The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee will meet jointly with the New England Fishery Management Council Habitat Committee via webinar December 18, 2024 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m..

During this meeting the EOP and Habitat Committees will discuss recommendations regarding the Council’s Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) reviews and the draft EFH Review Reports being prepared for the Council.

MAFMC Staff Contact:

• Jessica Coakley, 302-526-5252; jcoakley@mafmc.org

• Brandon Muffley, 302-526-5250; bmuffley@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• You must register for this zoom meeting at this link

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Meeting materials are being posted and are available at this link: https://www.nefmc.org/calendar/dec-18-2024-joint-nefmc-habitat-committee-and-mafmc-ecosystem-and-ocean-planning-eop-committee

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee will meet via webinar on Tuesday, November 21, 2024 from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

During this meeting, the HMS Committee will review and provide comments on the NOAA HMS Proposed Rule for Electronic Reporting Requirements for Atlantic HMS.

Staff Contact:

Hannah Hart; (302)-526-5263; hhart@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2345 139 7988; Password: HMS_Committee)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2345 139 7988. 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

• NOAA Atlantic HMS Proposed Rule: Electronic Reporting Requirements

• NOAA Atlantic HMS public hearing presentation with added Council slides

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Law Enforcement Committee will meet via webinar on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

During this meeting, the Council’s Law Enforcement Committee will review a potential change to the butterfish mesh regulations, especially enforcement concerns raised by NOAA.

Staff Contact:

Jason Didden; (302)-526-5254; jdidden@mafmc.org

José Montañez; (302) 526-5258; jmontanez@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar. (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2347 524 1622; Password: DsgMh65eMJ3)

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 (U.S. Toll Free); Access code: 2347 524 1622. 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

• November 2024 Staff Recommendation Memo

• Mesh Measuring Background

• October 2024 Original Memo

The Spiny Dogfish Committee will meet via webinar on Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Committee to review 2025 fishing year specifications and consider if any changes are appropriate.

MAFMC Contact: Jason Didden - jdidden@mafmc.org; 302-526-5254

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the meeting. If prompted, enter Meeting number: 2342 908 9567; Meeting password: AMceZwpJ654

• For phone only access: 1-415-655-0001; Access Code: 2342 908 9567. 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 and Background Information

• Background Materials are available at the September SSC Meeting page.

• Due primarily to catch changes/increases in 2022 and 2023, projections were updated using the current stock assessment model, and the ABCs were lower.

  • The SSC provided Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) for 2025/2026 of either: 7,230 metric tons (MT) for both years or 7,031 MT for 2025 and 7,446 MT for 2026.

  • The current ABC for 2024 of 7,818 MT implemented by NOAA was higher than SSC/Councils’ ABC (NOAA set ABC = over-fishing limit)

• The Committee’s regulatory task is to recommend a quota that will ensure that the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) is not exceeded, which means that discards must be accounted for.

• Monitoring Committee Summary

  • Recent higher discards and the need to avoid ACL overages appear to make it very difficult to avoid quota reductions, but industry members of the Monitoring Committee and public comment highlighted that their observations do not indicate any lack of spiny dogfish and that quota reductions could end the industry and have wide ranging negative impacts on fishery participants and related businesses.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly via webinar on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

During this meeting the EOP Committee and AP will review the draft components of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to the Fisheries Management (EAFM) risk assessment report.

Staff Contact:

Brandon Muffley; (302-526-5250; bmuffley@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the July 31 EOP Committee and AP meeting (if prompted, enter Meeting number: 2345 550 4158; Meeting password: Z73SmnYTRp8). After you connect, you will have an opportunity to choose whether you want to use your phone or computer mic/speakers for audio.

• For telephone-only access, dial +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll) and enter access code 2345 550 4158

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Staff Memo: Background Information and Meeting Objectives

• Draft 2024 Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Risk Assessment Report

• Presentation

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly via webinar on Friday, April 26th from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

During this meeting, the Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel and Committee will discuss the unmanaged commercial landings reports which are provided to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) by NOAA Fisheries each year.

Staff Contact: Julia Beaty, (302) 526-5250, jbeaty@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webex meeting. If prompted, enter meeting number 2344 201 7141 and password 2RyNnECqD63.

• Please connect your audio through your computer, telephone, or other device by following the prompts that appear after opening the webinar. If you must join by phone only, you may dial (415) 655-0001 and enter access code 2344 201 7141. Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar on your computer or other device.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• 2023 unmanaged landings report

• Data used in 2023 unmanaged landings report (confidential data removed)

• Presentation

The Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish Committees will meet jointly via webinar on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - at 9am.

The Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish Committees will meet to develop recommendations on potential measures to reduce Atlantic sturgeon bycatch.

Meeting materials and connection information will be available at:

https://www.nefmc.org/calendar/mar-13-2023-joint-monkfish-and-dogfish-committee-webinar

Additional information can be found on the Atlantic sturgeon current issues page: https://www.mafmc.org/actions/sturgeon-bycatch-framework 

MAFMC Contact: Karson Cisneros, KCisneros@mafmc.org, 302-526- 5259

NEFMC Contacts: Jenny Couture, jcouture@nefmc.org, (978) 465-0492 (ext. 111) or Robin Frede, rfrede@nefmc.org, (978) 465-0492 (ext. 124)

The Council’s Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee and Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting on Monday, February 5, 2024 from 9 :30 a.m. - 12 p.m. via webinar.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Committee and Advisory Panel to review the Species Separation Requirements Amendment Public Hearing Document and provide input. The Committee will make recommendations about the Public Hearing Document to the Council at the February Council meeting.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar. Meeting number (access code): 2331 680 5932

  Password: R8fmyi3W43n

• Join by phone: +1-415-655-0001 US Toll - Access Code: 2331 680 5932

Materials

• Agenda

• SCOQ Species Separation Requirements Amendment Draft Public Hearing Document

The Spiny Dogfish Committee with meet via webinar on Friday, November 17, 2023 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. to develop recommendations for 2024-2026 Spiny Dogfish specifications.

Staff contacts:

• Jason Didden, jdidden@mafmc.org; 302-526-5254

Webinar Connection

• Click here for webinar. (password if needed: dJUM2jYKF22)

• Mobile tap to enter: +1-646-992-2010,,23489768201##

• Phone number to manually dial in: 1-415-655-0001

  • Meeting code: 2348 976 8201

Meeting Materials

• Cover Memo

• Fishery Information Document

• Fishery Performance Report

• Monitoring Committee Report

• SSC background materials (including assessment documents)

• Supplemental

  • Preliminary 2023 Partial Year Discards

• Public comments submitted before meeting

  • East Coast Seafood

Agenda:

-Assessment overview

-Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) overview

-Fishery Performance, Advisory Panel Input overview

-Monitoring Committee Summary

-Committee Work

The Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish Committees will meet jointly via webinar on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Meeting materials and webinar details will be posted prior to the meeting.

MAFMC Contact: Karson Cisneros - kcisneros@mafmc.org; 302-526-5259

NEFMC Contact: Robin Frede – rfrede@nefmc.org; (978) 465-0492 (ext. 124)

Jenny Couture - jcouture@nefmc.org, 978-465-0492 (ext. 111)

Webinar Connection

Webex Meeting link: https://midatlanticfisheriesmc.webex.com/midatlanticfisheriesmc/j.php?MTID=m0f144bc4621d14c4d6402a7a504e1ba9

 (If prompted) Meeting number: 2334 292 9312; Meeting password: Cpnwy2drM73

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Staff Memo to the Committee

• FMAT/PDT Meeting Summary

• NMFS Data Loggers Summary

• Supplemental Information

  • NMFS Sturgeon Bycatch Estimates through 2021

  • Final Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch

The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Committee and Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Monday, September 18, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Agenda: Develop recommendations on preferred alternatives in a framework adjustment to the MSB Fishery Management Plan that could implement volumetric vessel hold baseline requirement and vessel hold upgrade restriction for Illex limited access permits.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar. If prompted, enter Access Code: 519-353-069

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001 ; Access code: 2338 721 9438

Meeting Materials

• Revised Alternatives (coming soon)

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

During this meeting the EOP Committee and AP will resume their comprehensive review of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to the Fisheries Management (EAFM) risk assessment.

Staff Contact: Brandon Muffley, (302) 526-5260, bmuffley@mafmc.org; Julia Beaty, (302) 526-5250, jbeaty@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the August 22, 2023 EOP Committee and AP meeting

  • Meeting number (access code): 2338 180 5585

  • Meeting password: amMhCeYj463

  • Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2338 180 5585

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Summary report from July 7, 2023 EOP Committee and AP meeting

• EAFM Risk Elements and Definitions – Summary of EOP Feedback (from 7/7/23 meeting)

• EAFM Risk Elements, Definitions, and Indicators – Discussion Document (from 7/7/23 meeting)

The Council’s River Herring and Shad (RH/S) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly by webinar on Thursday, July 13, 2023 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Agenda: Review RH/S Update, develop recommendations for the RH/S cap for the mackerel fishery, take public comment.

