Saving Seafood

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet February 11-12, 2025

January 24, 2025 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, February 11 – Wednesday, February 12, 2025. This will be a fully virtual meeting. Briefing materials will be posted on the February 2025 Council Meeting Page as they become available.

Public Comment: The Council welcomes public comment from in-person and remote participants. Instructions and deadlines for submitting comments are available on the meeting page.

Webinar and Live Stream: The webinar will be conducted on the Webex meeting platform. No pre-registration is required. Connection instructions are available on the meeting page. The meeting will also be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.

Agenda: A detailed agenda is available here. Key actions and topics for consideration at the meeting include:

  • Spiny Dogfish Accountability Measures Framework – review framework purpose and range of alternatives that may be considered
  • Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment – consider requesting that NOAA Fisheries publish control dates for recreational for-hire permits for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish
  • Legal Review, Financial Disclosure and Recusal Training (NOAA Fisheries General Counsel)
  • Northeast Fisheries Science Center survey updates
  • Presentation: Fishing Gear Effects on Marine Habitats Database
  • Presentation: Locking Away Carbon on the Northeast Shelf and Slope (LOC-NESS) project
  • Standardized Bycatch Reduction Methodology (SBRM) 3-Year Review 
  • SSC Membership Appointments

Reminder: Applications for Scientific and Statistical Committee Due January 17

January 10, 2025 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates for two openings on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Successful candidates will serve a three-year appointment beginning in March of 2025.

The SSC serves as the Council’s primary scientific/technical advisory body and provides independent scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including recommendations for acceptable biological catch and rebuilding targets. The SSC also provides science advice and information on stock status, bycatch, habitat, social and economic impacts of management measures, and research priorities. SSC members are also expected to serve on various technical working groups and peer review panels. The SSC typically meets 4-5 times per year, with meetings lasting from one to three days. Meetings may be held in-person or via webinar, and in-person meetings are usually held in the Mid-Atlantic region (e.g., Philadelphia, PA or Baltimore, MD).

Membership is composed of state and federal employees, academia, and independent experts with scientific and technical expertise in biology, statistics, stock assessments, economics, social science, and other relevant disciplines. Highly qualified candidates from all relevant fields are encouraged to apply. Special consideration will be given to applicants with expertise in fisheries ecology and life history, forage fish biology, recreational fisheries, survey design, and stock assessments.

Individuals interested in applying for nomination to the SSC must submit a current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume and a brief letter describing qualifications, relevant experience, and reason for interest in joining the SSC. All applications received will be reviewed by the Council’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will recommend up to two applicants for consideration and approval by the full Council. 

Applications and materials may be submitted by email to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, at admin@mafmc.org. All applications must be received by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, January 17, 2025. If you have any questions or need further information about the process, please contact Brandon Muffley at bmuffley@mafmc.org; 302-526-5260. Additional information about the SSC is available at https://www.mafmc.org/ssc.

Captain Dewey Hemilright Honored with Mid-Atlantic Council’s Ricks E Savage Award

December 20, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has named Captain Dewey Hemilright, commercial fisherman and former Council member, as the recipient of the Ricks E Savage award. The award, which was presented during the Council’s December meeting in Annapolis, Maryland, is given annually to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the management and conservation of fishery resources in the mid-Atlantic region.

Based out of Wanchese, North Carolina, Captain Hemilright is the owner/operator of the F/V Tarbaby. He was first appointed to the Council in 2012 to fill a mid-term vacancy and was reappointed for three additional full terms, serving for a total of 11 years. During this time, his on-the-water expertise and deep knowledge of the East coast fisheries enriched Council discussions and provided crucial perspective on how management decisions impact fishing communities.

“Dewey asked insightful questions and consistently shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with the Council and stakeholders,” said Council Chair Wes Townsend. “While he often served as a voice for the U.S. fishing industry, he did an outstanding job of balancing the interests of commercial fisheries and the sustainable management of the resources as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.”

Captain Hemilright chaired the Council’s Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee for seven years and served on most of the Council’s other committees at different times. He also represented the Council in other key roles, most notably as liaison to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and representative on NOAA Fisheries’ HMS Advisory Panel.

The Council extends its gratitude to Captain Hemilright for his years of service and congratulates him on this well-deserved honor.

