Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

World Golf Village Renaissance
St. Augustine Resort
500 South Legacy Trail
St. Augustine, FL

Final Agenda

The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.

Live-Streaming

Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning at 8:00 a.m.on November 2^nd, continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 1:45 p.m.) on November 5^th.  The webinar will allow registrants to listen to the proceedings of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s management boards/sections during the Commission’s 74^th Annual Meeting, November 2-5, 2015. Registrants will also be able to view presentations and motions as they occur. For a detailed agenda and meeting materials, go to http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise during the streaming of the broadcast, the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Board/Section summaries, presentations, and audio files will be available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting the week of November 9^th.

Public Comment Guidelines

With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:

For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.

For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.

For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.

In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).

1.   Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included in the briefing materials.

2.   Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday, October 27, 2015will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.

3.   Following the Tuesday, October 27, 2015 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).

The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.  As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.

General Background Materials

Final Agenda

November  2

American Lobster Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. McKiernan)          
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Discuss Management Response to the 2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment Possible Action
  • Report from Southern New England Subcommittee (D. McKiernan)
• Discussion and Initiation of Addendum to Set Effort Controls for Jonah Crab-Only Trap Fishermen (J. Gilmore) Action
• Discuss Non-Trap Bycatch Limit and Claw Exemption Provisions of the Jonah Crab FMP (M. Ware) Possible Action
• Consider Approval of 2015 Lobster FMP Review and State Compliance (M. Ware) Action 
• Review and Consider Approval of American Lobster Advisory Panel Membership (M. Ware) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Herring Section  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (T. Stockwell)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Set 2016-2018 Atlantic Herring Fishery Specifications Final Action
  • Review New England Fishery Management Council Specifications (A. Harp)
  • Set Seasonal Splitting of Sub-ACL for Areas 1A, 1B, and 2, Quota Rollover and Sub-ACL Trigger
• Consider Draft Amendment 3 for Public Comment Action
  • Review Revised Spawning Area Options (A. Harp)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio
 

• Call to Order (D. Pierce)   
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2015
• Public Comment
• Review Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Wave 4 Harvest Estimates for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Consider Management Approaches for 2016 Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fisheries (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Review and Consider Approval of the 2016 Black Sea Bass Benchmark StockAssessment Terms of Reference (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Reconsider the 2016-2017 Black Sea Bass Quotas (K. Rootes-Murdy) Final Action
• Discuss Management Priorities for Scup and Black Sea Bass Amendments (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Update on Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Priorities (C. Moore)
• Consider 2015 FMP Reviews and State Compliance (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action         
  • Summer Flounder
  • Scup
  • Black Sea Bass
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee (A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)

• Welcome/Introductions (Coordinating Council Chair C. Patterson)
• Public Comment (C. Patterson)
• Committee Consent (C. Patterson)
  • Approval of Agenda Action
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015 Action
• Review Action Items from Previous Meeting
• Review Progress of the Independent Program Review (IPR) Recommendations
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Subcommittee Update (M. Cahall)
• ACCSP/ASMFC MRIP-APAIS Transition Update (M. Cahall)
• Closed Executive Session
• Other Business/Adjourn

SEAMAP-SA Crustacean Work Group

• Welcome (L. DeLancey)
• Approval of Agenda
• Membership Updates/Announcements
• SEAMAP 2016-2020 Management Plan Draft Language (L. DeLancey)
• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Fishery Ecosystem Plan Amendment II (L. DeLancey)
• Black Gill Shrimp Research
• “Offshore Spawning of Blue Crabs in the Southeast U.S.” (M. Ogburn)          
• Regional Blue Crab Stock Assessment Discussion
  • Data Needs
  • Methods
  • Potential Modeling Approaches
  • Staff/Committee Support
• Elect New Chair/Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business
• Public Comment
• Adjourn

ACCSP Coordinating Council

• Welcome/Introductions (Coordinating Council Chair C. Patterson)
• Public Comment (C. Patterson)
• Council Consent (C. Patterson)
  • Approval of Agenda Action
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015 Action
• Review Outstanding Action Items from August 2015
• Review Recommendations of FY2016 Submitted Proposals (Operations Committee Chair T. Hoopes and Advisory Committee Chair J. Morgan) Action
• ACCSP Status Report
  • Program Update (Program Director M. Cahall)
  • APAIS Transition (M. Cahall)
  • Tablet Reporting (M. Cahall, T. Hoopes, G. Lapointe)
• Review Progress of the IPR Recommendations
  • SOP Subcommittee Update (M. Cahall)
• Elect Chair and Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business
• Adjourn (C. Patterson)

November  3

Executive Committee   Supplemental Material   (A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Administrative Oversight Committee Report (D. Grout)
  • Presentation of the FY15 Audit Action
• Review Guidance Documents (R. Beal)
• Funding Subcommittee Update (R. Beal)
• Discuss Risk and Uncertainly Policy (R. Beal)
• Discuss ACCSP Governance (R. Beal)
• Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
  • 2016 – Maine
  • 2017 – Virginia
  • 2018 – New York
  • 2019 – New Hampshire
• Other Business/Adjourn

