[Rimarinefisheries] MAFMC to Hold Public Hearings for Squid Amendment

Tue Apr 4 07:49:53 EDT 2017

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

News Release

April 3, 2017

Press Contact: Mary Sabo
(302) 518-1143

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearings for Squid Amendment

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold nine public hearings in April and May 2017 to solicit public input on the Squid Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through 11:59 pm on May 18, 2017.

The amendment considers measures to reduce latent longfin and Illex squid permits. Currently, a relatively small portion of vessels with limited access (“moratorium”) squid permits account for the majority of landings in most years. The Council is concerned that activation of latent permits in the squid fisheries could lead to excessive fishing effort, potentially resulting in shortened seasons and increased catch of non-target species.

The amendment also considers measures to modify the management of longfin squid during Trimester 2 (May-August). The Council is considering this action because there is concern that the productivity of the longfin squid stock may be negatively impacted if excessive fishing in Trimester 2 does not allow sufficient spawning and/or successful egg hatching from egg mops.

Hearing Schedule
1.     April 24, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, 12320 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD  21842, 410-213-0144.
2.     April 25, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland, ME  04101, 207-775-2311.
3.     April 26, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930, 978-282-0308.
4.     May 2, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  Congress Hall, 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204, 609-884-8421.
5.     May 3, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  DoubleTree by Hilton Tinton Falls, 700 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, 732-544-9300.
6.     May 4, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00 PM: Webinar, http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squid2017/<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=29129037&msgid=385823&act=8IKT&c=1229622&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fmafmc.adobeconnect.com%2Fsquid2017%2F>  800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.  A listening station will be available at Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 247– 2200.
7.     May 8, 2017, 5:00 – 8:00 PM:  University of Rhode Island, Corless Auditorium, Watkins Building, 218 Ferry Rd., Narragansett, RI  401-874-6222.
8.     May 9, 2017, 4:30 – 7:00 PM:  Doubletree by Hilton Cape Cod – Hyannis, 287 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601, 508-771-1700.
9.     May 11, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 PM:  Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, 431 East Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901, 631-208-0002.

Written Comments

Written comments may be sent through mail, email, fax, or online through 11:59 pm on Thursday, May 18, 2017.

  *   Mail to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901 (please write “Squid Amendment Comments” on the outside of the envelope.)
  *   Fax to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council at 302-674-5399 (please include “Squid Amendment Comments” in the subject line.)
  *   Email to squid at mafmc.org<mailto:squid at mafmc.org?subject=Squid%20Amendment%20Comments>
  *   Online at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/squid-amendment-public-comments<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=29129037&msgid=385823&act=8IKT&c=1229622&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mafmc.org%2Fcomments%2Fsquid-amendment-public-comments>

Additional information and relevant background documents are available on the Council’s website at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=29129037&msgid=385823&act=8IKT&c=1229622&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mafmc.org%2Factions%2Fsquid-capacity-amendment>.  The public hearing document will be posted there by April 18, 2017.

Please direct any questions about the amendment to Jason Didden (jdidden at mafmc.org<mailto:jdidden at mafmc.org>, 302-526-5254).

Web Version<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=29129037&msgid=385823&act=8IKT&c=1229622&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mafmc.org%2Fnewsfeed%2F2017%2Fmid-atlantic-council-to-hold-public-hearings-for-squid-amendment> / PDF Version<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=29129037&msgid=385823&act=8IKT&c=1229622&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mafmc.org%2Fs%2Fpr17_06_Squid-Hearings.pdf>

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 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.  Visit our website<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=29129037&msgid=385823&act=8IKT&c=1229622&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mafmc.org> for more information.

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