Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
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| Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council |
| Formation | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Dover, Delaware |
| Region served | Mid-Atlantic United States |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Leader name | (varies) |
| Parent organization | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is a regional fisheries management body that develops fishery management plans and conservation measures for marine resources off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Established under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Council operates within the framework of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service. It integrates input from state governments, federal agencies, scientific institutions such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and stakeholder groups including commercial and recreational fishing interests.
Overview
The Council was created following amendments to the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to implement regional management for fisheries in the North Atlantic continental shelf. It conducts regional planning that coordinates with the New England Fishery Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Regional Fishery Management Council system. Its jurisdiction encompasses species and habitats ranging from the Chesapeake Bay estuarine systems to the Georges Bank and the Hudson Canyon slope, addressing stocks such as Atlantic cod, Atlantic sea scallop, Summer flounder, Black sea bass, Bluefish, and Atlantic herring. The Council’s actions are informed by scientific advice from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Scientific and Statistical Committee and regional science centers like the NEFSC.
Organization and Governance
The Council is composed of voting members appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from nominees provided by the governors of constituent states, including representatives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Nonvoting members include liaisons from federal agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Governance follows protocols aligned with the Administrative Procedure Act and federal rulemaking under the Federal Register, and Council decisions are subject to review by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Leadership roles such as Chair and Executive Director coordinate with regional offices in cities like Woods Hole, Massachusetts and Silver Spring, Maryland.
Fisheries Managed and Management Plans
The Council develops Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for species and complexes including Atlantic croaker, Atlantic herring, Bluefish, Butterfish, Illex squid, Loligo squid, Ocean pout, Red hake, Spiny dogfish, Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish (SMB) complex, Tilefish, Weakfish, and Yellowtail flounder. Management measures in FMPs include annual catch limits, total allowable catch allocations, quota systems such as Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs), vessel monitoring requirements tied to Automatic Identification System, and seasonal closures. Plans are coordinated with state implementation through bodies like the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and integrated with federal programs such as the Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy.
Regulatory Processes and Advisory Bodies
Regulatory development follows a structured process including scoping, Draft Environmental Impact Statement preparation under the National Environmental Policy Act, proposed rule publication in the Federal Register, and final rule promulgation by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Key advisory bodies include the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee, the Advisory Panel, and the Habitat Committee, which provide recommendations on stock assessments, rebuilding plans, and habitat protection. The Council collaborates with the Interstate Fishery Management Program and coordinates with enforcement entities such as the U.S. Coast Guard and state marine enforcement units.
Research, Monitoring, and Data Collection
Scientific input derives from stock assessments conducted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and academic partners including Rutgers University, University of Maryland, Stony Brook University, and Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Data sources include fisheries-independent surveys such as the NEFSC Spring Trawl Survey, port sampling by the Marine Recreational Information Program, electronic monitoring, and dealer reporting through systems linked to the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology. The Council sponsors cooperative research projects with institutions like Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy to improve habitat mapping of areas like the Baltimore Canyon and to refine population models used for Management Strategy Evaluation.
Stakeholder Engagement and Public Outreach
Public participation involves hearings, stakeholder workshops, and advisory panel meetings held in port communities such as Montauk (New York) , Cape May (New Jersey), Rehoboth Beach (Delaware), and Virginia Beach (Virginia). The Council uses webcasts, notice postings in the Federal Register, and coordination with industry groups like the Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association, recreational organizations like the Coastal Conservation Association, and commercial sectors including the Seafood Harvesters of America. Outreach extends to educational partnerships with institutions such as the New York Sea Grant and Delaware Sea Grant to inform stakeholders about rebuilding plans and habitat protection measures.
Challenges and Conservation Outcomes
The Council faces challenges including stock rebuilding for depleted species such as Atlantic cod and yellowtail flounder, interactions with protected species like North Atlantic right whale and sea turtles, and impacts from offshore wind development coordinated with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Climate-driven shifts in distribution — documented by research from NOAA and academic centers like Scripps Institution of Oceanography — complicate quota setting and require adaptive measures including revised stock assessment methods and ecosystem-based approaches. Conservation outcomes include rebuilding successes for Atlantic sea scallop and implementations of habitat closures contributing to benthic recovery documented by studies from Rutgers University and University of Delaware. Continued progress depends on coordinated science, enforcement by agencies like the U.S. Coast Guard, and cooperative management with state partners and regional councils.