March 10, 2026 SSC Meeting

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet via webinar on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Staff Contact: Brandon Muffley, bmuffley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5260

Webinar Information

Link: March 10, 2026 Mid-Atlantic SSC Meeting

Call-in Number: 1-415-655-0001

Access Code: 2347 852 9890; Password: TMdmQ5nxU37

Agenda and Meeting Materials

Black Sea Bass Genetics and Stock Structure Research

  1. Black Sea Bass Genetics Research Summary Report

  2. South Atlantic Council SSC comments on genetics report (see pages 21-23)

  3. Presentation

NEFSC Cooperative Research Program Update

  1. Production of an in-situ bottom water temperature product for the northeast US continental shelf using oceanographic data collected by fishing vessels (Stoltz et al. 2025)

  2. Combining sources of high-resolution fishery-dependent data from the northeast United States to develop a catch r at e time series (Jones et al. 2025)

  3. Presentation

Introduction to NAFO Illex Quota Consideration

  1. NAFO Illex Quota Terms of Reference for SSC

  2. February 2026 Council Meeting Briefing Book Materials (materials include)

    a. Staff Memo: Background Information

    b. GARFO Proposal for an In-Season Illex Squid Quota Adjustment (2025)

    c. Origin of NAFO Illex Squid Quota (2020)

    d. Summary of 2022 Illex Squid ABC Increase

  3. Additional Background Information

    a. Research Track White Paper - Application of Cusum Method for In-Season Detection of Fishery Condition for Illex Squid: Landings

    b. Research Track White Paper - Coherence and Persistence of Survey Indices for Illex in NAFO Areas 3-6

OFL CV Sub-Group Update

  1. OFL CV Sub-Group Cover Memo

  2. Key 2025 SSC Decisions and Considerations

  3. Draft Proposal: Using Management Strategy Evaluation to Test Data-Driven Approaches for Setting ABCs

  4. Draft White Paper: Potential Inferences from Data updates for MAFMC Stocks

Other Business

  1. Draft 2026 SSC Species/Topics Lead Assignments

  2. 2026-2027 Stock Assessment Schedule

  3. 2026 SSC Meeting Schedule and Anticipated Topics