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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council<BR>
<BR>
Press Release<BR>
<BR>
March 23, 2015<BR>
<BR>
Press Contact: [1]Mary Clark<BR>
<BR>
(302) 526-5261<BR>
<BR>
Council to Hold Scoping Hearings for Squid Capacity Amendment<BR>
<BR>
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six scoping hearings<BR>
between April 6, 2015 and April 21, 2015 to gather input for a potential<BR>
amendment that would consider options for reducing the capacities of the<BR>
longfin squid and Illex squid fleets. The Council will also take general<BR>
comments related to the management of the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and<BR>
butterfish fisheries during these hearings.<BR>
<BR>
The Council is considering this action because there is considerable latent<BR>
capacity in both the longfin squid and Illex squid fisheries. A small<BR>
portion of vessels with limited access squid permits account for the<BR>
majority of landings in most years, and the Council is concerned that<BR>
activation of latent capacity in these fisheries could lead to excessive<BR>
fishing effort and increased catch of non-target species.<BR>
<BR>
The amendment would likely consider a variety of approaches for reducing<BR>
capacity in the squid fisheries, such as a requalification of permits, a<BR>
tiered limited access system, and/or individual fishing quotas (also known<BR>
as "catch shares"). If the Council decides to move forward with an<BR>
amendment, a range of alternatives would be developed for analysis and<BR>
additional public comment.<BR>
<BR>
During the scoping period the Council will gather information about the<BR>
scope of issues that should be considered in the amendment. Scoping is the<BR>
first and best opportunity for members of the public to identify management<BR>
issues and propose effective alternatives. Comments provided early in the<BR>
amendment development process help the Council ensure that issues of public<BR>
concern are addressed in a thorough and appropriate manner. During these<BR>
hearings, the Council will also accept general comments related to the<BR>
Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fisheries that could inform<BR>
Council decision making for upcoming annual specifications or other<BR>
actions.<BR>
<BR>
Additional information and updates on this amendment will be posted on the<BR>
Council's website at:<BR>
[2]<A HREF="http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment">http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment</A>.<BR>
<BR>
Scoping Hearing Schedule<BR>
<BR>
Monday April 6, 2015, 4:00 pm. Superior Trawl, 55 State Street,<BR>
Narragansett, RI 02882.<BR>
Telephone: (401) 782-1171.<BR>
<BR>
Tuesday April 7, 2015, 5:00 pm. Montauk Library, 871 Montauk Hwy, Montauk,<BR>
NY 11954. Telephone: (631) 668-3377.<BR>
<BR>
Wednesday April 8, 2015, 5:00 pm. Fairfield Inn, 185 MacArthur Dr, New<BR>
Bedford, MA 02740. Telephone: (774) 634-2000.<BR>
<BR>
Monday April 13, 2015, 6:00 pm. Congress Hall Hotel. 251 Beach Ave, Cape<BR>
May, NJ 08204. Telephone: (888) 944-1816.<BR>
<BR>
Wednesday April 15, 2015, 5:00 pm. Ocean Place Resort. 1 Ocean Blvd, Long<BR>
Branch, NJ, 07740. Telephone: (732) 571-4000.<BR>
<BR>
Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 6:00 pm. This hearing will be conducted via<BR>
webinar. To join the webinar, go to<BR>
[3]<A HREF="http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squidscoping/">http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squidscoping/</A> and follow the prompts to<BR>
join the audio conference. Two locations will also be available for<BR>
in-person participation in the webinar:<BR>
* Virginia Marine Resources Commission: 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th<BR>
Floor, Newport News, VA 23607; (757) 247-2200.<BR>
* MAFMC Office: 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover DE 19901; (302)<BR>
526-5254 (see note below).<BR>
<BR>
Please contact Jason Didden at [4]jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254 if<BR>
you are planning to attend at the Council office or if you would like to<BR>
test/confirm that your computer is set up to access the webinar.<BR>
<BR>
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities.<BR>
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be<BR>
directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the<BR>
meeting date.<BR>
<BR>
Written Comments<BR>
<BR>
In addition to providing comments at hearings, interested stakeholders can<BR>
provide written comments for Council consideration. Comments can be<BR>
submitted by any of the following methods:<BR>
* Online at [5]<A HREF="http://www.mafmc.org/comments/squid-capacity-amendment">http://www.mafmc.org/comments/squid-capacity-amendment</A><BR>
* Email to Jason Didden at [6]jdidden@mafmc.org; - Include "Squid<BR>
Capacity Amendment Scoping" in the subject line;<BR>
* Mail to Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic<BR>
Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover,<BR>
Delaware 19901 - Mark the outside of the envelope "Squid Squid Capacity<BR>
Amendment Scoping"; or<BR>
* Fax to (302) 674-5399.<BR>
<BR>
[7][png]<BR>
<BR>
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional<BR>
councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and<BR>
Management Act of 1976. The Council has primary responsibility for twelve<BR>
species of fish and shellfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between<BR>
3 and 200 miles off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Member states include New<BR>
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North<BR>
Carolina. [8]Visit our website for more information.<BR>
<BR>
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