The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will convene this week from Tuesday, October 3 through Thursday, October 5 at the Yotel NYC at 570 10th Avenue in New York, NY. The following agenda was taken directly from the council website at MAFMC.org.
Tuesday, October 3
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Executive Committee – Open Session
- Review progress on 2023 Implementation Plan
- Review and approve draft 2024 deliverables
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Council convenes with Monkfish and Dogfish Joint Framework to Reduce the Bycatch of Atlantic Sturgeon
- Review joint Dogfish and Monkfish Committee recommendations
- Review and approve range of Dogfish and Monkfish alternatives
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Illex Hold Framework #2: Final Action
- Review recommendations from the Committee and Advisory Panel
- Select preferred alternatives and take final action
Wednesday, October 4
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Northeast Fishery Science Center (NEFSC) Federal Surveys: Survey Performance, Issues, and Planning for the Future – Dr. Kathryn Ford and Peter Chase, NEFSC
- Overview of NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow bottom trawl survey, R/V Hugh R. Sharp Scallops Survey, and other NEFSC surveys
- Past survey performance, 2023 survey issues, contingency plans, and future scheduling
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Policy/Process for Reviewing Exempted Fishing Permit Applications for Unmanaged Forage Amendment Ecosystem Component Species
- Review draft policy/process document
- Review recommendations from EOP Committee and Advisory Panel
- Approve policy/process
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Offshore Wind Energy Development
- Updates from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- Updates from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) – Offshore Wind Master Plan 2.0 (Deepwater)
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Risk Assessment Review
- Review recommendations from EOP Committee and Advisory Panel
- Approve modifications to EAFM risk assessment
2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Private Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting
- Receive update from GARFO on recreational tilefish permitting and reporting
- Discuss communication and outreach efforts
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Habitat Activities Update – Karen Greene, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division
- Presentation on activities of interest (aquaculture, wind, and other projects) in the region
3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. NEFSC Observer Program Update – Katherine McArdle, NEFSC
- Review recent program performance and modifications
- Review recent changes in tasked seadays resulting from the first Standardized Bycatch Reduction Methodology (SBRM) discard analysis conducted since COVID-19 disruptions
- Review planned outreach
3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. NEFSC Cooperative Research Update – Dr. Anna Mercer, NEFSC
- Review the Cooperative Research Branch’s portfolio, focusing on new research and outreach initiatives
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Assessment and Peer Review Overviews – Spiny Dogfish and Atlantic Mackerel
- Review recent developments that will inform Council actions in December 2023
5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. NEFSC Presentation on Maternal Effects (i.e. the potential importance of larger females for resilient fisheries) – Mark Wuenschel and Richard McBride, NEFSC
- Review relevant NEFSC research activities
- Consider potential implications for assessment and management
Thursday, October 5
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Business Session
- Committee Reports
- Scientific and Statistical Committee
- Monkfish 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
For more details on this week’s meeting of the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council go to www.mafmc.org/briefing/october-2023.
