Saving Seafood

Council Actions

SAFMC: Reminder! Applications for Advisory Panels and System Management Plan Workgroup Due

August 21, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

If you are considering applying for an open seat on one of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s advisory panels or serving as a fisherman on the Council’s new System Management Plan Workgroup, today is the day to do so! 

Applications must be received by tomorrow, August 22, 2018 for consideration by the Council during its September 16-20, 2018 meeting. Complete the online application using the instructions below.

Applications are being solicited for the following advisory panel positions:
Coral Advisory Panel
  • (3) Open Seats
Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel
  • (1) SC Open Seat 
  • (1) GA Open Seat
Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
  • (1) NC Commercial
  • (1) NC Conservation
  • (1) FL Recreational 
  • (1) FL Commercial
  • (1) At-Large Research/Geologist Seat
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel
  • (2) Recreational Seats
Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel
  • (3) Open Seats
Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
  • (3) NC Open Seats
  • (1) SC Open Seat
  • (1) GA Open Seat
  • (2) Florida Open Seats
  • (1) NGO Seat
The Council is also soliciting applicants to represent commercial and recreational interests on its System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. The newly formed workgroup will provide recommendations on managed areas in federal waters under the Council’s jurisdiction. The Council currently has system management plans in place for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, Spawning Special Management Zones, and the Oculina Experimental Closed Area. Additional areas will be added, with the goal to eventually have a single System Management Plan in place for all managed areas.

ASMFC & MAFMC Approve Catch and Landings Limits for Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass and Bluefish for 2019

August 21, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) reviewed previously approved specifications for scup and established new specifications for black sea bass, bluefish, and summer flounder fisheries. The Commission also approved Draft Addendum XXXI for public comment and agreed to provide the states the opportunity to open their black sea bass recreational fisheries in February 2019.

Catch and landings limits for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries were established for 2019 only. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to state waters (0‐3 miles from shore). The Council will forward its recommendations for federal waters (3 – 200 miles from shore) to NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for final approval. The table below summarizes commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits (RHL) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish (2018 values are provided for comparison purposes).

Summer Flounder

For summer flounder, the Commission and Council received a data update, including catch, landings, and survey indices through 2017, and stock projections for 2019. Taking into consideration the data update and model-projected increases in spawning stock biomass, the Commission and Council approved, on an interim basis, a commercial quota of 7.72 million pounds (16% increase from 2018) and RHL of 5.15 million pounds for 2019 (16% increase from 2018). Both the commercial quota and RHL may be changed in early 2019 pending the results of the upcoming benchmark stock assessment. 

Scup

For scup, the Commission and Council received a data update, including catch, landings, and survey indices through 2017. The update indicates biomass continues to be high, and the 2015 year class appears to be above average.  In response, the Commission and Council maintained the previously implemented multi‐year specifications set in August 2017. For 2018 and 2019, the commercial quota is 23.98 million pounds and the RHL is 7.37 million pounds. The Commission and Council also adjusted the incidental possession limit for the commercial fishery to 2,000 pounds during April 15 – June 15 (see table below). The adjustment was considered based on a proposal submitted by Massachusetts and Rhode Island to address discards of scup in the inshore spring longfin squid fishery. The incidental possession limit applies to vessels with commercial scup permits fishing with nets with diamond mesh smaller than 5 inches in diameter (there is no separate incidental permit for scup).  Note that during the summer quota period (May 1 – September 30), a state possession limit for directed trips may supersede the incidental possession limit.

Black Sea Bass

For black sea bass, the Commission and Council received a data update, including catch, landings, and survey indices through 2017. The update indicates biomass continues to be high, and the 2015 year class appears to be above average. The Commission and Council established, on an interim basis, a 3.14 million pound commercial quota and a 3.27 million pound RHL for 2019. Both values are a slight increase from those recommended by the Monitoring Committee due to a change in the calculation of discards. Both the commercial quota and RHL may be changed in early 2019 pending the results of the upcoming operational stock assessment update.

