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.

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

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

NOAA Fisheries: Final Management Measures for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Announced

Today, NOAA Fisheries announced new management measures for the summer flounder, scup and black sea bass recreational fisheries, including minimum fish size, possession limit, and fishing seasons. Read more...

Council Approves Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment

At last week's meeting the Council voted on final management measures to include in the Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment and approved the amendment to be submitted for Secretarial review. Read more...

NOAA Fisheries MRIP Update: Results from Electronic Logbook Pilot Study Are Now Available

This week the NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) announced the completion of a pilot study that tested the feasibility of using electronic logbooks to collect landings and fishing effort data. The final project report, which provides results and recommendations for future work, is now available online at  www.countmyfish.noaa.gov. 

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.

Marine Recreational Information Program Update- Watch Online

Earlier this month Rob Andrews from NOAA Fisheries presented an overview of recent and upcoming changes to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) at the Council's meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina.  His presentation focused on new catch and effort survey methods, is available to watch online. Click Here to watch it.