August 5, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Last Chance to Submit Comments on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth: The Council is seeking ideas and suggestions for reducing burdens on domestic fishing and increasing production within sustainable fisheries. Input will help inform the Council’s development of a prioritized list of recommended actions as required under Section 4 of Executive Order 13921. Learn more and submit comments here. Comments are due today, August 5, at 5:00 p.m.
August 6 Joint MAFMC/ASMFC Meeting: The Council will meet jointly via webinar with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Bluefish Management Board on August 6, 2020. An agenda and other details related to the joint portion of the meeting are available on the August 6, 2020 Joint MAFMC/ASMFC Meeting Page. Webinar connection information is available on the ASMFC’s Summer 2020 Meeting page.
August 2020 Council Meeting: The Council’s August 2020 Council Meeting will be held via webinar next week, August 10-13. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the ASMFC’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Bluefish Management Board. An agenda, briefing materials, and webinar connection details are available on the August 2020 Council Meeting Page.
Redeployment of Northeast Observers: NOAA Fisheries has announced that deployment of observers and at-sea monitors in the Northeast partial-coverage fisheries will resume on August 14. To improve transparency in its approach to observer deployment, NOAA Fisheries has established national-level criteria for vessels to be waived (released) from observer or at-sea monitor coverage.
Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting: Beginning August 17, 2020, any recreational vessel that intends to target or retain blueline or golden tilefish north of the NC/VA border will be required to obtain a Federal private recreational tilefish vessel permit. In addition, recreational vessel operators will be required to submit electronic vessel trip reports (eVTRs) within 24 hours of returning to port from any recreational trip targeting or retaining tilefish. For more information, read the NOAA Fisheries announcement or visit the Council’s Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting page.
Proposed Commercial eVTR Requirements: NOAA Fisheries has published a proposed rule to implement a framework jointly developed by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils which would require federally permitted commercial fishing vessels to submit vessel trip reports electronically within 48 hours of the end of a trip. For more details, please see the NOAA Fisheries announcement or visit the Council’s Commercial eVTR page. Comments must be submitted by August 17, 2020.
Chub Mackerel: NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule implementing Amendment 21 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action integrates Atlantic chub mackerel into the FMP and implements long-term conservation and management measures for the species from Maine through North Carolina.
Illex Squid Quota Increase: NOAA Fisheries has increased the 2020 acceptable biological catch for the Illex squid fishery from 26,000 mt to 30,000 mt. This quota increase was recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council based on preliminary work by its Illex Squid Working Group, which concluded that the species continues to be lightly exploited and the fishery footprint is small. See the permit holder bulletin for more information.
Offshore Wind: The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to New York and New Jersey and international and domestic transit areas in the First District area of responsibility. A public comment period on this study is open through August 28. A virtual public meeting will be held via webinar and teleconference to provide an opportunity for oral comments on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, beginning at 6 p.m. EST. More information is available here.
Upcoming Webinars:
- August 6: Joint MAFMC/ASMFC Meeting
- August 7: Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Meeting
- August 10-13: August 2020 Council Meeting
- August 19: Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel Meeting
- September 8-9: SSC Meeting
Questions? Contact Mary Sabo – msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.