Council Meeting in Hampton, VA: February 12-14, 2013

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's February 2013 meeting to be held at Embassy Suites Hampton Roads, 1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666, phone 757-827-8200. Below is the meeting agenda. NOTE: For online access to the meeting, register at: https://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/Council.

Tuesday, February 12
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee
· Review scoping document for Amendment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) [Deep Sea Corals Amendment]
· Review alternatives to be included in the Amendment
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Council convenes
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Amendment 15 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP
· Review FMAT's progress and approach to alternative development
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Butterfish and Climate Change Presentation - John Manderson (NMFS/NEFSC)
· Climate change, thermal habitat dynamics and systematic changes in habitat coverage bias in assessment surveys; a case study of butterfish and some possible solutions.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Report - Doug Potts (NMFS)
· Review and approve a draft environmental assessment for the Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Marine Recreational Information Program Update
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Listening Session

Wednesday, February 13
9:00 a.m. Council convenes
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. North East Area Monitoring and Assessment Program Presentation -
Jim Gartland (VIMS)
10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Black Sea Bass Catch Limits 2013, 2014
· Review SSC Report in response to Council request to clarify 2013, 2014 Acceptable Biological Catch
· Revise 2013 catch limits if appropriate and adopt 2014 catch limits
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ricks E Savage Award Presentation
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Omnibus Amendment - Recreational Accountability Measures
· Review and approve alternatives to be included in the Amendment
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Special Management Zones (SMZs)
· Review public hearings comments on options for designating Delaware's permitted reef sites in the EEZ as SMZs
· Develop recommendations to the Regional Administrator
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Presentation -
Brian Hooker (BOEM)
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Scoping Hearing for Deep Sea Corals Amendment
· Public scoping hearing for Amendment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP (Deep Sea Corals)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tour of USS Monitor Museum

Thursday, February 14
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Presentation of New Council Website
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Business Session
· December 2012 minutes
· Actions from December 2012 Meeting
Organizational Reports
· NMFS NERO Regional Administrator
· NMFS NEFSC
· NOAA Office of General Counsel
· Federal Enforcement Officials (NMFS and USCG)
· ASMFC Executive Director
Liaison Report
· New England Council Meeting of December 20, 2012 in Wakefield, MA and January 29 - January 31, 2012 in Portsmouth, NH
· South Atlantic Council Meeting of December 3-7, 2012 in Wilmington, NC
Executive Director's Report - Chris Moore
Science Report - Rich Seagraves
Committee Reports
· Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee report
· Monkfish Oversight Committee
Continuing and New Business