Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Hearings on Deep Sea Corals Amendment

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six public hearings in January to gather public comments on the Deep Sea Corals Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Hearings will be held January 12 – 20, 2015, and written comments will be accepted until January 28, 2015.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Hearings on Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Amendment

The Council has scheduled four hearings to be held January 12 - 15 for the public to provide comments on the Cost Recovery Amendment to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog FMP. Written comments will also be accepted from December 15, 2014 until January 16, 2015.

Proposed 2015 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Specifications

NOAA Fisheries has published proposed specifications for the Atlantic mackerel, squid and butterfish fisheries for fishing year 2015.  The deadline to submit public comments on December 15, 2014.

Mid-Atlantic Council and ASMFC to Hold Summer Flounder Scoping Hearings

The Mid-Atlantic Council and the ASMFC have scheduled fourteen scoping hearings September 29 – October 22 to gather public input on the range of issues to be considered in the Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment.

SAFMC Calls for Fishermens' Input on Upcoming Public Hearing Amendments on Dolphin Wahoo and Mackerel Amendments

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled public hearings in August to gather public input on several Amendments that may impact Mid-Atlantic and New England fishermen and other stakeholders.

Proposed Allowable Harvest Limits for Atlantic Bluefish Fishery for 2014

NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed specifications for the 2014 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including an annual catch limit, total allowable landings, a commercial quota and recreational harvest limit, and a recreational possession limit.  

NOAA Fisheries Proposes New Measures for Spiny Dogfish

NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed management measures for spiny dogfish that include implementing a research set- aside program, updating essential fish habitat definitions, allowing rollover of specifications, and eliminating the seasonal allocation of the commercial quota.

Dogfish Information Webinar Scheduled for April 8

On Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 7 p.m., the MAFMC will hold a brief public information webinar to gather additional fishery industry perspectives on the likely impacts of the alternative spiny dogfish trip limits under consideration in the 2014-2015 specifications package.

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. 

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...

Council Requests Public Input on Omnibus Recreational Amendment

Next week the Council will hold five public hearings throughout the Mid-Atlantic region to gather public input on the Draft Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment.

Northeast Regional Administrator to Hold Public Listening Sessions

Members of the fishing industry and other stakeholders are invited to attend public listening sessions in North Carolina and Virginia with John Bullard, the NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator for the Northeast Region.

Council Seeks Public Input on Deep Sea Coral Protection

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled two scoping hearings for the public to provide comments on Amendment 16 to the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fishery management plan.