Saving Seafood

Rhode Island Delegation Reintroduces Fishermen’s Fairness Act & Announces Nearly $3M to Help Local Fishermen Impacted by COVID-19

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by The Office of Senator Jack Reed (D-RI):

In an effort to give Rhode Island fishermen a voice and voting representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which manages some of the most important fish stocks for the state’s commercial fishing industry, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives James Langevin and David Cicilline, today announced the reintroduction of the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Fairness Act.  The legislation would add Rhode Island to the list of seven states with voting representation on the MAFMC, a regional management board that establishes fishery management rules for stocks primarily caught in federal waters adjacent to the mid-Atlantic coast.

The delegation also announced $2,967,000 in federal fisheries assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act.  This new federal funding goes to the state and will be administered by the Department of Environmental Management.  Eligible commercial fishing, processors, charter fishing, and other eligible seafood sector industry members who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may apply for a share of the funds.

The delegation helped include this funding for Rhode Island as part of a $255 million allocation for fishermen nationwide in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), also known as the ‘coronabus’ law, that was signed in December.  Previously, the CARES Act provided $300 million to states to distribute to fisheries participants through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries allocations.  Nearly $3.3 million of that fishery disaster assistance went to help Rhode Island fishermen impacted by COVID-19.

While the COVID-19 relief funds are critical, the delegation stressed the need for a legislative fix giving Rhode Island fair representation on the MAFMC.

“This is an issue of fairness.  The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is a key decision making body that determines what happens off the coast of Rhode Island, but our state doesn’t have a seat or say right now.  Our fishermen deserve appropriate representation on this council.  Mid-Atlantic-regulated stocks now represent the majority of landings for Rhode Island commercial fishermen.  It is time that our state has formal representation on this council and this legislation will ensure they get it,” said Senator Reed, who has been pushing this issue since 2005.

“Climate change is warming the oceans, causing fish that were traditionally found in the mid-Atlantic to migrate northward to the waters off southern New England,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “Rhode Island fishermen should have a seat at the table when decisions are made about those fish stocks.  I’m glad to join Senator Reed in working to get our fishing industry fair representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.”

“This is ultimately an issue about the livelihoods of Rhode Island’s fishermen,” said Congressman Langevin, who is introducing the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. “The majority of Rhode Island landings are Mid-Atlantic regulated stocks, and our fishermen should not be shut out of that regulatory process. All we have to do is look at the addition of North Carolina to the MAFMC to know that there is a precedent for this. It is time that Rhode Island fishermen be included as well.”

“It is imperative that Rhode Island’s fishing industry have a seat at the table on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council,” said Congressman Cicilline. “Rhode Island accounts for more fish landings in waters managed by the MAFMC than almost any state in the Mid-Atlantic region, yet our fisheries still do not have a say in how a significant portion of their industry is managed. I am proud to join my colleagues in the Rhode Island delegation in introducing this commonsense legislation which will fix this oversight.”

The catch of Rhode Island commercial fishermen represents a significant percentage of commercial landings of the Mid-Atlantic fishery, and is greater than most of the states represented on the Council.

According to data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), between 2015 and 2019, Rhode Island accounted for approximately a quarter of the commercial landings from stocks under MAFMC’s sole jurisdiction, both by weight and value. The significance of commercial landings from stocks managed by MAFMC is growing every year for Rhode Island, accounting for 58% of Rhode Island’s federally managed commercial fisheries landings in 2019.  In 2019 alone, Rhode Island landed over 5.5 million more pounds of squid than any other state on the East Coast.  But, Rhode Island does not have a formal say in how this species is managed because it does not have representation on the MAFMC.

Without representation on the MAFMC, Rhode Island cannot participate fully in development of fishery management plans for Mid-Atlantic stocks, many of which are crucial to the Rhode Island seafood economy.

The Rhode Island Fishermen Fairness Act would add two places for Rhode Island representation to the 21 member Council.  One seat would be appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under recommendations from Rhode Island’s Governor.  The second seat would be filled by Rhode Island’s principal state official with marine fishery management responsibility.  To accommodate these new members, the MAFMC would increase in size from 21 voting members to 23.

North Carolina was added to the MAFMC as part of the Sustainable Fisheries Act in 1996.  Like Rhode Island, a significant portion of North Carolina’s landed fish species were managed by the MAFMC, yet the state was not represented on the council.

Webinar Instructions for the April 6-8 MAFMC Meeting

March 30, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet by webinar next week, Tuesday, April 6 – Thursday, April 8, 2021. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board. A detailed agenda and briefing documents are available on the April 2021 Council Meeting Page.

