Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to develop recommendations for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder accountability measures.  

Due to declining stock status, Georges Bank yellowtail flounder catch is likely to be severely restricted in coming years.  The small-mesh whiting and squid fisheries have bycatch of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder that will likely need to be mitigated as part of a variety of fishing restrictions.  The Whiting Advisory Panel is meeting at the same time and the two advisory panels will meet jointly since the small-mesh measures are likely to affect both the whiting and squid fisheries.  The goal of the meeting is to develop recommendations for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder accountability measures to be considered as alternatives in Multispecies Framework Adjustment 51 and/or a future action in the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.  Accountability measures can either be proactive, which prevent annual catch limit overages or reactive, which pay back past overages and/or prevent future overages.

Special Accomodations

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic Council Office (302) 526-5251 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

Contacts

For more information about this meeting, contact Jason Didden at (302) 526-5254 or jdidden@mafmc.org.