October 2015 Council Meeting Summary

The following summary highlights actions taken and issues considered at the Council’s meeting on October 6 – 8, 2015 in Philadelphia, PA.

NEFSC Seeks Candidates for Stock Assessment Workshop Working Groups

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center is currently seeking SAW working group applicants for Monkfish, Black Sea Bass, Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, and Atlantic Mackerel. Application questionnaires are due by September 21, 2015 for black sea bass and September 30, 2015 for all other species. 

June 2015 Council Meeting Summary

The following summary highlights actions and issues considered at the Council's June 8-11 meeting in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Council Takes Final Action on Cost Recovery Amendment

The Mid-Atlantic Council has approved the Cost Recovery Amendment to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management (FMP). The amendment addresses cost recovery requirements, streamlines the process for updating stock status determination criteria, and removes the optimum yield (OY) ranges specified in the FMP.

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.

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. 

Proposed Data Collection Program for Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog

NOAA Fisheries is proposing an information collection program for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery. The intent would be to collect more detailed information about individuals and businesses that hold fishery quota allocation in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferable quota programs. 

NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Measures for the 2014 Fishing Year

NOAA Fisheries today announced the 2014 fishing year measures for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries which will be effective January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. Click here for details.

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).

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.