# Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
**AGENCY:**
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 public meetings of the Council including joint session with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Programs (ISFMP) Policy Board and the Bluefish and Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Boards.
**DATES:**
The meetings will be held Monday, August 11 through Thursday, August 14, 2025. For agenda details, see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* .
**ADDRESSES:**
This meeting will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person at The Westin Annapolis (100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401) or virtually via Webex webinar. Webinar connection instructions and briefing materials will be available at: *https://www.mafmc.org/briefing/august-2025.*
*Council address:* Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331; *www.mafmc.org.*
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 526-5255. The Council's website, *www.mafmc.org,* also has details on the meeting location, proposed agenda, webinar listen-in access, and briefing materials.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
The following items are on the agenda, although agenda items may be addressed out of order (changes will be noted on the Council's website when possible).
**Monday, August 11**
**Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness**
Develop prioritized list of recommendations for submission to NOAA Fisheries
**South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Blueline Tilefish Letter**
Review correspondence from the SAFMC regarding blueline tilefish
Discuss next steps
**Tuesday, August 12**
**2026-2028 Illex Squid Specifications**
Review *Illex* assessment and alternative quota evaluation method
Review recommendations from the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
Adopt specifications and management measures for 2026-2028
**Overview of SQUIBS Longfin Squid Data Collection Program (Dr. Anna Mercer, Cooperative Research Branch Chief, Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC))**
Overview of the recently completed Squibs data project
**Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Track Assessment**
Overview of the recently completed Research Track stock assessment and peer review
LUNCH
**Council Convenes With the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board**
**Recreational Sector Separation Amendment**
Review and provide feedback on preliminary conceptual alternatives
Discuss plans for addressing recreational data collection issues removed from this amendment
**ISFMP Policy Board Adjourns**
**Council Convenes With the ASMFC Bluefish Management Board**
**2026-2027 Bluefish Specifications**
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel and staff
Adopt specifications for 2026-2027, including recreational management measures
**Council Adjourns**
**ASMFC Bluefish Board Only**
ASMFC Bluefish Fishery Management Plan review
**Wednesday, August 13**
**Council Convenes With the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board**
**2026-2027 Summer Flounder Specifications**
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel and staff
Adopt specifications for 2026-2027
Review and revise 2026-2027 commercial measures if needed
**2026-2027 Scup Specifications**
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel and staff
Adopt specifications for 2026-2027
Review and revise 2026-2027 commercial measures if needed
LUNCH
**2026-2027 Black Sea Bass Specifications**
Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel and staff
Adopt specifications for 2026-2027
Review and revise 2026-2027 commercial measures if needed
**White Paper on Separate OFLs and ABCs for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass**
Review SSC white paper and discuss next steps
**Council Adjourns**
**ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Only**
ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan review
**Thursday, August 14**
**Swearing in of New Council Member and Election of officers**
**Business Session**
Committee Reports (SSC, NTAP); Executive Director's Report; Organization Reports; and Liaison Reports
**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.
*Authority:* 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.*
Dated: July 24, 2025.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.