Council Meeting in Virginia Beach, VA: February 14-16, 2012



The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's January 2012 meeting to be held at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 3001 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, phone 757-213-3000. Below is the meeting agenda.

NOTE: For online access to the meeting, register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/695704801. Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with the information you need to join the Webinar.



Tuesday, February 14

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Surfclam/Ocean Quahog/Tilefish Committee

· Discussion and identification of next steps for Amendment 15



3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee

· Presentation by Dr. Steve Ross of UNC Wilmington on BOEM-funded work on deep-sea corals

· Consider and approve mission statement



Wednesday, February 15

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Spiny Dogfish Committee

· Amendment 3 update and review of range of alternatives



10:00 a.m. Council convenes



10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Omnibus Framework/Supplemental EA

· Council action to revise risk policy measures through framework adjustment or other action



12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch



1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Advisory Panel Workgroup Report

· Review and approve workgroup recommendations to modify the current process for advisory panel membership and governance



3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Framework

· Council action to modify vessel hold certification requirements



4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. HMS Presentation - LeAnn Southward-Hogan

· Amendment to consider catch shares in the Atlantic shark fishery



5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Listening Session



Thursday, February 16

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Business Session

· Approval of October 2011 and December 2011 minutes

· Actions from December 2011 meeting



Organizational Reports

· NMFS NERO Regional Administrator

· NMFS NEFSC

§ SAW/SARC 53 Summary - Black Sea Bass

· NOAA Office of General Counsel

· Federal Enforcement Officials (NMFS and USCG)

· ASMFC Executive Director



Liaison Report

· New England Council Meeting of January 31 - February 2, 2012 in Portsmouth, NH



Executive Director's Report - Dr. Moore



Science Report - Mr. Seagraves



Committee Reports

· Surfclam/Ocean Quahog/Tilefish Committee

· Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee

· Spiny Dogfish

· MAFMC Monkfish Subcommittee

· SSC



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.





**This press release will be available on our website in a downloadable PDF format in the coming days. Please visit: http://www.mafmc.org/press

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Kathy Collins

Kathy Collins

Public Affairs Specialist

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council

800 N. State Street, Suite 201

Dover, DE 19901-3901

PHONE: 302-674-2331 EXT: 253

FAX: 302-674-5399

Email: Kcollins1@mafmc.org OR Kathy.Collins@noaa.gov