Mid-Atlantic Council to Host Two-Part Public Listening Session on August 14

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Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) Meeting
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 5:00 pm
Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown, 21 N. Juniper St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
And Via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org/

Part 1: MAFMC Strategic Planning- Purpose, Process, and Expected Outcomes

On Monday, August 13, the Council’s Visioning and Strategic Planning Working Group will convene for the first in a series of meetings to develop a 10-year strategic plan.  Since the public has asked a number of questions and expressed an interest in the strategic planning process, Council staff will present a strategic planning overview during the August 14 listening session and will answer some of the most frequently asked questions such as: 

  • Why does the Council need a strategic plan when the legal mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provide very specific guidelines for fisheries management?
  •  What kinds of changes could occur as a result of the strategic plan? 
  •  What role will the Stakeholder Input Report play in the planning process, and how will the concerns and interests of stakeholders be taken in to consideration?

Attend the listening session and get the answers to these questions and more!

Part 2: Meet John Bullard, the New NMFS Regional Administrator

John K. Bullard, former mayor of New Bedford, began work August 6 as the new Regional Administrator of NOAA’s Northeast Regional Office.  John will spend much of his time over the next several months meeting with stakeholders and asking two key questions: 

  •  What are your one or two most important issues?
  • What would success look like related to fisheries in the Northeast Region?

During this informal listening session, Mr. Bullard will be available to hear your answers to these questions and answer any questions that you may have for him.