July 20, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC):
The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s August 2015 meeting on August 10 – 13, 2015 in New York, NY. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Midtown, 440 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019: telephone 212-581-8100. Additional details and briefing materials will be posted on the August 2015 Council Meeting page.
For online access to the meeting, enter as a guest at: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/august2015/
Agenda
Monday, August 10th
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
- Review input from Advisory Panel on draft habitat policy documents
- Provide comment/revisions to draft documents
- Other general Committee updates
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee (continued)
Tuesday, August 11th
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee
- Discuss possible framework related to Council risk policy and harvest control rules.
10:00 a.m. Council Convenes
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Swearing in of New Council Members and Election of Officers
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Industry Observer Amendment
- Review Amendment development and analyses
- Approve alternative range for completion of draft Environmental Assessment
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Special Award
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Blueline Tilefish Action
- Review scoping comments and approve plan of action
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Electronic For-Hire Vessel Trip Report Contract – Andy Loftus
- Review findings and consider next steps
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Council Meeting with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Bluefish Board
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Bluefish Specifications
- Review SSC, Bluefish Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations regarding 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvest levels and associated management measures
- Adopt recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvest levels and associated management measures
Wednesday, August 12th
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Council Meeting with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Summer Flounder Specifications
- Review SSC, Summer Flounder Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018
- Adopt recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018 commercial and recreational harvest levels and commercial management measures
- Update on ASMFC activities regarding summer flounder
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Amendment
- Update on amendment progress and action plan
- Discussion of FMP Goals and Objectives (with Fisheries Forum staff)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Black Sea Bass Specifications
- Review SSC, Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016 and 2017
- Adopt recommendations for 2016 and 2017 commercial and recreational harvest levels and commercial management measures
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Scup Specifications
- Review SSC, Scup Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016, 2017 and 2018
- Adopt recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018 commercial and recreational harvest levels and commercial management measures
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Scup Amendment
- Discuss development and scoping
Thursday, August 13th
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
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Executive Director’s Report
- Science Report
- Committee Reports
- Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
- SSC
- Continuing and New Business