INTERSTATE AGENCIES

MID-ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In 1976, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council was established in accordance with the federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, as amended. For both domestic and foreign fisheries, the law ensures sound fishery conservation and management measures. The act gives the United States exclusive management authority over fisheries (except for highly migratory species of tuna) within a fishery conservation zone of 3 to 200 miles offshore. As one of eight regional fishery management councils, the Mid-Atlantic Council prepares fishery management plans for implementation by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

The Council's twenty-five members represent seven states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Of these, twenty-one voting members include the Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service; a state fisheries official from each member state; and thirteen public members appointed to three-year terms by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce upon nomination by the state governors. Four nonvoting members represent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Department of State; and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Council is assisted by its staff, various advisory panels, and six committees: Ecosystem and Ocean Planning; Protected Resources; Law Enforcement; Collaborative Research; Highly Migratory Species, and Scientific and Statistical.

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