September 9-10, 2025 SSC Meeting

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet Tuesday, September 9 – Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Hyatt Place Inner Harbor (511 South Central Avenue, Baltimore, MD). This will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option.

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

Webinar Information

• Click here to join the September 9-10, 2025 SSC meeting  (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2339 841 3623; Password: 7h3JSqP3fQU). After you connect, you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• For phone only access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2339 841 3623. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or device. Otherwise follow the audio connection prompts to call in when you join the webinar.

Agenda and Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Combined Briefing Materials (zip file)

MAFMC Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Overview

1. Presentation: Overview of Mid-Atlantic Council Essential Fish Habitat Activities

2. Mid-Atlantic Council Habitat Webpage

Update on the Northeast Commercial Port Sampling Program Activities

1. NEFSC Port Sampling and Observer Program

Spiny Dogfish ABC Specifications for 2026-2027

1. SSC Terms of Reference for Spiny Dogfish

2. Staff Memo: 2026-2027 Spiny Dogfish ABC Recommendations

3. 2025 NEFSC Data Update for Spiny Dogfish

4. 2026-2027 Stock Projections for Spiny Dogfish

5. 2025 Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report

6. 2025 Spiny Dogfish Fishery Information Document

7. Spiny Dogfish Commercial Landings Maps

8. Supplemental Materials:

   • 2023 Spiny Dogfish Management Track Assessment Report

   • Stock Synthesis for Spiny Dogfish Report

Offshore Wind Session

1. Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) Update

• 2025 ROSA Funded Offshore Wind Fisheries Research and Monitoring Projects

• FishFORWRD and Research Gaps Analysis

2.  Evaluating Offshore Wind Farm Impacts on Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Stock Assessments (Stony Brook University) 

   • Project Overview Slides

3. Survey Simulation Experimentation and Evaluation Project, SSEEP (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) 

Update on the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP)

1. Fishing Effort Survey Improvements

2. National Academies Review of MRIP Survey and Data Standards

3. Strengthened partner estimate review procedures

4. Federal Register notification for FES calibration review workshop

Discussion on outcomes from the July 2025 SSC meeting

1. Short-term projections and Black Sea Bass recommendation

2. Potential for OFL CV sub-group tasking