Webinar Connection Instructions

The Council has changed webinar platforms and will conduct this meeting via Webex. Please review the information below carefully. If you have not used Webex before, you are encouraged to connect during one of two test sessions we will hold Wednesday, March 31 (tomorrow) at 10:00 a.m. and Monday, April 5 at 1:00 p.m. (scroll down to TEST SESSIONS for details). All are welcome to connect during these test sessions.

JOIN THE APRIL 2021 COUNCIL MEETING:

Before connecting to the webinar, we recommend that you review the Council Meeting Webex Participant Guide for detailed step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. each day. We will have the webinar up and running by 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. We recommend connecting a few minutes early.

  1. Click Here to Join the Webinar (if prompted, enter meeting number: 129 017 5026; Meeting password: mafmc)
  2. If this is your first time using Webex you will be prompted to download and install the application (recommended), or you can choose to join the meeting in your browser. If you are joining from a mobile device you will need the Cisco Webex Meetings app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
  3. Sign In: On the sign in screen you will be asked to enter your full name.
  4. Connect your audio: On the meeting preview screen you can choose how you want to connect your audio. You will have the option to use your computer mic/speakers or phones for audio. See the Webex Participant Guide for details on selecting and changing your audio settings. If you have an unstable internet connection, we recommend using phone. To use your phone for audio, first sign into the Webex link above, then look for the “call in” option (if you don’t see this, look for the “use computer for audio” button which you can click to bring up the “call in” option). That will give you a prompt with the phone number, access code, and Attendee ID#. Please make sure to use the Attendee ID# on your screen, as that will allow us to identify you on our end.
  5. A note about video: Participant video will be disabled for this meeting. However, depending on your webcam settings you may still see your video on the meeting preview screen before you enter the webinar. This will not be displayed to other participants. You can disable the preview by clicking the “Stop Video” button.
  6. Telephone-only access: For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, dial 1-844-621-3956 (meeting number: 129 017 5026#). Please only use this option if you are not connecting to the webinar. If you are connected by phone only you will need to enter *6 on your keypad to unmute/mute yourself and *3 to raise/lower your hand.

April 2021 Webinar Details

Meeting Link: https://midatlanticfisheriesmc.webex.com/midatlanticfisheriesmc/j.php?MTID=ma078a78c34dafc6403e350a30eeeeac4

Meeting Number (access code): 129 017 5026

Meeting password: mafmc

Join by phone:

TEST SESSIONS

We will hold two test sessions for participants to make sure they are set up to join the meeting next week. Drop in at any time to test your audio and get familiar with the Webex interface. Please note that there are unique links for each test session (these are not the same as the April meeting link in the previous section). Connection instructions for each session are provided at the following links:

  1. Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
  2. Monday, April 5, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

As an alternative, you can use the Webex Test Meeting tool to join a test meeting at any time.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If you are having trouble connecting to the webinar, please check the Webex Participant Guide and these troubleshooting steps to see if your question is addressed there. This page provides step-by-step instructions for joining a meeting from Windows and Mac computers, IOS and Android devices, and internet browsers.

NEED HELP?

If you need technical assistance prior to the meeting, contact Stephen Pearson at spearson@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5256. Check the April meeting page for staff contact info if you need help during the meeting.

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, Communication and Outreach Coordinator, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.

MAFMC: Register for Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) Virtual Workshops

March 23, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

As a reminder, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled three virtual regional public workshops to solicit input on future management of the recreational summer flounder fishery. The dates and times of the workshops are listed below. You are encouraged to participate in the workshop for your region; however, all workshops are open to all individuals. Registration is required, and participants are encouraged to register at least 24 hours prior to a scheduled workshop.

  1. Massachusetts through Connecticut: Monday, March 29, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Register for the MA-CT Workshop
  2. New York through Delaware: Wednesday, March 31, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Register for the NY-DE Workshop
  3. Maryland through North Carolina: Monday, April 5, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Register for the MD-NC Workshop

Workshops will be held via Webex, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Participants can also join and participate in the workshop with a phone-only connection; however, you will not be able to see any presentations or other materials shared on the webinar. Once registered, you will receive an email from Webex with the webinar information including the webinar link, telephone number and access code, and a calendar invite.

Background

These workshops are part of the Council’s development of a management strategy evaluation (MSE) which will evaluate different management strategies designed to minimize discards in the recreational summer flounder fishery. Input provided during the workshops will build on the 800+ comments and suggestions that were submitted through a public comment form earlier this year. More information about this project can be found on the Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation page.

During the workshops, participants will listen to a series of short background presentations and then provide input and feedback regarding summer flounder discard concerns, potential management objectives to address these concerns, and performance metrics and strategies to achieve these objectives. An agenda and additional briefing materials are available on the workshop web page.

Questions? Contact Brandon Muffley, bmuffley@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5260

REMINDER: Public Hearings for Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment Begin This Week

March 22, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The first two public hearing webinars for the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment will be held this week, on Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 25. Additional hearings will be held on March 30, April 1, and April 8. All hearings begin at 6:00 p.m. Written comments will be accepted through April 23, 2021.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are developing this joint amendment to address a wide range of issues related to management of the Atlantic Bluefish fishery. The amendment contains alternatives to:

  • Revise the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives;
  • Modify the bluefish allocations between the commercial and recreational sectors;
  • Modify the commercial allocations to the states;
  • Initiate a rebuilding plan;
  • Revise the quota transfer processes;
  • Revise how the FMP accounts for management uncertainty; and
  • Revise the de minimis provisions in the Commission’s FMP.

Learn More

Complete details about the management alternatives being considered in this amendment are available in the Council’s Public Hearing Document (an abbreviated version of the amendment which summarizes proposed management options and impacts) and the Commission’s Draft Amendment (a more comprehensive management document that will resemble the Commission’s final amendment once approved). We have also developed a Alternatives Quick Reference Guide which provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment.

A recording of the Public Hearing Presentation is now available on YouTube. If you are not planning to attend a public hearing, we encourage you to watch this video before submitting written comments.

Virtual Hearing Schedule

You are encouraged to provide oral comments at any of the following public hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your state or regional grouping, anyone is welcome to participate in any hearing. See the hearing announcement for a list of hearing contacts.

  • Wednesday, March 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
  • Thursday, March 25, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Delaware, Maryland, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and Virginia
  • Tuesday, March 30, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Connecticut and New York
  • Thursday, April 1, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
  • Thursday, April 8, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: New Jersey

Webinar Connection Instructions

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 1-866-901-6455 and enter access code 140-544-592. 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 Dustin Colson Leaning at 703-842-0714.

Please note that 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 April 23, 2021 by any of the following methods:

1. ONLINE: https://www.mafmc.org/comments/bluefish-allocation-rebuilding-amendment

2. EMAIL: mseeley@mafmc.org

3. MAIL: Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

800 North State Street, Suite 201

Dover, DE 19901

4. FAX: 302-674-5399

Please include “Bluefish 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

If you have any questions, please contact:

  • Matthew Seeley, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, mseeley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5262
  • Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning@asmfc.org, 703-842-0714

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Applicants for Advisory Panels

March 22, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to serve on nine advisory panels. Advisory panels provide information and recommendations to the Council during the development of fishery management plans, amendments, specifications, and other initiatives. One of the chief responsibilities of advisory panels is the development of annual Fishery Performance Reports. These reports provide the Council and SSC with information about the factors that influenced fishing effort and catch within each fishery during the previous year. Learn more about advisory panels here.

Advisory panels are composed of individuals with diverse experience and interest in Mid-Atlantic fisheries. Members include commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, for-hire operators, commercial dealers, scientists, environmentalists, and other members of the interested public. Most advisory panels meet 1-2 times per year. Members are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for all meetings. Individuals who are appointed to advisory panels serve for three-year terms. All current advisory panel members must reapply in order to be considered for reappointment.

The Council is accepting applications for the following advisory panels:

  • Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
  • Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
  • Surfclam and Ocean Quahog
  • Tilefish
  • Bluefish
  • Ecosystem and Ocean Planning
  • River Herring and Shad
  • Dogfish (jointly managed with New England Council)
  • Communication and Outreach (NEW – see below for details)

How to Apply

Anyone interested in serving on an advisory panel may apply online or download an application at www.mafmc.org/advisory-panel-application. Applications can also be obtained by calling (302) 518-1143 or emailing msabo@mafmc.org.

Completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Mary Sabo at (302) 518-1143, msabo@mafmc.org.

Information About the New Communication and Outreach Advisory Panel

The Council is soliciting applicants for a new Communication and Outreach (C/O) Advisory Panel. Formation of this advisory panel was identified as a priority in the Council’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan and 2021 Implementation Plan. The C/O Advisory Panel’s primary purpose will be to provide advice and recommendations on effective strategies for achieving the Council’s communication objectives. Specific tasks may include:

  • Helping to identify effective communication tools and approaches for reaching Council stakeholders;
  • Providing feedback on the content and delivery of Council communication and outreach products;
  • Identifying opportunities to increase public understanding and awareness of the Council and its managed fisheries;
  • Informing the Council about topics of stakeholder interest or high priority communication needs; and
  • Reviewing and providing feedback on draft communication products (e.g. web pages or fact sheets), as needed.