 

MREP Fisheries Science and Management Workshop: January 13-17, 2025

October 22, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) is accepting applications for the next Greater Atlantic Fisheries Science and Management Workshop in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

MREP is designed to equip fishermen with tools to engage in shaping regulatory action and to participate in collaborative science. Created by fishermen, for fishermen, MREP brings commercial, charter, and recreational fishermen from North Carolina to Maine together with regional scientists and managers to learn the processes, share insights, and network.

The workshop is free and includes hotel lodging, meals, and travel reimbursement for accepted participants.

Space is limited – the application takes 5-10 minutes to complete (click here). Applications received by Friday November 8 will be prioritized.

For more information about MREP, please visit https://mrep.gmri.org/faqs or email  mrep@gmri.org. Regional industry involved with MREP can also share their experiences:

• Hank Soule, Groundfish Sector Manager – (603) 781-9718

• Rick Bellavance, Charter Captain, RI – (401) 741-5648

• Robert Ruhle, Commercial Fisherman, NC – (252) 305-0960

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Contractor to Develop a Framework to Evaluate Changes in Stock Distribution

September 16, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Climate-driven changes in species distributions create uncertainties in the fisheries management process, in some cases leading to governance challenges as species move across jurisdictional boundaries. Species distribution changes can also have important effects on fishery behavior, fishing locations, and market/shoreside trends. Understanding these dynamics and their impacts will be critical for reducing uncertainties in the management process and for developing climate resilient management and governance strategies.

The Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a highly qualified contractor to develop a framework for evaluating and monitoring species distribution changes. This project will be conducted in two phases. During the first phase, the contractor will develop a comprehensive synthesis of data and other information regarding stock and fishery distribution trends for Mid-Atlantic Council managed species. During the second phase, the contractor will develop a framework to monitor changes in species distributions and fishery locations, including appropriate indicators and metrics designed to indicate potential governance issues for managers. The contractor will test the application of this framework with a sub-set of species managed by, or of interest to, the Mid-Atlantic Council. The outcomes of this work will inform a Council policy for monitoring and responding to changes in stock and fishery distributions.

Complete details about the scope of work, contractor qualifications, and proposal submission instructions can be found in the request for proposals (RFP). Proposals are due October 18, 2024.

Mid-Atlantic Council Invites Public Input on Next 5-Year Strategic Plan

August 13, 2024 —  The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Public Input Webinar Scheduled for Aug. 20; Written Comments Accepted Through Sept. 4

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking public input to inform development of its next strategic plan. The Council’s strategic plan provides a framework for prioritizing activities from year to year and ensuring steady progress toward long-term goals. The current plan will expire at the end of 2024. The Council is now soliciting public input to help shape the next plan for 2025 through 2029.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide input during a public webinar scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Written comments may also be submitted via a public comment form or by email to msabo@mafmc.org. All comments must be received by Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

This is an important opportunity for the public to help shape the future management of Mid-Atlantic fisheries. The Council welcomes feedback on its performance relative to the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan as well as recommendations for priority issues to be addressed in the next plan for 2025-2029.

The Council is scheduled to review public comments and consider a draft strategic plan at its October 2024 Council Meeting.

Quick Links

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo at msabo@mafmc.org or 302-526-5261.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet August 12-15, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA

July 24, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Monday, August 12 – Thursday, August 15, 2024 at The Westin Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA. This will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person or virtually via Webex webinar. 

Briefing Materials: Please see the August 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, July 31, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, 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.

Agenda Overview

Visit the meeting page for additional details. 

Monday, August 12

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Swearing in of New Council Members / Election of officers

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2025-2027 Golden Tilefish Specifications

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 2025 Blueline Tilefish Specifications

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Road Map

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Updates

Tuesday, August 13

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Council Process Review – Final Report

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 2025 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Specifications

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:00 p.m. Council Convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. MRIP Update and Listening Session

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2025 Summer Flounder Specifications

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Summer Flounder Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum

4:30 p.m. Council and Board Adjourn

Wednesday, August 14

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 2025 Scup Specifications

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 2025 Black Sea Bass Specifications

11:30 a.m. Council Adjourns

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Only – FMP Review and Vice-Chair Election

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:00 p.m. Council Convenes with ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board

1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda – Approve draft addenda for public comment

3:30 p.m. Council Convenes with ASMFC Bluefish Management Board

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 2025 Bluefish Specifications

5:00 p.m. Council Adjourns

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ASMFC Bluefish Board Only – FMP Review and Vice-Chair Election

Thursday, August 15

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports
  • Executive Director’s Report
  • 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
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

Mid-Atlantic fishermen fight unconstitutional regulation

July 10, 2024 — Raymond Lofstad and Gus Lovgren are both fourth-generation commercial fishermen running small-scale operations in the Mid-Atlantic. Raymond has fished in Long Island for over 45 years. Gus, who recently took over his father’s fishing boat, has operated out of New Jersey for over 20 years. Both possess the necessary permits to fish for flounder, scup, and black sea bass in the federal waters off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic. But a regulation adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will reduce the amount of these fish that commercial fishermen may catch every year, reallocating the harvest in favor of recreational fishermen.

