November 28, 2012 — Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 5:00 pm to discuss the impact of Hurricane Sandy. The meeting will be held at the Pier V Hotel on 711 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS Representatives will answer questions and discuss the impacts of “Superstorm” Sandy at the next public listening session in Baltimore, MD on Wednesday, December 12. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act allows the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide economic relief to the fishing industry under a disaster declaration, but fishermen, processors, boat owners, and others have faced confusion and uncertainty about what types of assistance are available, who is eligible, and how to apply.
During the listening session, representatives from the National Marine Fisheries Service will describe their preliminary assessment of the storm’s economic impacts. They will also explain the agency’s role in providing assistance and will answer several frequently asked questions. Following the presentations, all members of the public are invited to ask questions and participate in an open discussion with Council members and NMFS representatives. Interested individuals may attend in person or participate via webinar. Register for the webinar HERE.
Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast late last month, causing billions of dollars of damage along the coastlines of Mid-Atlantic and New England states. In the following weeks, individuals in the affected states have begun working to rebuild and repair destroyed docks, boats, marinas, homes, and other infrastructure—many will face lost income for weeks, and possibly months, to come. Although the economic impacts have not yet been fully calculated, preliminary assessments indicate that the storm’s impacts have been devastating to several areas of the Mid-Atlantic.
View the full agenda for the meeting here on the MAFMC website