Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission's) Policy Board.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of public meeting.
SUMMARY:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission's) Policy Board.
DATES:
The meeting will be held Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 8 a.m.-9:45 a.m. ET. For agenda details, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address:
This meeting will take place as part of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Annual Meeting. This will be a hybrid meeting with in-person and virtual attendance options. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person at Hotel Viking, One Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI or virtually via webinar. Webinar connection instructions and briefing materials will be available at:
asmfc.org/events/2026-annual-meeting/.
Council address:
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331;
www.mafmc.org.
The Council's website,
www.mafmc.org,
also has details on the meeting location, proposed agenda, webinar listen-in access, and briefing materials.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 526-5255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Policy Board will meet jointly during the Commission's Annual Meeting. The joint session will take place during the Policy Board agenda item from 8 a.m.-9:45 a.m. E.T. on November 12, 2026. The purpose of the joint meeting is to discuss the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish, which considers potential changes to the recreational management program for these species, including options for managing for-hire fisheries separately from other recreational fishing modes, as well as possible changes to permit and reporting requirements for the for-hire sector.
The Council and Commission held a stakeholder workshop in September 2026 to facilitate a focused discussion on alternatives currently under development for this amendment. At the November 12 meeting, the Council and Policy Board will review workshop outcomes and provide additional guidance to the Fishery Management Action Team/Plan Development Team for further development of the action. Additional information on this amendment can be found at:
www.mafmc.org/actions/recreational-sector-separation-amendment.
Other Business and General Public Comment
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c).
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
asmfc.org/events/2026-annual-meeting/
www.mafmc.org
16 U.S.C. 1801