In response to action by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, this action would update the fishery management plan goals and objectives and to modify Illex squid permit measures.  The objectives of this action are to ensure the management plan’s goals and objectives align with the Council’s current vision and priorities.  Revisions to Illex permit measures are intended to reduce impacts from a race to fish resulting from increased participation in the fishery and recent closures upon fully harvesting available quotas.  The Illex squid permit measures would create a tiered permit system that would preserve the greatest access to the fishery for vessels that were most active before 2013.  Vessels with higher landings after 2013 would maintain access to the fishery, but would be subject to lower possession limits.  This action would also establish a fish hold volume baseline for each Illex squid permit and limit future replacement vessel fish hold volume upgrades to avoid future overcapitalization.