The U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region

Abstract

This chapter describes the Mid-Atlantic region and the major issues facing this marine fisheries ecosystem, and presents some summary statistics related to the 90 indicators of ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) criteria. While containing lower numbers of managed taxa among the eight regional U.S. marine ecosystems, this region has relatively well-managed state and federal fisheries that are important both nationally and along the U.S. Atlantic coast, including Atlantic menhaden, blue crab, eastern oyster, black sea bass, summer flounder, and striped bass. The Mid-Atlantic is an environment that is subject to stressors that include habitat loss, coastal development, nutrient loading, climate-related species range shifts, hurricanes, other ocean uses, and proliferation of invasive species. Overall, EBFM progress has been made at the regional and subregional level in terms of implementing ecosystem-level planning, advancing knowledge of ecosystem principles, and in assessing risks and vulnerabilities to ecosystems through ongoing investigations into climate vulnerability and species prioritizations for stock and habitat assessments. While information has been obtained and models developed, only partial progress has been observed toward applying ecosystem-level emergent properties or reference points into management frameworks. While the Mid-Atlantic is leading in many aspects of its LMR and ecosystem-centric efforts, challenges remain toward effectively implementing additional facets of EBFM, and particularly enacting ecosystem-level control rules. This ecosystem is excelling in the areas of LMR and socioeconomic status, the quality of its governance system, and is relatively productive, as related to the determinants of successful LMR management.