Council Member Dewey Hemilright Honored in 'Busch Heroes' Campaign

This week, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council member Dewey Hemilright was announced as one of six individuals in the Busch 2015 Class of Heroes.

Council to Hold Blueline Tilefish Webinar Meeting - Feb. 25, 1:30 p.m.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold an emergency meeting via webinar on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. to consider requesting emergency action for deepwater snapper/grouper species, including blueline tilefish, within the Mid-Atlantic Council’s jurisdiction.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Workshop on Deep Sea Coral Zone Boundaries

The Council has voted to postpone final action on the Deep Sea Corals Amendment in order to allow for further analysis of the alternatives and to provide additional opportunities for stakeholder input.

Listening Session: New Recreational Fishing Effort Estimation Methodology

Members of the public are invited to attend the Council’s next listening session at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11th for a presentation and discussion about new methods of estimating recreational fishing effort.

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeking Applications for Advisory Panel Members

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to serve on seven advisory panels. Applications are due by February 27, 2015.

Interactive Deep Sea Corals Mapper Now Available

An interactive mapper tool is now available for stakeholders and managers to explore the areas that have been proposed for protection as part of the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Deep Sea Corals Amendment.

February 2015 Council Meeting Agenda

The Council will hold its next meeting February 10-12, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Hearings on Deep Sea Corals Amendment

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six public hearings in January to gather public comments on the Deep Sea Corals Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Hearings will be held January 12 – 20, 2015, and written comments will be accepted until January 28, 2015.

December 2014 Council Meeting Report

The following summary highlights major actions and issues considered at the December 8-11, 2014 Council meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

Mid-Atlantic Council Initiates Action to Protect Unmanaged Forage Species

The Mid-Atlantic Council voted at its meeting last week to initiate an action that would protect unmanaged species of forage fish in the Mid-Atlantic.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Hearings on Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Amendment

The Council has scheduled four hearings to be held January 12 - 15 for the public to provide comments on the Cost Recovery Amendment to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog FMP. Written comments will also be accepted from December 15, 2014 until January 16, 2015.

December 10 Listening Session: Deep Sea Corals in the Mid-Atlantic

Members of the public are invited to attend the Council’s next listening session at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10th to learn more about deep sea corals in the Mid-Atlantic. Guest speaker will be Dr. Martha Nizinski, a zoologist at the NOAA Fisheries National Systematics Lab

NOAA Fisheries Reports Unprecedented Numbers of "Cold-Stunned" Sea Turtle

NOAA Fisheries staff is working feverishly with partners to arrange air transports for unprecedented numbers of “cold-stunned” sea turtles to facilities in the southeast United States.

NOAA Fisheries: Improving the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey

NOAA Fisheries has announced that it is intending to move, within the next few years, to a new MRIP-based method for surveying Atlantic and Gulf Coast saltwater recreational shore and private boat anglers about their fishing trips.

Council Meeting in Baltimore, MD: December 8 - 11, 2014

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's upcoming meeting in Baltimore, Maryland on December 8 - 11, 2014.

Proposed 2015 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Specifications

NOAA Fisheries has published proposed specifications for the Atlantic mackerel, squid and butterfish fisheries for fishing year 2015. The deadline to submit public comments on December 15, 2014.

Butterfish allocation transferred to the directed fishery from the butterfish mortality cap

NOAA Fisheries has announced the transfer of 1,900 metric tons of butterfish to the butterfish directed fishery from the butterfish mortality cap on the longfin squid fishery.

August 1 Control Date Established in the Commercial Summer Flounder Fishery

At the request of the Council, GARFO has published an August 1 control date for the commercial summer flounder fishery.

New Tilefish Management Measures

NOAA Fisheries has published final management measures for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 tilefish fishing years. The catch limits and total allowable landings become effective at the start of the 2015 fishing year on November 1, 2014. Click here for more information.

October 2014 Council Meeting Report

The following summary highlights Council actions and issues considered at the October 2014 Council Meeting held in Philadelphia, PA on October 7-9.

Upcoming Events

QUICK LINKS