (ITQ) privileges. In addition, this action includes measures to revise the process for specifying multi-year management measures, require periodic review of the excessive share cap level, and allow adjustments to be made under the frameworkable provisions of the FMP. Lastly, this action may also revise the management objectives for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan.
Additional information is available at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment. A public hearing document is available HERE..
Public hearings will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM: The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM: Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events prior to the meeting.
Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM: LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM: Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.
In addition to providing comments at any of the public hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on September 14, 2019. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;
EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;
MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or
FAX to (302) 674-5399.
Please include “SCOQ Excessive Shares Amendment Comments” in the subject line if using email or fax or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Please direct any questions about the amendment to José Montañez, jmontanez@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5258.
The Council has committed to funding the first year of a long term golden tilefish fishery independent survey. The first survey will be conducted next year in waters off New York to the Virginia/North Carolina line. This commitment stands with the understanding that the survey will be continued biennially with funding generated through industry involvement.
The Tilefish Committee and Advisory Panel met via webinar on Thursday, August 1, 2019 to discuss the survey and potential funding options for subsequent surveys.
The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will meet Wednesday, July 31, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review the results of a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) for recreational summer flounder management.
Audio: 1-800-832-0736, room number 4472108
Presentation on project results (J. McNamee and G. Fay)
Monitoring Committee feedback and discussion of future application to recreational management process
The River Herring and Shad Committee will meet via webinar on Tuesday, July 30, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. The purposes of the meeting are to review the 2019 RH/S Progress Update, review recent related staff and Monitoring Committee work, review Advisory Panel input, and consider making recommendations to the Council regarding possible modifications to the 2020 RH/S Cap for the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only audio connection: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/rhs-com-2019/. Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or the public can call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.
RH/S Update Memo (Including Monitoring Committee Input)
Staff Memo to Monitoring Committee
2019 MSB Fishery Performance Report (see Mackerel Section pages 12-14)
The Council’s River Herring and Shad (RH/S) Advisory Panel will meet via webinar on Monday, July 29, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The purposes of the meeting are to review the 2019 RH/S Progress Update, review recent related staff and Monitoring Committee work, and provide input regarding possible modifications to the 2020 RH/S Cap for the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only audio connection: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/rhs-ap-2019/. Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or the public can call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.
RH/S Update Memo (Including Monitoring Committee Input)
Staff Memo to Monitoring Committee
2019 MSB Fishery Performance Report (see Mackerel Section pages 12-14)
The Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) will meet on Monday, July 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) East Building located at 836 South Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02744.
The purpose of this meeting is to: 1) meet the Memorial University Flume Tank staff and receive an overview of the Flume Tank Facility; 2) receive an overview of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center trawl survey; 3) conduct trawl model flume tank experiments of net spread; and 4) determine other trawl model flume tank experiments.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a webinar-based meeting with its Advisory Panel members and the public to provide information and gather input regarding an upcoming Council Omnibus Framework action that could require electronic reporting of Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) for all Council-managed commercial fisheries. The meeting will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2019 from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
The meeting will be held via webinar (http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/evtr_app_overview/) with a telephone audio connection (provided when connecting). Audio only access via conference phone number: 1-800-832-0736, Room Number: 5765379.
The Council is considering requiring electronic reporting of commercial fishery Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs). This action would change the method of transmitting VTRs—the required data elements would not change. Existing regulations requiring that VTRs be completed before arriving at the dock would not change, but the timeline for submitting electronic reports may change. This meeting will provide a review of eVTR applications and gather input from the Council’s commercial fishery advisory panel members and the public in preparation for Council action.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Electronic Vessel Trip Reports in Commercial Fisheries
Framework Discussion Document - Prepared for June 2019 NEFMC Meeting*
* Note: The NEFMC has initiated a joint action with the MAFMC to include all NEFMC-managed species. The Councils are working together to update the action timeline, users affected, analyses, and other relevant sections of this document. Updates will be posted as they become available.
The Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar to discuss options for potential modifications to the 2020 river herring and shad (RH/S) cap for the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/msb-moncom-2019/ Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.
NOAA Fisheries will host a webinar on July 27 on how to find and apply for Fiscal Year 2020 Saltonstall-Kennedy Funding. More details are available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/saltonstall-kennedy-grant-program-notice-funding-opportunity-fy2020
The Northeast Regional Marine Fish Habitat Assessment Steering Committee will meet via webinar on June 24, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM. The purpose of this meeting will be to approve the changes to the workplan recommended at our last meeting, finalize the workplan, and ensure next steps are completed so that work can begin on July 1.
Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/habsteerjune2019/
Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or call direct: 800-832-0736, Room: *9294759#.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight fishery management councils responsible for the management of marine fisheries in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. The council develops management plans for twelve species of fish and species off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic region.
