1. MAFMC Visioning Project Brief Review of Stakeholder Input on Forage Issues

2. Stakeholder Data Gathering Engage Stakeholders Build Trust/Improve Relationships Solicit Input on Regulations and Management Process

3. Data Collection Methods Online Surveys General 1,253 responses Fishery- specific 1,048 responses Port Meetings/ Focus Groups 14 commercial 5 recreational 1 ENGO Position Letters 12 Letters

4. Stakeholder Input  All three stakeholder groups recognized the importance of forage species  Importance of recognizing species interactions (predator/prey dynamics) also very important  However, concerns and perspectives of each group differed

5. Commercial  Conservation of some predatory species of fish (i.e., bluefish, dogfish, striped bass) may be having adverse impacts on forage species and other important fisheries like summer flounder and weakfish  Consider predator-prey dynamics more comprehensively during the management process

6. Recreational There is excessive pressure on forage species due to the number of predators and the commercial overfishing in forage fisheries There is excessive pressure on forage species due to the number of predators and the commercial overfishing in forage fisheries Focus on rebuilding all forage species to ensure recreational opportunities for the future Focus on rebuilding all forage species to ensure recreational opportunities for the future

7. ENGO Summary Ongoing depletion of forage species is a serious concern (many forage species remain unmanaged) Ongoing depletion of forage species is a serious concern (many forage species remain unmanaged) Predator-prey dynamics need to be more fully-integrated in to management plans and/or the Council should develop an ecosystem plan that provides a framework for incorporating ecosystem considerations into the Council process. Predator-prey dynamics need to be more fully-integrated in to management plans and/or the Council should develop an ecosystem plan that provides a framework for incorporating ecosystem considerations into the Council process..

8. Summary Conservation of forage species recognized as an important objective in Council’s ecosystem approach to fishery management by all stakeholder groups Conservation of forage species recognized as an important objective in Council’s ecosystem approach to fishery management by all stakeholder groups Predator-prey dynamics Predator-prey dynamics Strategies to deal with these issues depends on stakeholder perspective Strategies to deal with these issues depends on stakeholder perspective