October 7-9, 2014
Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown (website)
21 N. Juniper Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Telephone 215-496-3200
Agenda
The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's October 2014 meeting October 7 - 9, 2014 in Philadelphia, PA.
Briefing Materials: All briefing materials will be posted at www.mafmc.org/briefing/october-2014 as they become available. September 24 is the deadline for public comments to be included in the briefing book. Comments submitted by October 4 will be printed and distributed at the meeting.
Webinar Access: For online access during the meeting, enter as a guest at: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/october2014/
Agenda
Tuesday, October 7th
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Executive Committee
- Review 2014 Implementation Plan
- Review 2014-2018 Strategic Plan
- Discuss and adopt 2015 priorities
3:30 p.m. Council Convenes
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee Meeting as a Committee of the Whole
- Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Cost Recovery Amendment
- Approve Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Cost Recovery Amendment Public Hearing Document
- Atlantic Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Fishery Information Collection
- Discuss NMFS proposed rule to collect information from ITQ business holders
Wednesday, October 8th
9:00 a.m. Council Convenes
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Forage Fish White Paper
- Review MAFMC white paper on forage fish management policy (first meeting of two)
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. River Herring/Shad Committee Meeting as a Committee of the Whole
- Discuss potential impacts of lower mid-water trawl observer coverage levels on River Herring/Shad cap
- Review progress on terms of reference for committee
- Update on voluntary river herring/shad avoidance programs
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Omnibus Observer Funding Amendment
- Review progress on alternative development and analysis
- Provide direction to Joint FMAT/PDT as appropriate
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vessel Baseline Amendment
- Review public comments on the draft amendment and take final Council action to adopt the amendment for Secretarial review and implementation.
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Spiny Dogfish Specifications
- Review SSC, Dogfish Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations regarding 2015 harvest levels and associated management measures
- Review previously set specifications for 2015 and adopt recommendations for modifications if appropriate.
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Amendment 9 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
- Review and comment on Proposed Rule
- Receive update on other HMS issues
Thursday, October 9th
9:00 a.m. Council Convenes
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Update on Regional Ocean Planning
Sarah Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Programs, Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body Member and MARCO Board Member
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Business Session
- Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Executive Director's Report - Chris Moore
- Science Report - Rich Seagraves
- Committee Reports
- Executive Committee
- Monkfish Committee
- Continuing and New Business