The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is meeting this week from August 11-14 at the Westin Annapolis at 100 Westgate Circle in Annapolis, MD. This meeting 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 at the Westin Annapolis or virtually via Webex webinar. Webinar connection instructions and briefing materials are available at www.mafmc.org/briefing/august-2025.
Of particular interest to Mid-Atlantic and Northeast saltwater anglers from the MAFMC agenda include the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment discussion and bluefish specification review on Tuesday, as well as the daylong 2026-2027 specifications setting for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass on Wednesday.
Monday, August 11th
1 p.m. – 3p.m. Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
− Develop prioritized list of recommendations for submission to NOAA Fisheries
3 p.m. – 4p.m. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Blueline Tilefish Letter
− Review correspondence from the SAFMC regarding blueline tilefish
− Discuss potential next steps
Tuesday, August 12th
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 2026-2028 Illex Squid Specifications
− Review Illex assessment and alternative quota evaluation method
− Review recommendations from Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel and staff
− Adopt specifications and management measures for 2026-2028
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Overview of SQUIBS Longfin Squid Data Collection Program (Dr. Anna Mercer, Cooperative Research Branch Chief, Northeast Fisheries Science Center)
− Overview of the recently completed Squibs data project
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Track Assessment
− Overview of the recently completed Research Track stock assessment and peer review
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. (Lunch)
1 p.m. Council Convenes with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Recreational Sector Separation Amendment
− Review and provide feedback on preliminary conceptual alternatives
Discuss plans for addressing recreational data collection issues removed from this amendment
3 p.m. ISFMP Policy Board Adjourns Council Convenes with the ASMFC Bluefish Management Board
3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 2026-2027 Bluefish Specifications
− Review recommendations from SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel and staff
− Adopt specifications for 2026-2027, including recreational management measures
4:45 p.m. Council Adjourns
4:45 p.m. – 5 p.m. ASMFC Bluefish Board Only
− ASMFC Bluefish Fishery Management Plan review
Wednesday, August 13th
9 a.m. Council convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 2026-2027 Summer Flounder Specifications
− Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
− Adopt specifications for 2026-2027
− Review and revise 2026-2027 commercial measures if needed
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. 2026-2027 Scup Specifications
− Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
− Adopt specifications for 2026-2027
− Review and revise 2026-2027 commercial measures if needed
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. (Lunch)
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2026-2027 Black Sea Bass Specifications
− Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
− Adopt specifications for 2026-2027
− Review and revise 2026-2027 commercial measures if needed
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. White Paper on Separate OFLs and ABCs for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
− Review SSC white paper and discuss next steps
4 p.m. Council Adjourns
4 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Only
− ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan review
Thursday, August 14th
9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Swearing in of new Council members and election of officers 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Business Session (Committee Reports, Executive Director’s Report, Organization Reports and Liaison Reports, along with other business and general public comment.)
For more information about the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council go to www.mafmc.org.