Contact: Jason Didden - jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254

Webinar Connection

• Join Meeting

  Meeting number (access code): 2342 111 2288; password: gPHy7tpbK93

  Tap to join from a mobile device:

  +1-415-655-0001,,23421112288## US Toll

  Join by phone +1-415-655-0001 US Toll

Meeting Materials

• 2023 RH/S Update

• Indices Appendix

  • Compendium (NMFS, NEAMAP, MA, CT, NJ, and DE indices)

  • VIMS 2022 Field Season VA Alosines Report

  • NC Indices Report

• Kerry Reid, Jennifer A. Hoey, Benjamin I. Gahagan, Bradley P. Schondelmeier, Daniel J. Hasselman, Alison A. Bowden, Michael P. Armstrong, John Carlos Garza, and Eric P. Palkovacs. 2022. Spatial and temporal genetic stock composition of river herring bycatch in southern New England Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 80(2): 360-374.

• K.E. Roberts, J.E.F. Stepanuk, H. Kim, L.H. Thorne, C. Chong-Montenegro, J.A. Nye. Developing a subseasonal ecological forecast to reduce fisheries bycatch in the Northeast U.S., Progress in Oceanography, Volume 213, 2023, 103021, ISSN 0079-6611

• Atlantic Coast River Herring Collaborative Forum (links to 2023 Conservation Plan)

The Council’s Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee will meet via webinar on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review and provide comments on the NOAA Atlantic HMS recent and ongoing management initiative.

Staff Contact: Hannah Hart: hhart@mafmc.org; 302-526-5263

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar. If prompted, enter meeting number: 2334 005 5374; Password: HMS_Committee

• Phone Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access Code: 2334 005 5374

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Highly Migratory Species Management Initiatives Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

During this meeting the EOP Committee and AP will continue the comprehensive review of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) risk assessment.

Staff Contact: Brandon Muffley, (302) 526-5260, bmuffley@mafmc.org; Julia Beaty, (302) 526-5250, jbeaty@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the July 7, 2023 EOP Committee and AP meeting. If prompted, enter meeting number: 2339 047 2390; Password: 4txDMtuqR26

• Phone Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access Code: 2339 047 2390

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• EAFM Risk Elements and Definitions – Summary of EOP Feedback

• EAFM Risk Elements, Definitions, and Indicators – Discussion Document

• April 27, 2023 EOP Committee and AP meeting summary

The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via webinar on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to develop alternative for the Illex Vessel Hold Capacity Framework. Staff will first review the initial staff-developed alternatives. After discussion among AP and Committee members, the Committee may recommend that the Council consider particular alternatives. Public comment will also be taken.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join. If prompted, enter meeting number: 2338 857 2833; Password: cmVbhR6HV69

• Phone Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access Code: 2338 857 2833

Meeting Materials

• Framework draft/outline

• Communication from Lund’s Fisheries

• Action Page

The Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish Committees will meet jointly via webinar on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish Committee’s will meet to discuss:

• Recommendations from the Sturgeon Bycatch Fishery Management Action Team/Plan Development Team and the Joint Monkfish and Dogfish Advisory Panel;

• Potential measures to reduce bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon in the monkfish and spiny dogfish gillnet fisheries, developed from the recommendations in NOAA’s Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large-Mesh Gillnet Fisheries;

• The range of alternatives recommended to the Councils (New England and Mid-Atlantic) to be considered for reducing bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon in the monkfish and spiny dogfish gillnet fisheries; and

• Other business, as necessary.

If you would like written comments to be considered at these meetings, they must be received at the NEFMC office no later than 8 a.m. on Monday, May 15, 2023. Please address them to Council Chair Eric Reid or Executive Director Tom Nies. Email submissions should be sent to comments@nefmc.org.

Meeting materials and webinar details are posted on the NEFMC meeting page here: https://www.nefmc.org/calendar/may-17-2023-joint-monkfish-and-spiny-dogfish-committee-webinar

MAFMC Contact: Karson Cisneros - kcisneros@mafmc.org; 302-526-5259

NEFMC Contact: Robin Frede – rfrede@nefmc.org; (978) 465-0492 (ext. 124)

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meeting on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The EOP Committee will meet from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., then will meet jointly with the EOP Advisory Panel from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

During this meeting the EOP Committee will discuss development of a process/policy for reviewing exempted fishing permit applications for species designated as ecosystem components under the Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. The Committee will provide guidance to staff on development of this draft policy/process. The EOP Committee will then meet jointly with the Advisory Panel (AP) to continue the comprehensive review of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to the Fisheries Management (EAFM) risk assessment. The Committee and AP will review and provide feedback on existing and potentially new risk elements and their definitions for inclusion in an updated risk assessment, Risk elements identify an aspect that may threaten achieving the biological, economic, or social objectives that the Council desires from a fishery. Both projects will continue to be developed with input from the EOP Committee and AP throughout the year with draft products for Council review and approval anticipated in the fall of 2023.

