October 7-10, 2013 Council Meeting Summary

During the October Council meeting in Philadelphia, PA, the Council addressed a range of issues, including specifications for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish, and spiny dogfish. Check out the October Meeting Summary to learn more.

Marine Species Distribution Shifts Reflect Local Climate Conditions

Climate change has resulted in shifts in where and at what depths many marine species are found. The leading explanation for these changes has been biological differences among species, but a new study suggests that the local climatic conditions are more likely causing these shifts.

Federal Funding Opportunity: 2014-2015 Atlantic Scallop Research Set-Aside

NOAA Fisheries, in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council, is soliciting Atlantic Sea Scallop research proposals to utilize scallop Total Allowable Catch that has been set-aside through the Atlantic Scallop Research Set-Aside Program. Click here to read the full announcement.

NOAA Fisheries: Draft Amendment to the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology available for public comment through Oct. 27

NOAA Fisheries has announced the availability for public comment of a draft amendment to the standardized bycatch reporting methodology (SBRM) used to assess the amount and type of bycatch occurring in Mid-Atlantic and New England fisheries. 

NOAA Fisheries: Proposed changes to recreational accountability measures for some Mid-Atlantic fish species

NOAA has announced that it is proposing revisions to the accountability measures for the Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic bluefish, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Public comments will be accepted on the proposed measures until October 18, 2013. 

NOAA Fisheries: Summer Flounder Commercial Quota Harvested for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

NOAA Fisheries announces that the 2013 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been harvested.  Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in Massachusetts for the remainder of calendar year 2013, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer from another state.

2013 Bottlenose Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event

NOAA Fisheries has declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for bottlenose dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic. Strandings of bottlenose dolphins in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia  were more than 7 times their historical average during the month of July and have remained elevated into mid-August.

NOAA Fisheries: ESA Listing for River Herring not Warranted At This Time

NOAA Fisheries announced today that listing is not warranted at this time for alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, as either threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

South Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearing at Mid-Atlantic Council Meeting

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public hearing at 4 p.m. on August 14 during the Mid-Atlantic Council's upcoming meeting in Wilmington, DE for the public to provide input on three proposed amendments affecting the fishery management plans for dolphin and wahoo, coral, and coastal migratory pelagics. Read more...

Public Listening Session: Offshore Wind Power and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries

The Council will hold its next listening session on Tuesday, August 13 in Wilmington, Delaware. The topic will be Offshore Wind Power and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries.  Dr. Jeremy Firestone, Professor of Marine Policy and Legal Studies at the University of Delaware, will discuss recent developments in wind power siting and construction and how they may affect fisheries and fishing communities.