Habitat Committee Presentations 

• Welcome/Introductions (J. Kritzer)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from May 2015
• ACFHP Update (L. Havel)
• Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration: Marsh Madness! (R. Brockmeyer)
• Overview of Damariscotta Mills Dam Fish Ladder(D. Wilson)
• Discussion on 2016 Habitat Factsheets (L. Havel)
• Discussion on Eel Genetics: Habitat Factsheet (J. Kritzer)
• Update: Habitat Bottlenecks Whitepaper, including Tautog Discussion (L. Havel, J. Kritzer)
• FMP Amendment Updates (Atlantic Menhaden, Northern Shrimp, Tautog) (L. Havel)
• Review 2015 Work Plan (L. Havel)
  • Habitat Management Series Products (Sciaenid Habitat Document) (K. Smith)
  • 2015 Habitat Hotline Atlantic: Impacts of Energy Development on Fish Habitats (K. Smith)
• Environmental Defense Fund Workshop Review (J. Kritzer)
• Set 2016 Work Plan (L. Havel, J. Kritzer)
  • Discuss 2016 Action Plan
  • Discuss 2016 Habitat Hotline Atlantic
• Other Business
• Adjourn

Joint Meeting of the SEAMAP-SA and GSMFC Crustacean Work Groups

• Welcome/Introductions (S. VanderKooy/L. DeLancey)
• Approval of Agenda
• Blue Crab Regional Stock Assessment (GSMFC)
• Atlantic Horseshoe Crab Fishery Overview (L. DeLancey)
• Derelict Trap and Gear Issues
• Crustacean Bait Availability Issues
• Terrapin Status Report
  • Current South Carolina Research Brief (A. Fowler)
• Other Business
• Public Comment
• Adjourn          

American Eel Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda  
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Update on Endangered Species Act Listing Determination by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (M. Millard)
• Technical Committee Report (M. Waine) Action
  • Review Recommendations on Maine Life Cycle Survey Design
• Consider Addendum IV Implementation Plans (M. Waine) Action
• Consider Approval of 2015 and 2014 FMP Reviews and State Compliance (M. Waine) Action     
• Consider Approval of a Deadline Waiver for the Aquaculture Plan under the Sustainable Fishery Management Section of Addendum IV (L. Daniel) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Weakfish Management Board Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Allen)                                                        
• Board Consent                      
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February
• Public Comment
• Update on 2016 Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
• Consider Approval of 2015 FMP Review and State Compliance (M. Ware) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Legislators and Governors' Appointees Luncheon

• Welcome/Introductions (D. Abbott, M. Rhodes)           
• Election of Chairs and Vice Chairs Action
• Review Advocacy Survey Findings and Discuss Future LGA Participation        
• Discussion of General Issues and Concerns                                          
• Other Business/Adjourn         

Winter Flounder Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gibson)                
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2014
• Public Comment           
• Review the 2015 Groundfish Operational Assessment for Gulf of Maine and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder Stocks (P. Nitschke)
• Discuss Potential Management Response to the Operational Assessment (M. Gibson)            
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Boyles Jr.)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda  
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Update on Draft Amendment 3 Development
  • Revisiting Fishery Allocation (M. Waine)
  • Ecosystem Management Objectives Workshop (S. Madsen)
• Biological Ecological Reference Point Working Group Report (M. Cieri) Action
  • Recommendations for Models Based on Ecosystem Management Objectives
  • Timeframes for Ecological Based Reference Points
• Discuss Draft Amendment 3 Timeline and Direction (M. Waine)
• Discuss Allowance of Cast Nets under the Bycatch Provision of Amendment 2 (R. Boyles Jr.) Possible Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

November  4

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
• Board Consent                                                                                            
• Approval of Agenda  
• Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• 2015 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update Action
  • Presentation of Stock Assessment Update (C. Godwin)
  • Consider Acceptance of Stock Assessment Update for Management Use
• Technical Committee Report (C. Godwin)
  • Comparing Atlantic Striped Bass Fishing Mortality Reference Points Using Two Different Time Periods for Selectivity
• Other Business/Adjourn

Joint Meeting of the ASMFC Law Enforcement Committee and GSMFC Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Supplemental Material (A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members, authorized law enforcement personnel, and LEC Coordinators only)

• Coffee Social/Call to Order/Roll Call of LEC Representatives
• Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• ASMFC LEC Business
  • Approval of May 5-6, 2015 Minutes
  • Review of 2016 Action Plan Items
  • Other Business (as needed)
• GSMFC LEAP Business
  • Approval of March 17, 2015 Joint LEAP/LEC Minutes
  • Other Business (as needed)

• ASMFC Discussion of 2016 Striped Bass Compliance Report Needs
• Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) Issues
  • Aerial Enforcement Activities
  • NOAA TED Reporting Requirements
  • Other JEA Discussion
• Federal vs. State Citations and Case Dispositions
• Review State Questionnaire Results
  • State Licenses and Saltwater Registry in Federal Waters
  • Transit Issues
  • Extending State Rules into Federal Waters
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Issues
  • Gulf of Mexico-Mexican and Domestic Launches
  • AS-Safe Harbor and Multi-state Quota Harvest
• Enforcement Cases of Interest/Media Issues
• Review and Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Activities (NOTE: This portion of the meeting will be closed to the public)
• Species Overview, Management, and Enforcement of Horseshoe Crab
• Officer Retention Issues (Review Questionnaire Results)
• Other ISFMP Species Issues (as needed)
• Federal Agency Report Highlights
• State Agency Report Highlights
• Public Comment
• Other Business
• Adjourn

