January 17, 2017 — The following is a schedule for the February meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Managment Council (MAFMC). It was released by the MAFMC:
Tuesday, February 14th
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. River Herring/Shad Committee Meeting
- Discuss criteria to assess progress in river herring/shad conservation
2:30 p.m. Council Convenes
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Meeting as a Committee of the Whole
- Review and approve public hearing document for Squid Amendment
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Law Enforcement Report
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Presentation on National Marine Sanctuary Nomination Process, Paul Ticco – NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Wednesday, February 15th
9:00 a.m. Meeting with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Boards
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 62nd Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (62nd SAW), Jim Weinberg, NMFS, NEFSC
- Overview of black sea bass benchmark stock assessment findings and peer review panelist findings
10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Black Sea Bass 2017-2019 Specifications
- Overview and staff recommendation
- SSC recommendation
- Review Monitoring Committee and Advisory Panel recommendations
- Adopt recommendations for 2017-2019
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Black Sea Bass Research Update, Brad Stevens – UMES
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. LUNCH
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Black Sea Bass Recreational Specifications
- Review Monitoring Committee and Advisory Panel recommendations
- Adopt recommendations for 2017 management measures
- Review Recreational Working Group recommendations and regional/state proposals (possible Board action)
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Black Sea Bass Commercial AM Framework
- Review background, issues, and draft alternatives
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Summer Flounder Amendment
- Update on progress and timeline
Thursday, February 16th
9:00 a.m. Council Convenes
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
- Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Regional Planning Body
- Executive Director’s Report, Chris Moore
- Science Report, Rich Seagraves
- Committee Reports
- Continuing and New Business