Bluefish

For bluefish, the Commission and Council received a data update, including catch, landings, and survey indices through 2017.  The update indicates all survey indices except one showed a decrease from 2016 values.  The Commission and Council approved a 7.71 million pound commercial quota and an 11.62 million pound RHL. The final 2019 harvest limits include a transfer of up to 4 million pounds from the recreational to the commercial sector, which generally reflects the distribution of recreational and commercial landings in 2017. The 2019 commercial quota and RHL are preliminary and will likely change following release of 2018 final Marine Recreational Information Program harvest estimates. These estimates can impact how much is transferred from the recreational sector to the commercial sector. An operational assessment is scheduled for 2019.

Framework and Addendum XXXI on Conservation Equivalency, Block Island Sound Transit and Slot Limits

The Commission and Council jointly approved for public comment alternatives included in the Council’s Framework and Commission’s Draft Addendum XXXI. Both documents propose options for conservation equivalency for black sea bass and summer flounder, and transit provisions for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass for Block Island Sound. The Council’s Framework also addresses the use of slot limits for all three species in federal waters. The transit provision options include two alternative transit areas that could apply to recreational fisheries only, or both commercial and recreational fisheries for all three species, depending on the alternatives selected. They could also apply to differences in state and federal seasons, minimum fish sizes, and/or possession limits, depending on the alternatives selected. The Commission will issue a press release on Draft Addendum XXXI’s availability for public comment and scheduled public hearings once the hearings have been finalized.

Black Sea Bass Wave 1 Fishery and LOA Program

The Commission and Council considered opening a 2019 black sea bass recreational fishery in wave 1 (January-February). In 2017, the Commission and Council agreed to open a recreational fishery in February 2018, and to continue development of a letter of authorization (LOA) program for possible implementation in 2019. For 2019, the Commission and Council approved a February fishery with a management program similar to that used in 2018. The 2019 wave 1 fishery will be open from February 1-28 with a 15 fish possession limit and a 12.5 inch minimum size limit for states that choose to participate in the fishery. All participating states are required to adjust their 2019 recreational management measures to account for their wave 1 harvest. The Commission and Council suspended further development of an LOA program.

For more information about summer flounder or scup, please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior FMP Coordinator, atkrootes-murdy@asmfc.org. For more information about black sea bass or bluefish, please contact Caitlin Starks, FMP Coordinator, at cstarks@asmfc.org.

New England Council Update – August 20, 2018

August 20, 2018 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

Here’s a roundup of upcoming meetings and new developments that are relevant to the New England Fishery Management Council’s stakeholders.

SEPTEMBER 2018 COUNCIL MEETING:  The Council has extended its September meeting by a half-day.  The meeting now will begin on Monday, September 24 at 2 p.m. and run through Thursday, September 27 at Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth, MA.  The agenda and meeting materials will be posted in the coming weeks at September 2018 Plymouth.

DOGFISH:  The New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils jointly manage spiny dogfish.  The Mid-Atlantic Council, which has the administrative lead over the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan, has scheduled two upcoming meetings to review recent fishery performance and talk about specifications for fishing year 2019 and beyond.

  • Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel – The advisory panel (AP) will meet via webinar on August 27, 2018 to develop a Fishery Performance Report and provide input on upcoming specifications.  More information is available at Spiny Dogfish AP and  AP webinar.
  • Spiny Dogfish Monitoring Committee – The monitoring committee will meet via webinar on September 14, 2018 to review annual specifications and management measures and make appropriate recommendations for upcoming fishing years.  Visit meeting details and spiny dogfish.

ATLANTIC SEA SCALLOPS:  The Council’s scallop-related bodies will be meeting to discuss: (1) the 2018 scallop benchmark stock assessment; (2) preliminary results from 2018 scallop surveys; (3) fishery specifications and Framework Adjustment 30 management measures; (4) limited access general category individual fishing quota (LAGC IFQ) trip limit analyses; and (5) 2019 scallop work priorities.

