From the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Tilefish Public Meeting To Be Held April 26 in Secaucus

The meeting will be held Thursday, April 26, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ. Phone (201)-348-6900 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to review progress regarding Amendment 1 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). It is expected that preferred management measures will be discussed and identified when possible.

Amendment 1 to the Tilefish FMP addresses:

1) Possible implementation of an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) management system for tilefish [issues to be addressed include: initial IFQ allocation, IFQ transferability of ownership, IFQ share accumulation guidelines on limitations, fees and cost recovery, flexibility to revise/adjust IFQ program, IFQ reporting requirements];

2) Possible implementation of recreational bag-size limit;

3) Possible implementation of recreational permits and reporting requirements;

4) Potential improvements for monitoring tilefish commercial landings;

5) Potential revisions to current tilefish reporting requirements (Interactive Voice
Response);

6) Possible expansion of and revision to the list of management measures that can be adjusted via the framework adjustment process;

7) Potential revisions to essential fish habitat (EFH) designation;

8) Potential revisions to habitat areas of particular concern (HAPC) designation;

9) Consideration of possible measures to reduce gear impacts on EFH; and, 10) other issues to be considered in Amendment 1.

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