Research Set-Aside Workshops

Overview

In 2021 and 2022 the Council hosted a series of four workshops that explored the possible redevelopment of the Research Set-Aside program. The goal of these workshops was to develop recommendations regarding whether and how the RSA program should be redeveloped. (See this page for background on the history and current status of the RSA program.)

The first three webinar workshops each targeted a separate topic related to RSA: Research, Funding, and Enforcement. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Economic Working Group worked collaboratively with the Council’s Research Steering Committee (RSC) to provide economic input specific to each topic. During the fourth workshop, participants reviewed the outcomes from the first three webinars and developed final recommendations for RSA program redevelopment.

Staff Contact: Brandon Muffley, bmuffley@mafmc.org.

Workshop Details

RSA Workshop #1: Research (July 15, 2021)

• Briefing Materials and Presentations

• Webinar Recording

• Workshop #1 Summary

RSA Workshop #2: Funding (August 31, 2021)

• Briefing Materials and Presentations

• Webinar Recording

• Workshop #2 Summary

RSA Workshop #3: Enforcement (October 14, 2021)

• Briefing Materials and Presentations

• Webinar Recording

• Workshop #3 Summary

RSA Workshop #4: Final Recommendations (February 16, 2022)

• Briefing Materials and Presentations

• Webinar Recording

• Workshop #4 Summary

Additional Resources

• Workshop Overview

• Comprehensive Mid-Atlantic Research Set-Aside Timeline

• Mid-Atlantic RSA by Species and Year (2009-2014)

Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) Workshops

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) held three virtual regional public workshops to solicit input on future management of the recreational summer flounder fishery. Public input provided will help inform the development of a management strategy evaluation (MSE) which will evaluate different management strategies designed to minimize discards in the recreational summer flounder fishery. This MSE is part of the Council’s continued implementation of its Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) structured framework process that will evaluate different management approaches within an ecosystem context to determine if the outcomes associated with the different approaches achieve management goals and objectives. More information about the summer flounder MSE can be found on the Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation page.

During the workshop participants listened to a series of short background presentations and then provided input and feedback regarding summer flounder discard concerns, potential management objectives to address these concerns, and performance metrics and strategies to achieve these objectives. 

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

Agenda and Workshop Materials

1. Agenda

   Webex Participant Guide

2. Overview of Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Structured Framework

3. Regional Workshop Background and Participant Expectations

4. MSE Scoping Feedback – Regional Analysis and Summary

5. MSE Scoping Feedback Form (January 2021)

Presentations

• Workshop Overview

• The Mid-Atlantic Council Ecosystem Approach

• Introduction to Management Strategy Evaluation

• Summary of MSE Stakeholder Feedback

• Overview of Core Stakeholder Group

• Next Steps and Timeline

Virtual Workshop Schedule

1. Massachusetts through Connecticut: Monday, March 29, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

2. New York through Delaware: Wednesday, March 31, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

3. Maryland through North Carolina: Monday, April 5, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

Ecosystem Level Habitat Considerations Workshop

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Philadelphia, PA

This workshop considered strategies for integrating habitat considerations into the Council's Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management guidance document.

Workshop Materials

• Agenda 

• Regional Use of the Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) Designation

Presentations

• Workshop Introduction

• Connecting Coastal Habitat to Fisheries Production - Howard Townsend, NOAA/NMFS/Habitat Conservation - Chesapeake Bay Office

• Integrated Ecosystem Assessments for NW Atlantic Ecosystems - Sarah Gaichas, NMFS Ecosystem Assessment Program

• Habitat Assessment Prioritization Process - Vince Guida, NEFSC Coastal Ecology Branch

• Climate-related stock movement, habitat vulnerability, and management responses - Jon Hare, NEFSC Narragansett Laboratory

• Using Existing Authorities to Achieve Broader Habitat Goals - Jessica Coakley, MAFMC Staff

Webinar Recordings

• Morning Session

• Afternoon Session