The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee will hold public meetings.
The meetings will be held February 12, 2013, through February 14, 2013. For specific dates, times, and agenda, see below
ADDRESSES: Embassy Suites Hampton Roads, 1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton,
VA 23666; telephone: (757) 827-8200.
Council Address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N.
State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: 302-674-2331.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-526-5255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dates, Times, and Agenda
On Tuesday, February 12--The Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
will meet from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The Council will convene at 1 p.m.
Amendment 15 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management
Plan (FMP) will be reviewed from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. A Butterfish
and Climate Change presentation will be held from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30
p.m. The Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Report will be from
3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. A Marine Recreation Information Program
update will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. A Listening Session
will be held from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, February 13--The Council will convene at 9 a.m. From
9 a.m. until 10 a.m. there will be a North East Area Monitoring and
Assessment Program presentation. Black Sea Bass Catch Limits for 2013
and 2014 will be discussed from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. The Ricks E
Savage Award will be presented from 11:45 a.m. until 12 p.m. The
Omnibus Amendment for Recreational Accountability Measures will be
discussed from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Special Management Zones (SMZs)
will be discussed from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. There will be a Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management Presentation from 3:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
From 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. there will be a Scoping Hearing for the Deep
Sea Corals Amendment.
On Thursday February 14--A presentation on the new Council Web site
will be held from 9 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. The Council will hold its
regular Business Session from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. to approve the
December 2012 minutes, receive Organizational Reports, the New England
and South Atlantic Liaison Report, the Executive Director's Report, the
Science Report; Committee Reports, and conduct any continuing and/or
new business.
Agenda items by day for the Council's Committees and the Council
itself are:
On Tuesday, February 12--The Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
will review the scoping document for Amendment 16 to the Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (Deep Sea Corals
Amendment) and review alternatives to be included in the Amendment. The
Council will review the FMAT's progress and approach to alternative
development for Amendment 15 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
Fishery Management Plan. A presentation will be provided to the Council
on climate change, thermal habitat dynamics and systematic changes in
habitat coverage bias in assessment surveys along with a case study of
butterfish and some possible solutions. The Council will review and
approve a draft environmental assessment for the Standard Bycatch
Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment. The Council will receive an
update on the Marine Recreational Information Program. The Council will
hold a public listening session.
On Wednesday, February 13--The Council will hear a presentation
regarding the North East Area Monitoring and Assessment Program. The
Council will review the SSC Report in response to a Council request to
clarify the 2013 and 2014 Black Sea Bass Acceptable Biological Catch
and review the 2013 catch limits if appropriate and adopt 2014 catch
limits. The Council will present the Ricks E Savage Award. The Council
will review and approve alternatives to be included in the Omnibus
Amendment regarding recreational accountability measures. The Council
will review public hearings comments on options for designating
Delaware's permitted reef sites in the EEZ and SMZs and develop
recommendations to the Regional Administrator. The Council will receive
a presentation from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. There will
be a Public scoping hearing for Amendment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid,
and Butterfish FMP (Deep Sea Corals).
On Thursday, February 14--The Council will hold its regular
Business Session to approve the December 2012 minutes, receive
Organizational Reports, the New England and South Atlantic Liaison
Report; the Executive Director's Report, Science Report, Committee
Reports, and conduct any continuing and/or new business.