The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council had a series of meetings that began on December 12th and are running through December 15th. A portion of the meeting on Thursday will be conducted jointly with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the topic of the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary. A webinar option will be available for those who choose to participate virtually.
Comments may be submitted by email to [email protected] at this point in time. Comments that were received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 will be included in the relevant briefing tab.
Webinar Connection Information
Click here to join the webinar (If prompted, enter Meeting Number: 2339 877 0353, Meeting password: YkiiQyQv965)
Join by Phone: +1-415-655-0001 (US Toll), Access Code: 2339 877 0353
Thursday, December 15th Meeting Schedule
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
- Committee Reports (Tab 15):
- SSC: 2023 Meeting Dates and Topics
- Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee and AP Meeting Summary
- Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Committee (Please note that Illex Permit Action disapproval follow-up may also be addressed during the “2023 Implementation Plan” agenda item on Wednesday afternoon)
- Executive Director’s Report (Tab 16)
- Supplemental: River Herring and Shad (RH/S) Run Data Portal
- Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office – Status of Actions Report (12/9/22)
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
- US Coast Guard
- Liaison Reports (Tab 17) – New England Council, South Atlantic Council
- Other Business and General Public Comment
ABOUT THE AREA UNDER CONSIDERATION
Hudson Canyon is the largest submarine canyon along the U.S. Atlantic coast and is one of the largest in the world. Beginning approximately 100 miles southeast of New York City, the canyon extends about 350 miles seaward, reaches depths of 2 to 2.5 miles, and is up to 7.5 miles wide. Hudson Canyon’s grand scale and diverse structure—steep slopes, firm outcrops, diverse sediments, flux of nutrients, and areas of upwelling—make it an ecological hotspot for a vast array of marine wildlife.