Over their long fishing careers, Raymond and Gus have fed countless American families. All the while, they have shared the ocean’s bounty with their fellow commercial fishermen and those who fish recreationally. Now, due to this regulatory change, they face tens of thousands of dollars in lost annual revenue. For Gus, the loss in revenue will also force him to spend more time at sea, losing precious time with his family, including his two young daughters.

Whether for food or for fun, ocean fisheries are under the watchful eye of government regulators. States handle the shoreline while the feds, under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, govern waters from three to 200 nautical miles offshore.

Regional councils established under Magnuson-Stevens are charged with regulating federal waters to maximize fisheries’ long-term benefits. Raymond and Gus are two of the many fishermen regulated by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which covers all federal waters off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic, from the tip of Long Island to the middle of North Carolina.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet June 4-6, 2024 in Riverhead, NY

May 20, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, June 4 – Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Riverhead, New York. This will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person or virtually via Webex webinar. 

Lodging: Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, 451 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901, Telephone 631-208-0002

Meeting Venue: Atlantis Banquets and Events, 431 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901

Briefing Materials: Please see the June 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, May 22, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 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.

Agenda Overview

Visit the meeting page for complete details. 

Tuesday, June 4

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Executive Committee (Closed Session): Advisory Panel appointments

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Executive Committee (Open Session): 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Vision, Mission, and Goals

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum (Joint with ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Board) – Consider addition of alternatives to revise Small Mesh Exemption Program review trigger

Wednesday, June 5

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment – Final Action

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 2025 Chub Mackerel Specifications Review

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 2025 Longfin Squid Specifications Review

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2025 Illex Squid Specifications Review

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. SSC’s Overfishing Limit (OFL) Coefficient of Variation (CV) Guidance Document

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Acknowledgment of Outgoing Council Members

Thursday, June 6

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports – Scientific and Statistical Committee
  • Executive Director’s Report
  • 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

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5261

Deadline Extended (May 24): Request for Proposals for Collaborative Strategies to Adapt Scup Gear Restricted Areas to Changing Ocean Conditions

April 29, 2024 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Overview: The Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) continues to seek a contractor to investigate potential modifications to the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA). This work will build on previous analyses of commercial scup discards and the GRAs, utilizing available fisheries and environmental data. This project will be funded by Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds and will address the IRA funding priority to develop and implement management changes or processes that address climate vulnerability or improve climate resiliency of fisheries. 

Proposal Deadline: The proposal deadline has been extended to Friday, May 24, 2024. Work is expected to be completed by January 16, 2026.

Background: First implemented in November 2000, the Northern and Southern Scup GRA are intended to reduce juvenile scup discards in small mesh fisheries during certain times of the year. GRA regulations and boundaries have been reviewed and modified several times. Recent analyses have shown that the GRAs contributed to the rebuilding of the scup stock and continue to have a positive effect on reducing juvenile scup discards. However, spatial patterns of more recently observed discards suggest there has been a shift in where and when discards occur.

Scope of Work: The contractor will build on previous Council commercial scup discard and GRA analyses and utilize available fisheries and environmental data to investigate potential modifications to the scup GRAs. Modifications could include consideration of alternative measures based on adaptive management strategies. As described in the full request for proposals, this project should analyze bycatch trends for scup over time, identifying changes in spatial patterns and intensity and their connection to shifts in scup distribution. Hotspot, cluster, or alternative time/area closure analyses may be used to pinpoint areas where regulatory changes could mitigate impacts on juvenile scup. The project should examine regulatory and economic factors influencing scup discards and assessment, including evaluation of potential tradeoffs associated with bycatch reduction strategies. In addition, the contractor will plan and facilitate at least two in-person workshops with fishery stakeholders to solicit input on scup discards and GRAs. 

The contractor will be expected to develop a report with recommendations on a set of management alternatives that the Council could consider for implementation through a future management action.

Additional Information: Complete details about the project background, scope of work, contractor qualifications, and proposal submission instructions can be found in the request for proposals.