September 9-10, 2026 SSC Meeting

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee met September 9 - 10, 2026, at the Sheraton Four Points - Philadelphia City Center.

Agenda and Briefing Materials

Briefing materials will be posted below as they become available.

2027 Specifications Review for Spiny Dogfish

  1. Staff Memo: Review of 2027 Measures for Spiny Dogfish

  2. 2026 NEFSC Data Update for Spiny Dogfish

  3. 2026 Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

  4. 2026 Spiny Dogfish Fishery Information Document

  5. Presentation

2027 Specifications Review for Atlantic Mackerel

  1. Staff Memo: Review of 2027 Measures for Atlantic Mackerel

  2. Canadian DFO 2025 Atlantic Mackerel Stock Assessment

  3. 2026 Canada Mackerel Fishery Actions

    a. 2026 Quota Increase Announcement (7/3/2026)

    b. 2026 Bait Closure Announcement (7/8/2026)

    c. Additional 2026 Bait Mackerel Opening Dates Announcement (8/11/2026)

    d. Second 2026 Bait Closure Announcement (8/19/2026)

  4. 2026 Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

  5. 2026 Atlantic Mackerel Fishery Information Document

  6. Presentation

2027 Specifications Review for Illex Squid

  1. Staff Memo: Review of 2027 Measures for Illex Squid

  2. 2026 Illex Squid Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

  3. 2026 Illex Squid Fishery Information Document

  4. Presentation

  5. Supplemental Information: Squid Squad Presentation: Shelfbreak fronts act as ecological switches for squid distribution

Illex Squid / NAFO Quota Considerations

  1. NAFO Illex Quota Terms of Reference for SSC

  2. SSC Illex/NAFO Sub-Group: DRAFT Terms of Reference Response

  3. Staff Memo: Overview of Illex Squid and NAFO Quota Considerations

  4. Presentation

Longfin Squid Research Track Stock Assessment Overview

  1. Executive Summary: Longfin Squid Research Track Working Group Report

  2. Longfin Squid Research Track Peer Review Summary Report

  3. See the Stock Assessment Support Information (SASINF) Search Tool for additional background documents, white papers, and presentations for the August 2026 Research Track peer review

  4. Presentation

Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey (FES) Calibration Results

  1. Recreational Fisheries Statistics Queries Page (Updated catch and effort estimates, 8/31/2026)

  2. 2025 FES Calibration Workshop

  3. 2025 Study Report on the improved design and benchmark testing

  4. 2025 Peer Review of the improved FES design

  5. Presentation

Regional Industry-Based Trawl Survey (RIBTS)

  1. RIBTS Overview

  2. Presentation

Offshore Wind Session

  1. Coordination of offshore wind fisheries research: ROSA's portfolio and emerging regional priorities (Responsible Offshore Science Alliance)

    a. ROSA Awarded Projects Page

    b. Data Governance Guidance (08/2026)

    c. Fishing Gear Data Sharing Recommendations (08/2026)

    d. FishFORWRD Update (05/2026)

    e. FishFORWRD Research Gaps Analysis Final Report (03/2026)

    f. Presentation

  2. Offshore wind impacts on survey preclusion and stock assessment (Virginia Institute of Marine Science)

    a. Addressing Spatiotemporal Data Gaps in Fish Abundance Modelling: Insights From Offshore Wind Impacts in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic (Sun et al. 2026)

    b. Offshore wind farm-induced spatial redistribution of abundance alters survey indices and stock assessment performance (Sun et al. 2026)

    c. Presentation

  3. Characterizing Fine-Scale Fishing Behavior and Offshore Wind Energy Trade-offs in Mid-Atlantic Clam and Scallop Dredge Fisheries (Virginia Institute of Marine Science)

    a. Project Abstract

    b. Presentation

Mid-Atlantic Council Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Projects

  1. Project Overview: Evaluating Data Needs and Management Strategies to Support Climate-Ready Fisheries Management (University of Maine)

    a. Presentation

  2. Project Overview: Operationalizing Ecosystem and Habitat Indicators to Support Climate-Ready Fisheries Management in the Mid-Atlantic (Hydra Scientific and UMass Dartmouth)

    a. Workshop 1 One-Page Summary (December 10, 2025)

    b. Workshop 2 One-Page Summary (March 31, 2026)

    c. Presentation

  3. Project Overview: Climate-Ready Updates to the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Source Documents: Life History and Habitat Characteristics for Federally Managed Fish in the Northeast (UMass Dartmouth)

    a. Presentation

Other Business

Note: agenda topic times are approximate and subject to change