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SCOPING FOR THE RECREATIONHAL SECTOR SEPARATION AND DATA COLLECTION AMENDMENT

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), along with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), have scheduled a series of scoping hearings to gather public input on issues and information to be considered in the Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Bluefish FMP. Hearings will be held February 24 – March 5. Written comments will be accepted through March 20, 2025.

Scoping is the first and best opportunity to provide input on the issues to be addressed during development of management options. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to consider modifications to the recreational management program for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. Specifically, options may consider managing for-hire recreational fisheries separately from other recreational fishing modes (referred to as sector separation), and options related to the collection and use of recreational data, such as private angler reporting and enhanced for-hire vessel trip reporting requirements. The Public Information/Scoping Document provides a broad overview of the issues identified for consideration in the amendment. Additional information and updates are available on the MAMFC action page or the ASMFC public input page.  

HEARING SCHEDULE

Below is information on how to participate in each hearing. If you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the hearings.

Additional webinar instructions are available HERE.

SUBMITTING COMMENT

All interested individuals are encouraged to provide comments at any of five public scoping hearings or by submitting written comments through one of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, March 20, 2025. 

1. ONLINE at https://mafmc.knack.com/public-comments#rec-sector-separation-data-collection/
2. EMAIL to [email protected] (subject: Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection)
3. MAIL to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901 (Please write “Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection” on the envelope)

All comments, regardless of submission method, will be compiled into a single document for review and consideration by both the Council and Commission. 

If you have any questions about this amendment, please contact either:

• Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, [email protected], 302-526-5257
• Tracey Bauer, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, [email protected], 703-842-0723

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