Staff Contact: Brandon Muffley, (302) 526-5260, bmuffley@mafmc.org; Julia Beaty, (302) 526-5250, jbeaty@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the EOP Committee and AP meeting. If prompted, enter meeting number: 2346 876 6291; Password: qNSj3Gv7fs8

• Phone Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access Code: 2346 876 6291

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Materials for EFP Policy/Process

• Staff memo: background and recommendations for next steps

• GARFO input to Lund’s Fisheries on thread herring EFP

• Comment Letter from 11 NGOs

•      Materials for EAFM Risk Assessment Review

• Staff memo: summary of risk element feedback

• November 30, 2022 EOP Committee and AP meeting summary

• Mid-Atlantic EAFM Risk Assessment Documentation and Results (2018)

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet together, via webinar on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is for the EOP Committee and AP to provide feedback on the results and future application of a research project the Council is collaborating on with a research team from Rutgers University related to forecast models to predict short-term climate-induced distribution changes for four economically important Mid and South Atlantic managed species (Summer Flounder, Spiny Dogfish, Illex Squid, and Gray Triggerfish). EOP Committee and AP feedback, as well as input from the SSC, will be presented to the Council for their consideration.

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

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the February 23, 2023 EOP Committee and AP meeting (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2345 293 5438; Password: AEiQyjTk444). 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: 2345 293 5438. 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

• Project Overview

• February 24, 2022 Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee and AP meeting summary

• Presentation_Short-term Forecasts of Species Distributions for Fisheries Management

• Meeting Notice

The Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee will hold a public meeting via webinar on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review public comment received on the draft Amendment to address species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. The Committee may also develop recommendations to the Council, to be presented to the full Council later in December.

Contact: Jessica Coakley, jcoakley@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5252

Webinar Information

• Join the Webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2341 674 0543, Meeting password: Dec2022SCOQCtte)

• Join by Phone: +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll), Access Code: 2341 674 0543

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• SCOQ Species Separation Requirement Amendment - Summary of Comments

• SCOQ Comments

• SCOQ Species Separation Requirement_PHD

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet together, via webinar on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 from 9am until 12pm. The purpose of this meeting is for the EOP Committee and AP to begin a comprehensive review of the Council’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) risk assessment. The Council completed the initial risk assessment in 2017 to provide a snapshot of the current risks to meeting management objectives and helps the Council decide where to focus resources to address priority ecosystem considerations. This comprehensive review will allow the Council to evaluate new and existing objectives and risk elements and consider new information and analyses that are available to help update the risk assessment. It is anticipated the review will be completed in the fall of 2023.

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

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the November 30, 2022 EOP Committee and AP meeting (if prompted, enter Meeting number: 2343 678 8844; Meeting password: 8TrcRda3Vs4). After you connect, you will have an opportunity to choose whether you want to use your phone or computer mic/speakers for audio.

• For telephone-only access, dial +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll) and enter access code 2343 678 8844.

Meeting Materials

• Agenda

• Initial EAFM Risk Assessment (2017)

• EAFM Risk Assessment Update (2022)

• EAFM Guidance Document (2019)

• Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report (2022)

The Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet jointly via webinar on Wednesday, November 16 2022, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss potential follow-up actions regarding the disapproved Illex Permit Amendment.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2349 074 9396; Password: JBzGpH53WJ4). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2349 074 9396. 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

• Staff Memo

• July 2020 MAFMC Press Release on Council Action: https://www.mafmc.org/newsfeed/2020/council-approves-changes-to-management-of-illex-fishery

• September 2022 NOAA Disapproval Bulletin: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/amendment-22-mackerel-squid-and-butterfish-fishery-management-plan-decision?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

• September 2022 NOAA Disapproval Letter to MAFMC

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will hold a public meeting, via webinar, on Monday, November 14, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the PR Committee to review materials resulting from their data request to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) and discuss potential sets of measures. The  ALWTRT is tasked with reducing the risk of entanglement to right whales in U.S. East Coast fixed gear fisheries including gillnet, mixed species trap/pot, and lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. The measures developed by the ALWTRT have the potential to impact several Council managed fisheries and the Protected Resources Committee will develop recommendations and guidance for the Council’s representation on the ALWTRT. The ALWTRT is currently scheduled to make final recommendations at their December 1-2 meeting, however this may be subject to change. The Committee may address other protected resources issues as they arise.

