2013 MAMFC February Council Agenda - Feb 12-14

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Council Meeting in Hampton, VA: February 12-14, 2013

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's February 2013 meeting to be held at Embassy Suites Hampton Roads, 1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666, phone 757-827-8200. Below is the meeting agenda. NOTE: For online access to the meeting, register at: https://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/Council.

Tuesday, February 12
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee
· Review scoping document for Amendment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) [Deep Sea Corals Amendment]
· Review alternatives to be included in the Amendment
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Council convenes
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Amendment 15 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP
· Review FMAT's progress and approach to alternative development
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Butterfish and Climate Change Presentation - John Manderson (NMFS/NEFSC)
· Climate change, thermal habitat dynamics and systematic changes in habitat coverage bias in assessment surveys; a case study of butterfish and some possible solutions.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Report - Doug Potts (NMFS)
· Review and approve a draft environmental assessment for the Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Marine Recreational Information Program Update
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Listening Session

Wednesday, February 13
9:00 a.m. Council convenes
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. North East Area Monitoring and Assessment Program Presentation -
Jim Gartland (VIMS)
10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Black Sea Bass Catch Limits 2013, 2014
· Review SSC Report in response to Council request to clarify 2013, 2014 Acceptable Biological Catch
· Revise 2013 catch limits if appropriate and adopt 2014 catch limits

11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ricks E Savage Award Presentation
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Omnibus Amendment - Recreational Accountability Measures
· Review and approve alternatives to be included in the Amendment
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Special Management Zones (SMZs)
· Review public hearings comments on options for designating Delaware's permitted reef sites in the EEZ as SMZs
· Develop recommendations to the Regional Administrator
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Presentation -
Brian Hooker (BOEM)
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Scoping Hearing for Deep Sea Corals Amendment
· Public scoping hearing for Amendment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP (Deep Sea Corals)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tour of USS Monitor Museum

Thursday, February 14
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Presentation of New Council Website
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Business Session
· December 2012 minutes
· Actions from December 2012 Meeting
Organizational Reports
· NMFS NERO Regional Administrator
· NMFS NEFSC
· NOAA Office of General Counsel
· Federal Enforcement Officials (NMFS and USCG)
· ASMFC Executive Director
Liaison Report
· New England Council Meeting of December 20, 2012 in Wakefield, MA and January 29 - January 31, 2012 in Portsmouth, NH
· South Atlantic Council Meeting of December 3-7, 2012 in Wilmington, NC
Executive Director's Report - Chris Moore
Science Report - Rich Seagraves
Committee Reports
· Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee report
· Monkfish Oversight Committee
Continuing and New Business


The above agenda items may not be taken in the order in which they appear and are subject to change as necessary. Other items may be added, but the Council cannot take action on such items even if the item requires emergency action without additional public notice. Non-emergency matters not contained in this agenda may come before the Council and / or its Committees for discussion, but these matters may not be the subject of formal Council or Committee action during this meeting. Council and Committee actions will be restricted to the issues specifically listed in this agenda. Any issues requiring emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that arise after publication of the Federal Register Notice for this meeting may be acted upon provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. The meeting may be closed to discuss employment or other internal administrative matters.



The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is one of eight regional Councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council has primary responsibility for twelve species of fish and shellfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between 3 and 200 miles off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Member states include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. For more information, visit our website: www.mafmc.org.

Wednesday, February 13

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Special Management Zones (SMZs)

Review public hearings comments on options for designating Delaware's permitted reef sites in the EEZ as SMZs

Develop recommendations to the Regional Administrator

Council Meeting in Hampton, VA: February 12-14, 2013

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's February 2013 meeting to be held at Embassy Suites Hampton Roads, 1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666, phone 757-827-8200. Below is the meeting agenda.

NOTE: For online access to the meeting, register at:

https://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/Council