February 16, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The first two public hearing webinars for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment will be held this week, on Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18. Additional hearings will be held on February 24, March 1, and March 2. All hearings will begin at 6:00 p.m. Written comments may also be submitted through March 16, 2021.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are developing this joint amendment to consider adjusting the allocations of catch or landings between the commercial and recreational fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The amendment also considers options that would allow a portion of the allowable landings to be transferred between the commercial and recreational sectors each year.
Learn More
Complete details about the management alternatives being considered in this amendment are available in the Public Hearing Document. We have also developed a new Alternatives Quick Reference Guide which provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment. This guide should be used in conjunction with the Public Hearing Document and is intended to help members of the public provide comments on specific alternatives.
Finally, we have posted a recording of the Public Hearing Presentation. If you are not planning to attend a public hearing, we encourage you to watch this video before submitting written comments.
Additional background information and related documents are available on the action page for this amendment.
Public Hearing Schedule
You are encouraged to attend any of the following five virtual public hearings and to provide oral or written comments at these hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your state, anyone is welcome to participate in any hearing.
- Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Massachusetts and Rhode Island
- Thursday, February 18, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: New Jersey
- Wednesday, February 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Delaware and Maryland
- Monday, March 1, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Virginia and North Carolina
- Tuesday, March 2, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Connecticut and New York
To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-877-309-2074 and enter access code 128-060-916. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Savannah Lewis at 703-842-0715.
If you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented.
Written Comments
Written comments may be submitted through March 16, 2021 by any of the following methods:
1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment
2. EMAIL to kdancy@mafmc.org
3. MAIL or FAX to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
800 North State Street, Suite 201
Dover, DE 19901
FAX: 302.674.5399
Please include “Fluke/Scup/Sea Bass Allocation Amendment” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Tips for Providing Public Comment
We value your input. To be most effective, we request that your comment include specific details as to why you support or oppose a particular alternative. Specifically, please address the following:
- Which proposed alternative(s) do you support, and which do you oppose?
- Why do you support or oppose the alternative(s)?
- Is there any additional information you think should be considered?
Contacts
For additional information and updates, please visit: https://www.mafmc.org/actions/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment. If you have any questions, please contact:
- Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, kdancy@mafmc.org, 302-526-5257
- Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning@asmfc.org, 703-842-0714