  • Scallop Plan Development Team – Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth, MA.  Check here for details.
  • Scallop Advisory Panel and Scallop Committee – Thursday, September 13, 2018 and Friday, September 14, 2018 respectively at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in New Bedford.  Learn more at Scallop AP and Scallop Committee.
GROUNDFISH:  Here’s what’s in the line-up for upcoming groundfish-related meetings.
  • Groundfish Plan Development Team – Wednesday, August 22, 2018 via webinar to discuss Framework Adjustment 58 issues and Monitoring Amendment 23.  Details are available at webinar information.
  • Fishery Data for Stock Assessment Working Group – Friday, September 7, 2018 at the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology in New Bedford to continue work on how fishery dependent data can be used to inform stock abundance.  The agenda can be found at working group meeting.
  • Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC) – The TMGC will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, September 11-12, 2018, to develop recommendations for 2019 total allowable catches for shared U.S./Canada groundfish stocks on Georges Bank.  Details will be posted at TMGC meetingwhen available.
  • Atlantic Cod – The New England Council manages Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.  The University of New Hampshire recently hosted a Cod Population Structure Symposium that included several presentations from regional scientists.  Copies of those presentations can be downloaded at Cod Population Structure and New England Fisheries.
HABITAT:  The Habitat Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at the Four Points by Sheraton in Wakefield, MA to: (1) review fishing industry proposals and preliminary Habitat Plan Development Team evaluation for exemption areas in the Great South Channel Habitat Management Area; (2) develop recommendations for the Council for inclusion in the Clam Dredge Framework; (3) receive updates on recent Essential Fish Habitat consultations; and (4) discuss offshore wind issues.  More information is available at habitat meeting materials.
ATLANTIC HERRING:  The New England Council’s Atlantic Herring Advisory Panel (AP) and Herring Committee will meet back-to-back on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 and Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at the Four Points by Sheraton in Wakefield, MA.  Both bodies will: (1) review results from the 2018 herring benchmark stock assessment; (2) review public comments on Amendment 8 and recommend preferred alternatives; (3) discuss possible measures for consideration in 2019-2021 specifications and potential independent action for 2019 by NOAA Fisheries; and (4) begin discussing potential 2019 herring work priorities.  When available, related documents will be posted at AP and committee meeting materials.
 
PUBLICATIONS:  Here are a few recent scientific publications that involve Council staff members or Council funding.q
  • Social Impact Analyst Dr. Rachel Feeney and Atlantic Herring Fishery Analyst Deirdre Boelke were authors on a journal article titled “The dream and the reality: meeting decision-making time frames while incorporating ecosystem and economic models into management strategy evaluation,” which recently was published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
  • Scallop Fishery Analyst Sam Asci was the lead author on a paper titled “Estimating similarity in benthic communities over decades and in areas open and closed to fishing in the central Gulf of Maine, USA,” which was published in Marine Ecology Progress Series.
  • Dr. John Wiedenmann and Dr. Olaf Jensen authored a paper titled “Could recent overfishing of New England groundfish have been prevented?  A retrospective evaluation of alternative management strategies.”  The work was funded by the New England Council, and the resulting article was published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS:  New England Council Habitat Fishery Analyst Michelle Bachman will be giving a presentation on August 21 at the 148th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Atlantic City, NJ during a session called “Strategic Engagement with Stakeholders and Partners.”

Commercial Closure for Blueline Tilefish in South Atlantic Federal Waters on August 22, 2018

August 20, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

The commercial harvest of blueline tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time on August 22, 2018. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of blueline tilefish is prohibited, and harvest or possession of blueline tilefish in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational sector is open.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

The 2018 commercial catch limit is 87,521 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit by August 22, 2018. According to the accountability measure, harvest should close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.

AFTER THE CLOSURE:

  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
  • The 2019 commercial fishing season for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic will open on January 1, 2019, with a commercial catch limit of 87,521 pounds whole weight.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at  https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6#se50.12.622_1193.

NEFMC Seeks Input on RSA Programs; Take the Online Survey!

August 15, 2018 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is asking fishermen and their cooperative research partners who participate in the Atlantic Sea Scallop, Atlantic Herring, and/or Monkfish Research Set Aside (RSA) Programs to take an online survey and provide feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of these programs and pass along any suggestions for improvement. Other stakeholders who have an interest or role in RSA programs also are encouraged to take the survey.

