January 21, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, February 6 – Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at The Westin Arlington in Arlington, Virginia.
Please see the February 2024 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.
Public Comments: Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. The deadline for comments to be included in the briefing book is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024 will be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting page. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).
Live Stream: The meeting will be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.
Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 6th
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment
- Review and approve Public Hearing Document
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Business Session
- Committee Reports: Scientific and Statistical Committee
- Executive Director’s Report – Dr. Chris Moore
- Organization Reports: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Office of General Counsel, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, US Coast Guard
- Liaison Reports: New England Council, South Atlantic Council
- Other Business and General Public Comment
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Briefing Book Tutorial
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Legal Review, Financial Disclosure and Recusal Training
Wednesday, February 7th
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Offshore Wind Updates
- Updates from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- Updates from the state working group on a fisheries compensation fund administrator
- Updates from offshore wind project developers (Ørsted, Vineyard Wind, Kitty Hawk Wind, Community Offshore Wind)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Black Sea Bass Assessment Overview
- Overview of recently completed Research Track stock assessment
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sturgeon Framework
- Review progress on joint Mid-Atlantic/New England Council action to reduce Atlantic sturgeon interactions in the monkfish/dogfish gillnet fisheries
- Approve final packages of alternatives
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) White Paper: “Draft Proposed Plan for a Novel Industry Based Multispecies Bottom Trawl Survey on the Northeast US Continental Shelf”
- Overview of the Industry-based survey white paper
- Consider next steps
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Awards Presentation