May 2022 Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting

This is a hybrid meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), which advises NOAA and the Department of Commerce on living marine resource issues.

About

Primary goals of this meeting are to introduce seven new appointees to MAFAC, learn about NOAA and NOAA Fisheries priorities from Janet Coit, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, and to review and finalize a report from MAFAC’s Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force. Members will be hearing presentations and discussing: a national seafood strategy; aquaculture development; the NOAA Climate, Fisheries, and Ecosystems Initiative; habitat conservation initiatives; and a report on the recent National Saltwater Recreational Summit. Status updates will be provided on the fiscal year 2022 and 2023 budget outlook, operations, facilities, and workforce management issues. MAFAC subcommittees will be convened to conduct work as needed.

Members of the public may attend the meeting in person or via WebEx. The links and details for joining by WebEx or phone are at the top of each meeting day (they are different each day).

Federal Register Notice

Privacy Act Statement

Schedule

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

Time	Min	Subject	Presenter
8:30 – 9:15	45	Welcome, Roll Call, & Agenda Review Introduction of all members Agenda Review	Megan Davis, PhD, MAFAC Chair Jennifer Lukens, Director, Office of Policy and Designated Federal Officer
9:15-10:15	60	Report of the Assistant Administrator & Discussion Vision and priorities of the AA NOAA Fisheries in 2030 Questions/Discussion with MAFAC Presentation (PDF, 13 pages)	Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
10:15-10:30	15	Break
10:30-11:30	60	National Seafood Strategy Goals and actions NOAA can accomplish in the next 5 years given current capabilities and authorities. Presentation will provide an overview and focus on input received from the series of roundtables with stakeholders. Questions and discussion. Annotated Agenda (PDF, 1 page) Presentation (PDF, 12 pages) Draft Annotated Outline -National Strategy for Seafood Resilience and Competitiveness (PDF, 3 pages)	Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Paul Doremus, PhD, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations
11:30-1:00	90	Lunch
1:00-1:40	40	Aquaculture Update Status of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) and public comment on the draft outline of the Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development. Next steps for the three strategic plans for research, regulatory efficiency, and economic development. Annotated Agenda (PDF, 1 page) Presentation (PDF, 17 pages)	Paul Doremus, PhD, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations
1:40-2:15	35	Recreational Fisheries Activities Report on the National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit and outcomes/next steps Annotated Agenda (PDF, 1 page) *Presentation (PDF, 14 pages)*	Tim Sartwell, Communications Specialist, Recreational Fisheries Russ Dunn, Senior Recreational Fisheries Advisor
2:15-2:25	10	Break/Stretch
2:25 -3:00	35	Reflection: Connection of presentations to MAFAC’s ongoing Fisheries and Seafood Resilience Work Review /discuss outline MAFAC endorsed in Oct 2021 on building resilience in fisheries, the seafood sector, and coastal communities. Draft MAFAC work plan - Building resilience in fisheries, the seafood sector, and coastal communities reliant on marine resources (PDF, 2 pages)	Megan Davis, Chair Jennifer Lukens, Director, Office of Policy and Designated Federal Officer Heidi Lovett, Alternate Designated Federal Officer
3:00 -3:10	10	Recap, Overview of Wednesday’s sessions, & Field trip logistics	Megan Davis, Chair Jennifer Lukens, Director, Office of Policy and Designated Federal Officer
3:10 PM		Adjourn

Time	Min.	Subject	Presenter
9:00-9:45	45	NOAA Fisheries Budget Outlook & Administrative Update FY2022 budget, FY2023 outlook Operations update related to COVID, facilities, research surveys, etc. Expectations -returning to official workplaces, potential changes to workforce management practices. Presentation (PDF, 18 pages)	Paul Doremus, PhD, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations
9:45-10:30	45	Reports from the Fisheries Commissions & Regional Fisheries Outlook for year ahead Regional fisheries issues	David Donaldson, Executive Director, Gulf States Marcos Hanke, Chair, Caribbean Fishery Management Council Nelson Crespo, Puerto Rico District Advisory Panel (DAP) Chair Julian Magras, St. Thomas DAP Chair Carlos Farchette, Council Member Edward Schuster, St. Croix DAP Chair (Remotely) Miguel Rolón, Executive Director
10:30-10:45	15	Break/Stretch
10:45-12:15	90	Climate & Science Updates & Discussion Climate, Ecosystems, & Fisheries Initiative Climate Regional Action Plans New Mapping Marine Species Distribution Information Science and Offshore Wind Development (including survey mitigation strategy) Discussion Annotated Agenda (PDF, 1 page) Presentation (PDF, 28 pages)	Jon Hare, PhD, Acting Director, Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor
12:15 -1:45	90	Lunch
1:45-2:15	30	Habitat and Conservation: America the Beautiful, and other updates Status and next steps 30 x 30 effort	Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Regulatory Programs
2:30 – 3:15	45	Report of the Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force – Action The Report of the Task Force will be presented, followed by any questions, discussion, public comment and action by the full Committee. Presentation (PDF, 13 pages) Draft Report (PDF, 43 pages) Draft Transmittal Memo (PDF, 2 pages)	Donna Kalez, Chair, Recreational Fisheries Subcommittee Patrick Sullivan, PhD, and Kellie Ralston, Liaisons to the Task Force
3:15-3:20	5	Public Comment
3:20-3:35	15	Break
3:35-4:00	25	Final Action on the Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force Report	Megan Davis, PhD, MAFAC Chair
4:00-5:00	60	Environmental Justice Strategy Overview of NMFS action to date and review of a draft strategy for addressing environmental justice issues. Annotated Agenda (PDF, 1 page) Presentation (PDF, 10 pages)	Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Regulatory Programs
5:00		Adjourn

Time	Min.	Subcommittee Work Time	Presenter
9:00-10:00	60	Protected Resources Subcommittee Subcommittee work time Project work marine mammal deterrents.	Sara McDonald, PhD Subcommittee Chair
10:00 -11:00	60	Fisheries and Seafood Working Group -- focus on Workforce Development & other topics Subcommittee work time Discuss/finalize draft recommendations. Opportunity to meet and discuss local fishery issues with fishermen from across the U.S. Caribbean Review work plan, draft outline, tasks Draft Recommendations (PDF, 4 pages)	Joe Schumacker and Roger Berkowitz, Subcommittee Chairs
11:00-11:30	30	Final Action - vote on Workforce Development Working Group Recommendations Close Out Review of Action Items, Next Steps, Next Meeting	Megan Davis, Chair Jennifer Lukens, Director, Office of Policy and Designated Federal Officer
11:30		Meeting Adjourn

Last updated by Office of Policy on 07/07/2023