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 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#.

Staff Recommendation

RH/S Update (Including Monitoring Committee Input)

Staff Memo to Monitoring Committee

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#.

Staff Recommendation

RH/S Update (Including Monitoring Committee Input)

Staff Memo to Monitoring Committee

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.

• Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/fsb-mc-july2019/

• Audio: 1-800-832-0736, room number 4472108

Agenda

• Presentation on project results (J. McNamee and G. Fay)

• Monitoring Committee feedback and discussion of future application to recreational management process

Meeting Materials

• Final report - to be posted

• Supplemental Materials

  • December 2018 Interim Report

  • December 2018 Interim Council/Board Presentation

  • November 2018 Monitoring Committee Presentation

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 will meet via webinar on Thursday, August 1, 2019 from 9:00 am – 11: 00 am to discuss the survey and potential funding options for subsequent surveys. The meeting materials and a webinar link will be distributed one week prior to the meeting.

• Request for Proposals: 2020 Golden Tilefish Surveying

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Draft 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..

Attend a Scoping Hearing

Public hearings will be held on the following dates:

1. Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM:  The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.

2. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events prior to the meeting.

3. Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM:  LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.

4. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.

Submit Written Comments:

In addition to providing comments at any of the scoping 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:

1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;

2. EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;

3. MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or

4. 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 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 Draft 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..

Attend a Scoping Hearing

Public hearings will be held on the following dates:

1. Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM:  The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.

2. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Internet webinar. Connection information will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.

3. Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM:  LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.

4. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.

Submit Written Comments:

In addition to providing comments at any of the scoping 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:

1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;

2. EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;

3. MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or

4. 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 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.

About FMAT Meetings

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 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/ .  Anyone can also attend at the Council office (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 Bluefish Advisory Panel will meet via webinar on Monday, August 26, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Webinar connection information will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.

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.

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.

Meeting Materials

• Draft Agenda

Additional meeting materials will be posted here at a later date. Please check back for updates.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four public hearings in August and September 2019 to solicit public input on the Draft 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.

Attend a Scoping Hearing

Public hearings will be held on the following dates:

1. Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM:  The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.

2. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events prior to the meeting.

3. Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM:  LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.

4. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.

Submit Written Comments:

In addition to providing comments at any of the scoping 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:

1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;

2. EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;

3. MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or

4. 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 Draft 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.

Attend a Scoping Hearing

Public hearings will be held on the following dates:

1. Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30PM:  The Grand Hotel. 1045 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.

2. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Internet webinar. Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events prior to the meeting.

3. Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30PM:  LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.

4. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30PM:  Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.

Submit Written Comments:

In addition to providing comments at any of the scoping 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:

1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment;

2. EMAIL to jmontanez@mafmc.org;

3. MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901; or

4. 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’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 Council will collect public comments on the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment during 4 public hearings to be held during a 45-day Public comment period from August 1 to September 14,  2019 (84 FR 31032). 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.

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 Council will collect public comments on the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment during 4 public hearings to be held during a 45-day Public comment period from August 1 to September 14,  2019 (84 FR 31032). 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.

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.

An agenda and webinar details will be posted on this page prior to the meeting.