Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squid2017/ 

Phone: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#

A listening station will be available at Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 247– 2200. 

NOTE: The public hearing document for this amendment is now available HERE (posted 4/19/2017).

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold nine public hearings in April and May 2017 to solicit public input on the Squid Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through 11:59 pm on May 18, 2017.

The amendment considers measures to reduce latent longfin and Illex squid permits. Currently, a relatively small portion of vessels with limited access (“moratorium”) squid permits account for the majority of landings in most years. The Council is concerned that activation of latent permits in the squid fisheries could lead to excessive fishing effort, potentially resulting in shortened seasons and increased catch of non-target species.

The amendment also considers measures to modify the management of longfin squid during Trimester 2 (May-August). The Council is considering this action because there is concern that the productivity of the longfin squid stock may be negatively impacted if excessive fishing in Trimester 2 does not allow sufficient spawning and/or successful egg hatching from egg mops.

Hearing Schedule

1. April 24, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, 12320 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842, 410-213-0144.
2. April 25, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland, ME 04101, 207-775-2311.
3. April 26, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930, 978-282-0308.
4. May 2, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Congress Hall, 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204, 609-884-8421.
5. May 3, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  DoubleTree by Hilton Tinton Falls, 700 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, 732-544-9300.
6. May 4, 2017, 6:00-8:00 PM: Webinar, http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squid2017/  800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.  A listening station will be available at Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 247– 2200. 
7. May 8, 2017, 5:00-8:00 PM:  University of Rhode Island, Corless Auditorium, Watkins Building, 218 Ferry Rd., Narragansett, RI 401-874-6222.
8. May 9, 2017, 4:30 – 7:00 PM:  Doubletree by Hilton Cape Cod – Hyannis, 287 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601, 508-771-1700.
9. May 11, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM:  Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, 431 East Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901, 631-208-0002.

Written Comments

Written comments may be sent through mail, email, fax, or online through 11:59 pm on Thursday, May 18, 2017.

• Mail to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901 (please write “Squid Amendment Comments” on the outside of the envelope.)
• Fax to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council at 302-674-5399 (please include “Squid Amendment Comments” in the subject line.)
• Email to squid@mafmc.org
• Online at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/squid-amendment-public-comments

Additional information and relevant background documents are available on the Council’s website at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment and in the public hearing document, available HERE. 

Questions? Please direct any questions about the amendment to Jason Didden (jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254).

The Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) will meet to discuss the range of alternatives in terms of the Magnuson Act and NEPA requirements for the Squid Capacity Amendment. 

Contact Jason Didden for details - (302) 526-5254, jdidden@mafmc.org.

About FMAT Meetings
Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) meetings are working meetings of Council, NOAA Fisheries, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission staff. The Council typically posts announcements of FMAT meetings to the calendar on the Council’s website, sometimes with very little notice. Detailed agendas and information on the meeting location and how to connect via phone or webinar (if available) are not posted but may be obtained by contacting Council staff prior to the meeting. 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.

The Council's Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel will meet on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to review analyses and develop recommendations for the Squid Capacity Amendment. The meeting will be held at the Radisson Hotel Providence Airport, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886. 

The Advisory Panel will provide input on an Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.  The amendment could reduce the capacities of the longfin squid and Illex squid fleets. The Council is considering this action because of concern that activation of latent capacity in the squid fisheries could lead to excessive fishing effort and increased catch of non-target species. Several other issues are being considered as well: (1) new permits for Maine/northern states; (2) re-evaluation of longfin squid trimesters; and (3) longfin squid buffer zones (e.g. 10 miles) beyond state waters in the area south of Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket. 

Contact Jason Didden for more information - (302) 526-5254, jdidden@mafmc.org. 

Agenda

9-9:05am:     Welcome and introductions
9:05-10:45am: Squid capacity discussion
10:45am-11am: Public comment on squid capacity
11am – noon.  Possibly additional capacity discussions, possibly moving on to trimester issues
Noon-1pm      Lunch
1-3:30 pm:    Trimester, Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket, and Maine Issues
3:30-3:45:    Public comment on Trimester, Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket, and Maine Issues
3:45-5pm:     Additional Advisory Panel discussion on any issues that need further consideration.

We recently received a request for a remote phone connection by a member of the public and one will be available for listening only: (800) 832-0736, Room: *7833942#  No comments will be taken over the phone – it is listen only.

Meeting Materials

• 2006 Discussions
• Correspondence
• Lisa Hendrickson Documents
• Updated Action Plan
• May FMAT Meeting Summary
• Requalification – Possible options for longfin/Illex re-qualification criteria
• Discards in the Longfin Squid Trawl Fishery

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

This hearing will be held via webinar at the following link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squidscoping/.  Two locations will be available for individuals to participate in the webinar in-person. 

• Virginia Marine Resources Commission: 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor, Newport News, VA 23607; (757) 247-2200. 
• MAFMC Office: 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901.

Please contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254 by April 19, 2015 if you are planning to participate from the Council's office or if you would like to test/confirm that your computer is set up to access the webinar.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six scoping hearings in April 2015 for an Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB).  The current focus of the amendment is to consider alternatives to reduce the capacities of the longfin squid and Illex squid fleets as defined by vessels with limited access permits.  The Amendment is likely to consider a variety of approaches for reducing capacity in the squid fisheries.  During these hearings, the Council will also accept general comments on the MSB fisheries.  These general comments could inform Council decision making for upcoming annual specifications or other actions.

About Scoping

During scoping, the Council gathers information about an issue.  This is the first and best opportunity for members of the public to raise concerns related to the scope of issues that will be considered in the Amendment.  The Council needs your input both to identify management issues and develop effective alternatives.  Your comments early in the amendment development process will help us address issues of public concern in a thorough and appropriate manner. 

Comment topics could include the scope of issues in the amendment, concerns and potential alternatives related to capacity in the squid fisheries, and the appropriate level of environmental analysis.  If the Council decides to move forward with the Amendment, the Council will develop a range of management alternatives to be considered and will provide an additional opportunity for public comment.

Additional details and ways to comment (due May 11, 2015) may be found here:
http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment

Contact

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

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.  Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.