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 2014 Council Meeting Report

The following summary highlights major actions and issues considered at the December 8-11, 2014 Council meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

Mid-Atlantic Council Initiates Action to Protect Unmanaged Forage Species

The Mid-Atlantic Council voted at its meeting last week to initiate an action that would protect unmanaged species of forage fish in the Mid-Atlantic.

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.

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

NOAA Fisheries Reports Unprecedented Numbers of "Cold-Stunned" Sea Turtle

NOAA Fisheries staff is working feverishly with partners to arrange air transports for unprecedented numbers of “cold-stunned” sea turtles to facilities in the southeast United States.

NOAA Fisheries: Improving the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey

NOAA Fisheries has announced that it is intending to move, within the next few years, to a new MRIP-based method for surveying Atlantic and Gulf Coast saltwater recreational shore and private boat anglers about their fishing trips.

Council Meeting in Baltimore, MD: December 8 - 11, 2014

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's upcoming meeting in Baltimore, Maryland on December 8 - 11, 2014.

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.

Butterfish allocation transferred to the directed fishery from the butterfish mortality cap

NOAA Fisheries has announced the transfer of 1,900 metric tons of butterfish to the butterfish directed fishery from the butterfish mortality cap on the longfin squid fishery.

August 1 Control Date Established in the Commercial Summer Flounder Fishery

At the request of the Council, GARFO has published an August 1 control date for the commercial summer flounder fishery.

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.

Now Available: East Coast Climate Change and Fisheries Governance Workshop Report

In March 2014 the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council convened a workshop in Washington, D.C. to explore the existing and potential climate-related impacts on the management and governance of East Coast marine fisheries. More than 70 fishery managers, scientists, policy makers, and stakeholders attended. The purpose of the workshop was to provide East Coast fishery managers, scientists, and decision-makers with a shared frame of reference regarding the potential impacts of climate change on managed fisheries.

East Coast Climate Change and Fisheries Governance Workshop Report

NOAA Announces Funding through Saltonstall-Kennedy grant program for 2014-2015

NOAA has announced the availability of approximately $18 million to support research projects under the FY2014/2015 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program.

BOEM Releases Final Report on Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures for Offshore Wind Development

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management BOEM has announced that the final report regarding Atlantic offshore wind best management practices (BMPs) to reduce fishing impacts is now available on BOEM's website.

2015 fishing year regulations announced for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahog fisheries

NOAA Fisheries is suspending the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2015 fishing year. Quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries will remain status quo for 2015.

GAO Releases Report on Stock Assessment Prioritization and Funding

Last week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the results from its review of NMFS stock assessments in a report entitled Fish Stock Assessments: Prioritization and Funding.

MAFMC to collaborate with Rutgers Scientists on climate change research

The National Science Foundation's (NFS) Coastal SEES program has awarded more than $15 million in funding for coastal sustainability projects, including a project led by Rutgers University to assess fishery adaptations to climate change.

2015/2016 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside

The 2015/2016 Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Federal Funding Opportunity is available. The due date for research proposals is November 12, 2014 at 5 pm.

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