December 10 Listening Session: Deep Sea Corals in the Mid-Atlantic

Members of the public are invited to attend the Council’s next listening session at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10th to learn more about deep sea corals in the Mid-Atlantic. Guest speaker will be Dr. Martha Nizinski, a zoologist at the NOAA Fisheries National Systematics Lab

New Tilefish Management Measures

NOAA Fisheries has published final management measures for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 tilefish fishing years. The catch limits and total allowable landings become effective at the start of the 2015 fishing year on November 1, 2014. Click here for more information.

October 2014 Council Meeting Report

The following summary highlights Council actions and issues considered at the October 2014 Council Meeting held in Philadelphia, PA on October 7-9.

Public Comments Sought on Proposed Specifications for the Tilefish Fishery for 2015-2017

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on proposed measures for the tilefish fishery for the 2015-2017 fishing years.

NOAA selects two areas in the North Atlantic for targeted habitat conservation efforts

NOAA has announced the selection of two sites in NOAA’s North Atlantic Region as the next Habitat Focus Areas under NOAA’s Habitat Blueprint. In the Mid-Atlantic, the agency will focus its habitat conservation and restoration efforts on the Choptank River complex in Maryland and Delaware.

April 2014 Council Meeting Summary

The following summary highlights Council actions and issues considered at the Council's meeting on April 8 - 10, 2014 in Montauk, New York.

Council Adopts Golden Tilefish Management Measures for 2015 – 2017

During last week's meeting in Montauk, New York, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council adopted golden tilefish management measures for the next three years.

NOAA Fisheries: Final ESA Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion Now Available

NOAA Fisheries announces that the Final biological opinion to assess the impact of seven Northeast fisheries on various species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act as either threatened or endangered is now available.

NMFS Requests Nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel

Nominations for the NMFS Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel will be accepted through December 6, 2013.

2014 Quotas for Tilefish Fishery go into effect on November 1

For fishing year 2014 (November 1, 2013–October 31, 2014), the quota will remain at 1.995 million lb. The incidental trip limit will also remain unchanged from the 2013 fishing year at 458 lb.

NOAA Fisheries: Federal Funds Available for Habitat Restoration in Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia

NOAA Fisheries Service has announced more than $6 million in funding for habitat restoration projects in Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia to restore more than 11,000 acres of habitat, and open more than 200 stream miles for fish passage.

NOAA Fisheries: All Northeast Fisheries Now Authorized for Electronic Trip Reporting

NOAA Fisheries has announced that all permitted vessels in the Northeast region are now authorized to participate in electronic trip reporting (eVTR).

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.

East Coast Fishery Managers Sign Agreement to Coordinate Deep Sea Coral Conservation

This month the Chairmen of the three east coast fishery management councils signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help coordinate the protection of deep sea corals off the Atlantic coast of the United States from Maine to eastern Florida.

June Council Meeting Summary

Find out what happened at the Council's most recent meeting in Eatontown, New Jersey.

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Public Comments on 5-Year Strategic Plan

The Council has released a draft of its 5-year strategic plan for public comment. Comments from the public will be accepted through July 19, 2013 and reviewed by the Council at its August 13-15 meeting in Wilmington, DE. Read more...

NMFS Publishes Draft 7 Consultation on the Continued Implementation of Seven Northeast Fisheries

The Northeast Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service has published a draft Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Consultation on the Continued Implementation of Management Measures for seven Northeast fisheries. Download complete PDF/print version.

CFRF Offers Mid-Atlantic Fishermen Bycatch Avoidance Gear Modification Vouchers

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is currently administering a voucher program for fishing vessel owners to obtain financial assistance to install one or both promising gear modifications onboard their vessels for use in small mesh fisheries (including squid, whiting, and scup) to avoid unwanted bycatch of winter flounder.

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