To consider several issues regarding butterfish, the Council is meeting on September 14, 2012 at 10 am. The Council has requested its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to consider if an increase in the SSC’s 2012 acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendation for butterfish may be appropriate. The Council could change its 2012 specifications recommendations depending on the SSC’s findings. Solutions to a potential operational issue with the operation of the butterfish cap in 2013 will also be considered.

Friday, September 14

10:00 - 11:30 a.m. 2012 Butterfish Specifications
· Review the SSC’s 2012 butterfish ABC recommendations from their September 13, 2012 meeting.
· Consider if any changes to the Council’s recommendation for 2012 butterfish specifications are appropriate given the SSC’s recommendations.

11:30 a.m. - noon Framework 7 to the Mackerel-Squid-Butterfish Management Plan – Meeting 1
· Review staff analysis of butterfish cap issues and request additional analyses as appropriate.

For online access register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/602201185. Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with the information you need to join the webinar. This link will also work for direct access without pre-registration at the time of the webinar. A public listening station to allow public access to the webinar will also be available at the Council offices located at 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901, phone 302-674-2331. Please contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254 if you have any questions regarding the webinar process or if you would like to confirm that your computer is set up to access the webinar. The webinar works for most computers, but sometimes there are technical problems with remote voice communication from online participants, especially if they have not accessed a GoTo Webinar previously. In such cases, participants may still use a chat feature in the webinar to submit their comments or questions.

The above agenda items may not be taken in the order in which they appear and are subject to change as necessary. Other items may be added, but the Council cannot take action on such items even if the item requires emergency action without additional public notice. Non-emergency matters not contained in this agenda may come before the Council and / or its Committees for discussion, but these matters may not be the subject of formal Council or Committee action during this meeting. Council and Committee actions will be restricted to the issues specifically listed in this agenda. Any issues requiring emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that arise after publication of the Federal Register Notice for this meeting may be acted upon provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. The meeting may be closed to discuss employment or other internal administrative matters.