Council News

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Council Meeting
December 10-12, 2024 Council Meeting in Annapolis, Maryland
Council Meeting
Council Meeting
NOAA Fisheries to Host Industry Workshops on Safe Work Environment for Observers

One of the workshops is scheduled for December 12th at 2:30 at the Westin Annapolis after the December 2024 Council meeting. 

Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Workshop, Public Comment Opportunities
Cornell Cooperative Extension to Hold Workshop on Scup Gear Restricted Areas
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Workshop, Public Comment Opportunities

The workshop will be held Wednesday, November 20, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at three in-person locations in New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. A webinar option will also be available.

Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Workshop, Public Comment Opportunities
Request for Proposals, Habitat, Climate Change
Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Contractor to Develop Climate-Ready Updates to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Source Documents - Proposals Due December 20
Request for Proposals, Habitat, Climate Change
Request for Proposals, Habitat, Climate Change
SAFMC, Public Comment Opportunities
SAFMC King and Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings Continue in the Mid-Atlantic Region
SAFMC, Public Comment Opportunities

Port meetings will be held November 18-21 in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey.

SAFMC, Public Comment Opportunities
Council Meeting Summary
October 2024 Council Meeting Summary
Council Meeting Summary
Council Meeting Summary
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
ASMFC and MAFMC Approve Changes to Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Size Exemptions
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
Fact Sheet: Black Sea Bass 2025 Specifications
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
Highlight
MREP Fisheries Science and Management Workshop: January 13-17, 2025
Highlight

The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) is accepting applications for the next Greater Atlantic Fisheries Science and Management Workshop. The workshop is free to selected participants and includes meals, travel, and hotel lodging. Space is limited. Apply here.

Highlight
Council Meeting
MAFMC to Meet Jointly with ASMFC Policy Board and Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board on October 24, 2024
Council Meeting

During this meeting, the Council and Policy Board will consider approval of the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda for public comment, and the Council and Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board will consider taking final action on the Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum.

Council Meeting
Highly Migratory Species
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Electronic Reporting Requirements
Highly Migratory Species

NOAA Fisheries is proposing to modify and/or expand reporting requirements for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS), including reporting by commercial, for-hire, and private recreational vessel owners and dealers. Public hearing webinars will be held on October 16, October 29, and December 2. The deadline to submit comments is January 6, 2025.

Highly Migratory Species
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Bluefish
Proposed 2025 Specifications for the Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Fisheries
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Bluefish
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Bluefish
Request for Proposals, Climate Change
Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Contractor to Develop a Framework to Evaluate Changes in Stock Distribution - Proposals due Oct 18
Request for Proposals, Climate Change
Request for Proposals, Climate Change
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Public Comment Opportunities
Public Hearings Scheduled for Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum
Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Public Comment Opportunities

This action considers potential changes to the Summer Flounder Small Mesh Exemption Program and the flynet exemption from the commercial minimum mesh size requirements. Virtual hearings will be held on September 16 and 17, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Written comments will be accepted through September 28, 2024.

Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass, Public Comment Opportunities
August 2024 Council Meeting Summary
Protected Resources
Paperwork Reduction Act Request for Comments: Sea turtles in Virginia pound nets data collection
Protected Resources

Comment Deadline: October 7, 2024.

Protected Resources
Strategic Plan
Mid-Atlantic Council Invites Public Input on 5-Year Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan

Comment Deadline: September 4, 2024.

Strategic Plan
Spiny Dogfish, Public Comment Opportunities
NOAA Fisheries Solicits Comment on Proposed Rule to Implement Joint Monkfish and Spiny Dogfish Framework (Sturgeon Bycatch)
Spiny Dogfish, Public Comment Opportunities

Comment Deadline: September 11, 2024

Spiny Dogfish, Public Comment Opportunities
Mackerel/Squid/Butterfish, Public Comment Opportunities
NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed Framework Adjustment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (Illex Holds)
Mackerel/Squid/Butterfish, Public Comment Opportunities

Comment Deadline: August 20, 2024

Mackerel/Squid/Butterfish, Public Comment Opportunities
Request for Proposals
Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Contractor to Evaluate Data Needs and Management Strategies to Support Climate-Ready Fisheries Management
Request for Proposals

The Council is seeking a highly qualified contractor to conduct an evaluation of data needs and management strategies to support climate-ready management of East Coast fisheries. The proposal submission deadline is Friday, August 30, 2024. See the Request for Proposals for complete details.

Request for Proposals
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to Meet July 23-25, 2024
Department of Commerce Announces 2024 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils
June 2024 Council Meeting Summary

Catch up on what happened during the Council’s June 2024 meeting in Riverhead, New York.

Offshore Wind
Vineyard Wind 1 Compensation Eligibility Period Extended to June 17
Offshore Wind

The eligibility period to apply for the Vineyard Wind 1 Fisheries Compensatory Mitigation Program ends on June 3, 2024. Commercial fishing vessel owners/operators must submit an online application prior to the deadline to be considered for eligibility.

Offshore Wind
Vacancy Announcement
Vacancy Announcement: Fishery Management Specialist
Vacancy Announcement

Application deadline: June 28, 2024

Vacancy Announcement
Council Meeting
June 2024 Council Meeting
Council Meeting

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, June 4 – Thursday, June 6, 2024 in Riverhead, NY.

Council Meeting
SAFMC
South Atlantic Council to Hold King and Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings in New England and New York
SAFMC

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking input from New England and Mid-Atlantic stakeholders on the future of the king and Spanish mackerel fisheries. Three New England-focused meetings will be held via webinar on May 14, 15, and 16, 2024. An in-person port meeting will be held on June 4, 2024 in conjunction with a meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in Riverhead, New York.

SAFMC
Request for Proposals, Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
Deadline Extended (May 24): Request for Proposals for Collaborative Strategies to Adapt Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA) to Changing Ocean Conditions
Request for Proposals, Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass

The Mid‐Atlantic Council continues to seek a contractor to investigate potential modifications to the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs). The proposal submission deadline has been extended to Friday, May 24, 2024.

Request for Proposals, Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass
April 2024 Council Meeting Summary
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog
Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearings on Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog

The Mid-Atlantic Council is requesting public comments on a draft amendment to modify the species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Comments may be submitted at any of three public hearings to be held on May 9, 14, and 16. Written comments will also be accepted through May 30, 2024.

Surfclam and Ocean Quahog