The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Advisory Panels will hold a joint public meeting via webinar on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The objective of this meeting is for the Advisory Panels to discuss the Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish FMPs.

Staff contact:

• Kiley Dancy, kdancy@mafmc.org, 302-526-5257

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar. If prompted, enter meeting number 2331 850 0046

• After you connect to the webinar, follow the prompts to use your computer, phone, or other device for audio.

• If necessary to connect via phone only, you may dial 1-415-655-0001 and enter access code 2331 850 0046.  Please only use this option if you are not able to connect to the webinar.

Meeting Materials

• Public Information/Scoping Document

• DRAFT public scoping comment summary

• Presentation

The Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Bigelow Contingency Plan Working Group will hold a meeting via webinar on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. During this meeting the working group will continue their discussions on the Industry-Based Survey pilot project.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2331 235 4547; Password: mvPHkf24J5N)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2331 235 4547. 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.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

The Council’s and ASMFC’s joint Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT)/Plan Development Team (PDT) for the Recreational Sector Separation and Catch Accounting Amendment will meet via Webinar on Monday, March 31, 2025 from 1-2:30 pm.

The purpose of this meeting is to review scoping input on the Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish FMPs.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2342 388 7654; Password: 2Ad7YApPys3)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2342 388 7654. 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.

About FMAT Meetings

Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) meetings are working meetings of the Council, NOAA Fisheries, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission staff. The date and time of FMAT meetings are generally posted to the calendar on the Council’s website, sometimes with very little notice. FMAT members may discuss topics listed on the agenda in any order and may also discuss topics not listed. Members of the public may attend FMAT meetings, or listen to the meetings if they are broadcast, but should not expect to participate in the discussion unless the FMAT chair invites public input during a specified public comment period to be noted at the beginning of the meeting. Work carried out by the FMAT is considered during committee and/or Council meetings, during which public comments are encouraged.

This is one in a series of working group meetings associated with the Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Assessment. Please visit the Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Working Group page on the NOAA Fisheries website for an agenda and webinar connection details (scroll down to the “Schedule” section). This meeting is open to the public.

Background Information

Research track assessments evaluate new datasets that can either inform or be used in new or existing stock assessment models. Unlike management track assessments, which are driven by the need to meet specific management timelines, research track assessments are carried out over longer time frames and with fewer requirements for using the most recent data. The research track is intended to be the opportunity for extensive and comprehensive research and analysis.

Working groups carry out the analytical work required for the stock assessment, including developing and implementing the research plan and terms of reference, conducting the necessary research, compiling the results to inform the research track effort, and incorporating other information and public input as appropriate.

What Happens Next?

After the working group has completed its work, a peer review panel will be convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the research track assessment.

Typically, research track outputs are incorporated into future management track assessments (as opposed to directly informing management decisions). For this reason, research track assessments are often scheduled to have management track assessments in the following year, which ensures immediate application of the research results with the inclusion of the most recent data in a management track assessment.

Quick Links

• Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Working Group

• MAFMC Stock Assessments Page

• NOAA Fisheries Northeast Stock Assessments Page

• Description of New England and Mid-Atlantic Region Stock Assessment Process

The Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Bigelow Contingency Plan Working Group will hold a meeting via webinar on Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. During this meeting the working group will continue their discussions on the Industry-Based Survey pilot project.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2331 235 4547; Password: mvPHkf24J5N)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2331 235 4547. 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.

Meeting Materials

• Meeting materials will be shared when available

The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

The MSB AP will develop Fishery Performance Reports for MSB species. The Fishery Performance Reports are considered by the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) when setting Acceptable Biological Catches (ABC’s).

The MSB Fishery Performance Reports will be addressed in the following order: Chub mackerel, longfin squid, Illex squid, Atlantic mackerel, and then butterfish.

Webinar Connection

• Webinar details will be shared prior to the meeting

Meeting Materials

• Meeting materials will be posted when available

This is one in a series of working group meetings associated with the Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Assessment. Please visit the Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Working Group page on the NOAA Fisheries website for an agenda and webinar connection details (scroll down to the “Schedule” section). This meeting is open to the public.

Background Information

Research track assessments evaluate new datasets that can either inform or be used in new or existing stock assessment models. Unlike management track assessments, which are driven by the need to meet specific management timelines, research track assessments are carried out over longer time frames and with fewer requirements for using the most recent data. The research track is intended to be the opportunity for extensive and comprehensive research and analysis.

Working groups carry out the analytical work required for the stock assessment, including developing and implementing the research plan and terms of reference, conducting the necessary research, compiling the results to inform the research track effort, and incorporating other information and public input as appropriate.

What Happens Next?

After the working group has completed its work, a peer review panel will be convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the research track assessment.

Typically, research track outputs are incorporated into future management track assessments (as opposed to directly informing management decisions). For this reason, research track assessments are often scheduled to have management track assessments in the following year, which ensures immediate application of the research results with the inclusion of the most recent data in a management track assessment.

Quick Links

• Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Working Group

• MAFMC Stock Assessments Page

• NOAA Fisheries Northeast Stock Assessments Page

• Description of New England and Mid-Atlantic Region Stock Assessment Process

The Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Bigelow Contingency Plan Working Group will hold a meeting via webinar on Thursday, May 8, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. During this meeting the working group will continue their discussions on the Industry-Based Survey pilot project.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2331 235 4547; Password: mvPHkf24J5N)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2331 235 4547. 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.

Meeting Materials

• Meeting materials will be shared when available

The Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Bigelow Contingency Plan Working Group will hold a meeting via webinar on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. During this meeting the working group will continue their discussions on the Industry-Based Survey pilot project.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2331 235 4547; Password: mvPHkf24J5N)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2331 235 4547. 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.

Meeting Materials

• Meeting materials will be shared when available

This is one in a series of working group meetings associated with the Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Assessment. Please visit the Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Working Group page on the NOAA Fisheries website for an agenda and webinar connection details (scroll down to the “Schedule” section). This meeting is open to the public.

Background Information

Research track assessments evaluate new datasets that can either inform or be used in new or existing stock assessment models. Unlike management track assessments, which are driven by the need to meet specific management timelines, research track assessments are carried out over longer time frames and with fewer requirements for using the most recent data. The research track is intended to be the opportunity for extensive and comprehensive research and analysis.

Working groups carry out the analytical work required for the stock assessment, including developing and implementing the research plan and terms of reference, conducting the necessary research, compiling the results to inform the research track effort, and incorporating other information and public input as appropriate.

What Happens Next?

After the working group has completed its work, a peer review panel will be convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the research track assessment.

Typically, research track outputs are incorporated into future management track assessments (as opposed to directly informing management decisions). For this reason, research track assessments are often scheduled to have management track assessments in the following year, which ensures immediate application of the research results with the inclusion of the most recent data in a management track assessment.

Quick Links

• Longfin Inshore Squid Research Track Working Group

• MAFMC Stock Assessments Page

• NOAA Fisheries Northeast Stock Assessments Page

• Description of New England and Mid-Atlantic Region Stock Assessment Process