The survey is part of the Council’s comprehensive review of RSA programs, which is being conducted by a six member review panel that includes two representatives each from: the New England Council; the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO); and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). A representative from the Mid-Atlantic Council staff also sits on the review panel as an observer.

Take the online survey here

Read the full release here

Presentations and Audio Files from ASMFC’s 2018 Summer Meeting Now Available

August 14, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The presentations and audio files from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2018 Summer Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-summer-meeting; go to the relevant board header and click on either “Presentations” or “Audio.”  The Atlantic Herring Section has two audio links given the length of the meeting (NOTE: the very beginning of the afternoon session was not recorded).

SAFMC Recruitment Announcement for Administrative Officer

August 14, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, headquartered in Charleston, SC, is currently soliciting applicants for an Administrative Officer staff position. The Council is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida to Key West. The Council is responsible for Coastal Migratory Pelagics from New York to Florida and for Dolphin/Wahoo, from Maine to Florida. Learn more about the Council at www.safmc.net.

The Administrative Officer is responsible for supervising all administrative staff. Responsibilities also include budget and finance, personnel management, property management, records management, and meeting support.

Closing Date: August 28, 2018 

Contact:  
Send a complete resume, a brief statement of interest describing the skills you would bring to this position, and contact information for 3 references to:
Gregg T. Waugh, Executive Director
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Or via email to: gregg.waugh@safmc.net
For more information:
Additional details, including a complete job description, is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/other-fishery-news/08-13-18-safmc-recruitment-announcement-administrative-officer/. 
Applicants may also contact Mike Collins, Administrative Officer at mike.collins@safmc.net or by calling the Council office at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10.

ASMFC 2018 Summer Meeting Press Releases, Summaries and Motions Now Available

August 13, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Press releases, meeting summaries and motions from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2018 Summer Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2018SummerMeeting/2018SummerMeetingSummary.pdf.  The document can also be obtained on the Commission website on the Meeting Archives page at http://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive.  Presentations and audio files from this week’s meetings will be posted to the 2018 Summer Meeting page (http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-summer-meeting) early next week. 

ASMFC South Atlantic Board Releases Atlantic Cobia Draft Amendment 1 Public Information Document for Public Comment

August 13, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board approved for public comment the Public Information Document (PID) for Draft Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (Atlantic cobia). As the first step in the amendment process, the document seeks input from stakeholders and those interested in Atlantic cobia about changes observed in the fishery/resource and potential management measures.

Draft Amendment 1 was initiated in anticipation of removal of Atlantic cobia from the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils’ (SAFMC and GMFMC, respectively) Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (CMP FMP). Both Councils approved removal of Atlantic cobia from the CMP FMP earlier this year, and this action is now pending review by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, there would no longer be a federal management plan for Atlantic cobia, and the Commission would become the sole management body for this stock.

The PID outlines three main issues: recommended management for federal waters, a harvest specification process, and biological monitoring requirements. If Atlantic cobia is removed from the CMP FMP, the Commission will need to develop management measures to be recommended for implementation by NOAA Fisheries in federal waters, since a portion of the fishery occurs offshore. Additionally, several management measures within the Interstate FMP are dependent upon the CMP FMP, meaning that these measures will need to be redefined to continue management in state waters.

A harvest specification process would allow the Board to periodically (e.g. annually or biennially) set certain management measures through a Board vote without having to gather input via public hearings as done through an addendum or amendment process. This would expedite the Board’s decision-making process for measures where states commonly gather public input through their administrative process.   The Board and members of the public have expressed a desire to change some of the current FMP management measures, and this could be accomplished through a harvest specification process.

Finally, biological monitoring programs have been recommended for Board consideration by the Cobia Plan Development Team and Technical Committee. Information obtained by such programs, like ages or lengths, can provide important information beyond harvest estimates to managers as they make decisions.

Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID can be obtained at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/CobiaDraftAmd1PID_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on October 4, 2018 and should be forwarded to Dr. Michael Schmidtke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Cobia PID). If your organization is planning to release an action alert related to the Amendment 1 PID, please contact Michael Schmidtke at mschmidtke@asmfc.org prior to its release.

It is anticipated the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and potentially Maryland or Delaware will be conducting public hearings in September 2018. A subsequent press release will provide the details of those hearings.  The Management Board will meet at the Commission’s 2018 Annual Meeting in October to review and consider public comment and provide direction to staff for items to be included in Draft Amendment 1. 

MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment

August 10, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission & Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are soliciting public input on a draft amendment to address several potential changes to the management of the commercial summer flounder fishery, as well as modifications to the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives for summer flounder. Ten public hearings will be held between September 10 and September 27. Written comments will be accepted through October 12, 2018.
The specific issues under consideration in this amendment include:
  1. Requalifying criteria for federal commercial moratorium permits to address latent effort in the fishery: The amendment includes options to reduce the number of eligible commercial federal moratorium permits by implementing requalifying criteria for existing permits.
  2. Modifying commercial quota allocation: The amendment proposes several options for revising the current commercial allocation to the states, which has been in place since 1993 and is based on average landings from 1980-1989.
  3. Adding commercial landings flexibility as a framework issue in the Council’s FMP: This action does not consider implementing landings flexibility policies at this time but considers allowing the Council to implement landings flexibility through a future framework action instead of an amendment. The Commission’s adaptive management process already allows for landings flexibility.
  4. Revising the FMP objectives for summer flounder: This amendment proposes revisions to the current FMP objectives for summer flounder management to provide more meaningful and up-to-date guidance to managers.
Learn More
Additional information about the amendment and the management alternatives being considered can be found on the Council’s website at www.mafmc.org/actions/summer-flounder-amendment and on the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. This information includes three documents: (1) the Public Hearing Document, which includes all proposed management changes and was developed to solicit public comment; (2) the Commission’s Draft Amendment; and (3) the Council’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Both the Commission’s Draft Amendment and the Council’s DEIS are required under their respective regulatory processes.
Contacts
  • Kiley Dancy, Fishery Management Specialist, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, kdancy@mafmc.org, 302.526.5257
  • Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior FMP Coordinator, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, krootes-murdy@asmfc.org, 703.842.0740
Hearing Schedule
  1. Monday, September 10, 7:00 PM – Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Marine Headquarters Boating Education Center (Rear Building), 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371
  2. Wednesday, September 12, 6:00 PM – North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, US Highway 17, Washington, North Carolina 27889
  3. Thursday, September 13, 6:00 PM – Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901
  4. Thursday, September 13, 6:00 PM – Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607
  5. Wednesday, September 19, 5:30 PM – Bourne Community Center, Room #2, 239 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts 02532
  6. Wednesday, September 19, 6:00 PM – University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882
  7. Monday, September 24, 6:00 PM – Ocean County Administrative Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey 08753
  8. Tuesday, September 25, 6:00 PM – Ocean Pines Library, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, Maryland 21811
  9. Thursday, September 27, 6:30 PM – New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SOMAS), Room 120 Endeavor, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York  11794
  10. Thursday, September 27, 6:30 PM – Internet Webinar, Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5467929991483514883; Webinar ID: 658-611-667; Phone: 1-888-585-9008; Room Number: 853-657-937
Written Comments
Given the joint nature of this management effort and to streamline the public comment process, comments should be directed to Council contact information below. In addition to providing comments at any of the scheduled public hearings, you may submit written comments by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on Friday, October 12, 2018. Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
  1. ONLINE: www.mafmc.org/comments/summer-flounder-amendment
  2. EMAIL: nmfs.flukeamendment@noaa.gov 
  3. MAIL OR FAX TO:
    Chris Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director
    Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
    North State Street, Suite 201
    Dover, DE 19901
    FAX: 302.674.5399

Please include “Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment Comments” in the subject line if using email or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments by mail. All comments, regardless of submission method, will be compiled into a single document for review and consideration by both the Council and Commission. Please do not send separate comments to the Council and Commission.