Staff Contact: Karson Cisneros, kcoutre@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2331 361 5721; Password: x6gNNSKWA77). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2331 361 5721. 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

1. Agenda

2. Briefing Memo and Data Request Results

Supplemental

1. Action Plan to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch in Federal Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries

The Spiny Dogfish Committee will meet Tuesday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss 2023 specifications.

Click here to join webinar

Or join from the meeting link:

https://midatlanticfisheriesmc.webex.com/midatlanticfisheriesmc/j.php?MTID=m35fb60877078f8ed12efe9bb4de61f1c

Or join by WebEx meeting number

Meeting number (aka access code): 2333 778 2849

Meeting password: fNx2pFm7mS3

Or join just by phone if needed:

+1-415-655-0001  (use above meeting number)

Meeting Materials

Staff Memo and Monitoring Committee Summary

Also see Dogfish Materials at Sept 2022 SSC Meeting Page: https://www.mafmc.org/ssc-meetings/2022/sept13-14

Staff Contact: Jason Didden, (302) 526-5254, jdidden@mafmc.org

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will meet via webinar on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 1 pm to 4:30 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review materials for phase two of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan which focuses on reducing the risk of entanglement to right, humpback, and fin whales in U.S. East Coast gillnet, Atlantic mixed species trap/pot, and Mid-Atlantic lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. The measures developed in phase two of this plan have the potential to impact several Council managed fisheries and the Protected Resources Committee will develop recommendations and guidance for the Council’s representation on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team. This team is making final recommendations at their September 19 and 22, 2022 meetings. The Protected Resources Committee will also review and provide comments on the proposed North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The Committee may address other protected resources issues as they arise.

There will be an Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team webinar on September 8th from 2:30-5:30 p.m., hosted by NMFS, with updated analyses from different sets of risk reduction measures discussed at the Team’s May meeting. This 9/8 webinar meeting is open to the public and will serve as preparation for final deliberations. PR Committee Members interested in these results are encouraged to attend this webinar in preparation for our Committee meeting as well and can register here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-mammal-protection/atlantic-large-whale-take-reduction-team#upcoming-meetings

Staff Contact: Karson Cisneros, kcoutre@mafmc.org

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2336 271 3899; Password: mmA3YQFSQ24). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2336 271 3899. 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

Agenda_PR Comm Mtg_9.14.22

Times are approximate and may change based on pace of discussion.

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm     Review phase 2 proposed measures and discuss recommendations

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm     Review proposed rule to reduce NARW vessel strikes and provide comments to be drafted into a letter for the Council to review

4:30 pm                      Adjourn

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel will meet together, via webinar on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 10am until 12pm. The purpose of this meeting is for the EOP Committee and its Advisors to develop comments for Council consideration related to the NOAA proposal to designate the Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary.

Webinar Connection

• Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2349 264 3872; Password: MAFMC2022). After you connect you will have the option to choose whether to use your phone or computer microphone and speakers for audio.

• Phone-Only Access: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 2349 264 3872. 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

• Staff Memo: Background and Considerations for Council Comments

• June 8, 2022 Federal Register Public Scoping Notice of Intent

• July 2022 ONMS letter to MAFMC regarding consultation during the designation process

• April 2017 Mid-Atlantic Council comment letter on Hudson Canyon Sanctuary nomination

• Staff Memo: Landings and Revenue Assessment for Original Nominated Area

• Staff Presentation

• Supplemental:

  • November 2016 WCS nomination for Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary

  • GARFO analysis: Assessment of Commercial Landings and Revenues in Original Nominated Area (downloads as html file)

  • GARFO analysis: Assessment of Recreational For-Hire Landings and Revenues in Original Nominated Area (downloads as html file)

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Committee will meet via webinar on Monday, May 16, 2022, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to develop recommendations for the Council regarding Atlantic mackerel rebuilding and associated 2023 specifications, including the fishery’s river herring and shad cap.

Agenda - Mackerel Rebuilding and 2023 Specifications

• Review Public Comments

• Review updated analyses and potential alternative modifications

• Discussion and Committee Recommendations

Meeting Materials - Mackerel Rebuilding and 2023 Specifications

• Public Hearing Document and related materials

• Written Comments

• Hearings Summaries

• MSB and RH/S Joint AP Summary

• 2021 RH/S Update

  • Indices

  • MA Indices

Contact: Jason Didden - jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254

Webinar Details

• Click Here to Join the Meeting (If prompted, enter Meeting number 2349 398 9911 Meeting password: msb-mack-com)

• To join by phone: 1-415-655-0001, Access Code: 2349 398 9911

Staff Contact: Jason Didden, jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254