Tautog Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (A. Nowalsky)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Public Information Document for Amendment 1 Action
  • Review Options and Public Comment Summary(A. Harp)
  • Advisory Panel Recommendations(A. Harp)
  • Law Enforcement Subcommittee Summary (J. Snellbaker)
• Draft Amendment 1 (A. Nowalsky)
  • ProvideGuidance to Plan Development Team for Draft Amendment 1
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (A. Harp) Action
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Business Session Audio

• Welcome/Introductions (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent                        
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment                                                                                   
• Election of Commission Chair and Vice Chair (R. Beal) Action                      
• Review 2015 Action Plan Update
• Review and Consider Approval of the 2016 ASMFC Action Plan Action         
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) Steering Committee Presentations

• Site Visit to Volusia Dragline Ditch Restoration Sites
• Welcome/Introductions (K. Smith, L. Havel)
• Approval of Agenda
• Habitat Assessment Decision Support Tool (J. Devers)
• Status of Indian River Lagoon Post Algae Blooms (C. Jacoby)
• National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) Update (L. Havel)
• Overview of NFHP Evaluations (L. Havel)
• Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Collaboration Update(L. Havel)
• Whitewater to Bluewater Update(L. Havel)
• Adjourn

Coastal Sharks Management Board Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (A. Nowalsky)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2014
• Public Comment
• Update from NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Amendment 6 Final Rule
  • Proposed 2016 Specifications
  • Amendment 9 Proposed Rule
• Set 2016 Coastal Sharks Specifications Final Action
  • Variable Commercial Retention Limits/ Possession Limits (A. Harp)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Spiny Dogfish Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Borden)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2014
• Public Comment
• 2015 Spiny Dogfish Stock Assessment Update (S. Newlin)
• Set 2016-2018 Spiny Dogfish Specifications Final Action
  • Fishery Performance Report (A. Harp)
  • Review Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Specifications (A. Harp)
• Other Business/Adjourn

November  5

Horseshoe Crab Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)                                                               
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2015
• Public Comment
• Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee Report (S. Doctor)
  • Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Survey Reports Summary
  • Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Framework Harvest
    • Output for 2016
  • Double-loop Review of the ARM Model in 2016
  • Maryland Harvest Proposal
  • Biomedical Data and Jurisdiction Concerns
• Set 2016 Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Specifications (K. Rootes-Murdy) Final Action
• Update on the Virginia Tech Horseshoe Crab Trawl Survey (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Discuss Gulf of Mexico Biomedical Fishery (K. Rootes-Murdy)                       
• Consider Approval of 2015 FMP Review and State Compliance (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action                       
• Other Business/Adjourn

ACFHP Steering Committee (continued)

• Science and Data Committee Update (C. Shumway)
• Update on Offshore Reefs Project and Other Funding Opportunities (L. Havel)
• Implementation Updates
  • Coastal Development Outreach Action Item (C. Powell)
  • Restorations Priorities Action Item (D. McReynolds)
• Review of 2012-2016 Conservation Strategic Plan (G. Schuler)
• Implementation Planning(C. Powell)
  • Evaluating the Success Since Spring Meeting
• Issues Forum for Next Conservation Strategic Plan (Group Discussion)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)-NFHP Funding (J. Devers)
  • Updates for FY2016 Funding Criteria
  • 2015 Funded Projects
  • FY 2016 Recommendations to USFWS
• Update ACFHP Business Plan (P. Campfield)
• ACFHP Operations (P. Campfield)
• Other Business
• Adjourn

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent (L. Daniel)
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Executive Committee Report (L. Daniel)
• Habitat Committee Report (J. Kritzer) Action
• Discuss Revisions to ASMFC Guidance Documents (T. Kerns)
• Review Committee Oversight for the Multispecies Technical Committee and Biological Ecological Reference Points Working Group (T. Kerns)
• Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
• Progress Report on the Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
• Review Non-Compliance Findings (if necessary)
• Other Business
• Adjourn

Business Session (if necessary) Audio

• Welcome/Introductions (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Resolutions Committee Report
• Review Non-Compliance Findings (if necessary)
• Other Business/Adjourn

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (P. Geer)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2015
• Public Comment
• Update on 2015 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review (J. Kipp)
• Update on 2016 Spot and Croaker Benchmark Stock Assessments (J. Kipp)
• Discuss Future Management of Spotted Seatrout (L. Daniel)
• Discuss Black Drum Compliance Report Deadline (P. Geer)
• Consider Approval of 2015 Spotted Seatrout FMP Review and State Compliance (M. Ware) Action
• Consider Approval of 2015 Spanish Mackerel FMP Review and State Compliance (M. Ware) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn