Fishery Management Action Teams

Overview

A Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) is a team formed by the Council to develop alternatives and provide technical analysis in support of a specific, major Council action.  FMATs help plan and execute the procedural and technical steps needed to complete an action, and collaborate to create the supporting documents for Council actions (e.g., white papers, environmental assessments, environmental impacts statements, etc.). FMATs work closely with Council Committees to refine options and evaluate management proposals to ensure they are consistent with Council goals and any statutory or regulatory requirements.

Specific responsibilities of FMATs include:

  • Development of Action Plans for amendments and frameworks.

  • Development of the scope of issues that will be considered in the development of the action.

  • Incorporation of recommendations of the Council and its committees or other groups, into management alternatives development, as appropriate.

  • Guidance, and technical and analytical expertise, and/or review of proposed measures during the development and preparation of FMP actions.

About FMAT Meetings

Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) meetings are working meetings of the Council, NOAA Fisheries, and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission staff. Connection details for webinar-based meetings are typically posted on the calendar page for that meeting. Information on FMAT meeting locations for in-person meetings may be obtained by contacting Council staff prior to the meeting. This information is not posted to the Council’s website. 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.

View a list of upcoming and past FMAT Meetings >

Membership

Membership on FMATs can include scientists, managers, and other experts with knowledge and experience relevant to the Council action under development.  FMATs are chaired by Council staff as designated by the Council Executive Director. 

Recreational Sector Separation and Catch Accounting Amendment

  • Kiley Dancy, MAFMC

  • Hannah Hart, MAFMC

  • Tracey Bauer, ASMFC

  • Chelsea Tuohy, ASMFC

  • Laura Deighan, GARFO

  • Marianne Randall, GARFO

  • Sara Turner, GARFO

  • Scott Steinback, NEFSC

  • John Maniscalco, NY DEC

  • Corrin Flora, Maine DMR

  • Matt Ayer, Massachusetts DMF

  • John Lake, Rhode Island DMF

  • Craig Weedon, Maryland DNR

Summer Flounder Mesh Exemption Framework

  • Kiley Dancy, MAFMC

  • Hannah Hart, MAFMC

  • Chelsea Tuohy, ASMFC

  • Laura Deighan, GARFO

  • Emily Keiley, GARFO

  • Marianne Randall, GARFO

  • Carolyn Iwicki, GARFO

  • Debra Duarte, NEFSC

  • Sam Truesdell, NEFSC

  • Lorena de la Garza, NC DMF

  • Corinne Truesdale, RI DEM

Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework

  • Julia Beaty, MAFMC

  • Tracey Bauer, ASMFC

  • Chelsea Tuohy, ASMFC

  • Mike Celestino, NJ DEP

  • Alexa Galvan, VMRC

  • Carolyn Iwicki, GARFO

  • Emily Keiley, GARFO

  • Marianne Randall, GARFO

  • Scott Steinback, NEFSC

  • Rachel Sysak, NY DEC

  • Corinne Truesdale, RI DEM

  • Sam Truesdell, NEFSC

  • Sara Turner, GARFO

Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment

  • Jessica Coakley, MAFMC

  • Jose Montanez, MAFMC

  • Doug Potts, GARFO

  • Sharon Benjamin, GARFO

  • Daniel Hennen, NEFSC

  • John Walden, NEFSC

Essential Fish Habitat Amendment

  • Jessica Coakley, MAFMC

  • Tori Kentner, MAFMC

  • Michelle Bachman, NEFMC

  • Jessie Murray, GARFO

  • Sharon Benjamin, GARFO

  • Doug Potts, GARFO

  • Danielle Palmer, GARFO

  • Chris Haak, Monmouth University, NEFMC

  • Jim Vasslides, NEFSC

Sturgeon Bycatch Framework

  • Jason Didden, MAFMC

  • Robin Frede, NEFMC

  • Jenny Couture, NEFMC

  • Spencer Talmage, GARFO SFD

  • Lynn Lankshear, GARFO PRD

  • Bridget St. Amand, NEFSC

  • Jason Boucher, NEFSC

  • James Boyle, ASMFC

Recently-Completed Council Actions

Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment

  • Julia Beaty, MAFMC

  • Kiley Dancy, MAFMC

  • Karson Cisneros, MAFMC

  • Dustin Colson Leaning, ASMFC

  • Savannah Lewis, ASMFC

  • Emily Keiley, NMFS GARFO

  • Marianne Ferguson, GARFO NEPA

  • Greg Ardini, NEFSC SSB

  • Gary Shepherd, NEFSC

  • Mark Terceiro, NEFSC

Recreational Harvest Control Rule Framework

  • Julia Beaty, MAFMC

  • Savannah Lewis, ASMFC

  • Mike Celestino, New Jersey DEP

  • Dustin Colson Leaning, ASMFC

  • Emily Keiley, GARFO

  • John Maniscalco, New York DEC

  • Scott Steinback, NEFSC

  • Greg Wojcik, Connecticut DEEP

  • Anthony Wood, NEFSC

Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares

  • Jose Montanez, MAFMC

  • Jessica Coakley, MAFMC

  • Douglas Potts, GARFO

  • Marianne Ferguson, GARFO,

  • Ted Hawes, GARFO

  • John Walden, NEFSC

  • John Almeida, GARFO

  • David Stevenson, GARFO

Bluefish Allocation Amendment

  • MAFMC Staff

  • Danielle Palmer, GARFO

  • David Stevenson, GARFO

  • Cynthia Hanson, GARFO

  • Sarah Gurtman, GARFO

  • Tony Wood, NEFSC

  • Trish Clay, NEFSC

  • Dustin Colson Leaning, ASMFC

  • Mike Celestino, NJDFW

Illex Permitting and MSB FMP Goals and Objectives Amendment

  • Jason Didden, MAFMC

  • Doug Christel, GARFO

  • Lisa Hendrickson, NEFSC

  • John Walden, NEFSC

  • Marianne Ferguson, GARFO

  • Ben Galuardi, GARFO

  • Don Frei, GARFO

  • Dave Stevenson, GARFO