Similar to the Council’s other advisory panels, membership on the C/O Advisory Panel should reflect the diverse interests of the Mid-Atlantic Council’s stakeholders. Members may include commercial and recreational fishermen, for-hire operators, representatives from non-governmental organizations, scientists/academics, members of the general public, fishery managers, and communication/outreach professionals.

Reminder: Public Comment Deadline for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment is March 16

March 12, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

As a reminder, the deadline to submit public comments on the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment is Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 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.

Written comments may be submitted 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.

Learn More

Complete details about the management alternatives being considered in this amendment are available in the Public Hearing Document. The Alternatives Quick Reference Guide provides a brief overview of the alternatives. 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. You can also view a recording of the Public Hearing Presentation that was provided at the public hearings. Additional background information and related documents are available on the action page for this amendment.

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

NOAA Fisheries Approves Monkfish Quotas for 2021

March 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective May 1

NOAA Fisheries is implementing monkfish quotas for the 2021 fishing year based on specifications approved by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. There were no overages in 2020, and there is no new biological information, so we are now finalizing the 2021 quotas that were previously announced in September 2020. The quotas are the same as the 2020 quotas and are in place until April 30, 2022.

Table 1.  Monkfish Specifications for Fishing Year 2021

All other requirements remain the same.

For more details, read the rule as filed in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin.

Questions?

Industry: Contact Allison Murphy, Regional Office, 978-281-9122

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

NJDEP Proposes Changes to Marine Management, Seeks Public Input

March 10, 2021 — The state Department of Environmental Protection is seeking comments on proposed new rules regulating crab and lobster management, marine fisheries and fishery management in New Jersey. Written comments can be electronically filed until April 30 or submitted via the regular mail.

“The department is proposing to reduce the number of commercial crab pot/trot line licenses and crab dredge licenses for both the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic coast due to a reduction in the number of actively harvesting license holders,” according to the March 1 DEP bulletin on the proposed rule change.

Under the proposal, a licensee could transfer licenses to any person, based upon the number of available licenses.

Read the full story at The Sand Paper

MAFMC to Hold Virtual Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) Workshops

March 10, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold three virtual regional public workshops to solicit input on future management of the recreational summer flounder fishery. These workshops are part of the Council’s development of a management strategy evaluation (MSE) which will evaluate different management strategies designed to minimize discards in the recreational summer flounder fishery. Input provided during the workshops will build on the 800+ comments and suggestions that were submitted through a public comment form earlier this year. More information about this project can be found on the Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation page.

During the workshops, participants will listen to a series of short background presentations and then provide input and feedback regarding summer flounder discard concerns, potential management objectives to address these concerns, and performance metrics and strategies to achieve these objectives.

The dates and times of the three virtual workshops are listed below. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the workshop for their region; however, all workshops are open to all individuals. Participants will first need to register for the workshop(s) in which they plan to attend. To help plan and organize the workshops, interested participants are encouraged to register at least 24 hours prior to a scheduled workshop.

  1. Massachusetts through Connecticut: Monday, March 29, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Register for the MA-CT Workshop
  2. New York through Delaware: Wednesday, March 31, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Register for the NY-DE Workshop
  3. Maryland through North Carolina: Monday, April 5, 2021; 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Register for the MD-NC Workshop

Workshops will be held via Webex, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Participants can also join and participate in the workshop with a phone-only connection; however, you will not be able to see any presentations or other materials shared on the webinar. Once registered, you will receive an email from Webex with the webinar information including the webinar link, telephone number and access code, and a calendar invite.

Questions? Contact Brandon Muffley, bmuffley@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5260

MAFMC Webinar Meeting: April 6-8, 2021

March 8, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet by webinar Tuesday, April 6 – Thursday, April 8, 2021. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board. Briefing documents and presentations will be posted on the April 2021 Council Meeting Page as they become available.

Agenda: A detailed agenda is available here. Topics to be addressed at this meeting include:

  • Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Updates
  • Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment – Final Action
  • Blueline Tilefish Specifications
  • Golden Tilefish Multi-Year Specifications Framework – Meeting 1
  • Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad – Listening Session
  • 2021 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report and EAFM Risk Assessment
  • East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative
  • Climate Change Science Efforts Underway at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center – Presentation

Public Comments: Written comments may be submitted using the online comment form linked below or via email, mail, or fax (see this page for details). Written comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to be included in the briefing book. Comments submitted after this date but before 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2021 will be posted as supplemental materials. After that date, comments may only be submitted using the form below.

Webinar: The Council is transitioning from Adobe Connect to Webex as its primary webinar platform. In the coming weeks we will post detailed webinar connection instructions, an updated webinar guide, and information about training sessions on the meeting page. Please stay tuned for a future email with webinar connection information.

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.