About the Council
Mid-Atlantic region (Click to expand)
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 to manage fisheries within U.S. federal waters.
Jurisdiction
The Mid-Atlantic Council’s management authority extends from three to 200 miles off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Although the Mid-Atlantic Council includes voting members from North Carolina, the South Atlantic Council has primary management authority over federal waters off the coast of North Carolina.
Managed Fisheries
The Mid-Atlantic Council manages more than 65 species with seven fishery management plans (FMPs). Fifteen species are directly managed with specific FMPs:
Mackerel (Atlantic and chub), Squid (longfin and Illex), and Butterfish
Spiny Dogfish (jointly managed with the New England Council, MAFMC lead)
Monkfish (jointly managed with the New England Council, NEFMC lead)
An additional 50+ forage species are managed as “ecosystem components,” meaning that the Council can set possession and landing limits to prevent the expansion of directed fisheries on these species in the Mid-Atlantic.
The Mid-Atlantic Council coordinates its management activities closely with several other management bodies, including the New England Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, to ensure that fisheries are managed effectively across jurisdictional boundaries.
Who Is Involved?
Council Members
Council members are trustees for the fisheries, which are common property of all U.S. Citizens. The 21 voting members of the Mid-Atlantic Council include:
Thirteen private citizens who are knowledgeable about the region’s fisheries, such as commercial and recreational fishermen, industry leaders, environmentalists, academics, and other interested stakeholders. These individuals are nominated by each state’s Governor and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce for three-year terms;
Seven state officials representing each of the Mid-Atlantic states’ fish and wildlife agencies; and
The regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Greater Atlantic Regional Office.
The four non-voting members of the Council represent the Coast Guard, State Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Advisory Bodies
The Council receives input and recommendations from its Advisory Panels, Fishery Management Action Teams, Monitoring Committees, a Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and other committees and working groups. These bodies provide guidance and advice on fishery management issues being considered.
Staff
The Council also has a staff that supports the Council by providing information for management decisions, informing the public about Council activities, coordinating meetings, creating fishery management documents, and assisting advisory groups. The Council staff consists of an Executive Director, a technical staff, and an administrative staff.
The Public
The Council makes fishery management decisions through a public, transparent process with opportunities for stakeholder involvement during all stages of decision-making. All regular Council meetings, SSC meetings, advisory panel meetings, public hearings, and scoping meetings are open to the public. Most meetings include opportunities for public comment, and individuals may also submit written comments for Council consideration. Learn more on our Public Comment and Get Involved pages.
What are the Council’s Responsibilities?
The Mid-Atlantic Council develops fishery management plans and recommends management measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of Mid-Atlantic fisheries. Specific responsibilities of the Council include:
Developing and amending fishery management plans for approval/implementation by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce
Setting annual catch limits and management measures based on the best available science
Developing research priorities with scientists and stakeholder/industry partners
Conducting public hearings and gathering public input on proposed fishery management actions
The Council’s fishery management decisions are guided by the ten National Standards established by the MSA.
Council Process
The regional council system gives fishery managers the flexibility to use local level input to develop management strategies appropriate for each region’s unique fisheries. Plans and specific management measures (such as fishing seasons, quotas, and closed areas) are developed based on sound scientific advice, and are initiated, evaluated, and adopted in a fully transparent and public process. The decisions made by the councils are not final until they are approved or partially approved by the Secretary of Commerce through NMFS.
The Mid-Atlantic Council meets six times each year, alternating meeting sites within the jurisdictions of the appointed member states of the Council. Most Council meetings occur over 2-4 days. Advisory bodies also meet at various times during and between Council meetings. All meetings are open to the public, except for sessions in which the Council deals with personnel and litigation issues.
Learn More About U.S. Fisheries Management
Learn more about the regional fishery management councils at http://www.fisherycouncils.org.
Regional Fishery Management Councils (Click map to expand)