Harborside Hotel
55 West Street
Bar Harbor, Maine

Live-Streaming

Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6632926318150310403 beginning at 8:30 a.m. on October 24th, continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 4:00 p.m.) on October 27^th.  The webinar will allow registrants to listen to the proceedings of the Commission’s management boards/sections during the 75^th Annual Meeting, October 24-27, 2016. Registrants will also be able to view presentations and motions as they occur. 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/2016-Annual-Meeting  the week of October 30^th.

Annual Meeting Registration

All meetings are open to the public free of charge. However, if you plan on attending any of the Annual Meeting social events, please help us prepare for these events by registering TODAY.  Click here to access the fillable registration form; once completed please email to lhartman@asmfc.org. 

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 October 18, 2016 will 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 October 18, 2016 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

Travel Authorization

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.

For ease of access, all Board/Section meeting documents have been combined into two documents - Main Meeting Materials and Supplemental Materials. Not included in the Main Meeting document are materials for the Atlantic Mehaden Management Board, ACCSP Coordinating Council and LEC materials. Links to those individual board/committee materials can be found below.

October 23

Welcome Reception

October 24

75th Annual Meeting Plenary Session - Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Envisioning the Future  Presentations  Video of Bob Steneck Presentation

• Welcome/Kick-off, ASMFC Chair Doug Grout, Chief of Marine Fisheries, New Hampshire Fish and Game
• Plenary Overview, ASMFC Executive Director Bob Beal
• ASMFC History
  • Honoring the Past (1941-1991), Phil Coates, former Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Director and ASMFC Commissioner (1979-2000)
  • Celebrating the Present (1992- 2016), Susan Shipman, former Georgia Coastal Resources Division Director and ASMFC Commissioner (1994-2008)
• ASMFC Highlights – Interactive Session
• Morning Session Wrap-up and Overview of Things to Come, Bob Beal
• Break
• Envisioning the Future
  • Introduction, Patrick Keliher, Commissioner, Maine Department of Marine Resources
  • Observations on the Current and Future State of the Ocean and Marine Resources, Guest Speaker Dr. Robert Steneck, Maine School of Marine Sciences
  • Panel Discussion on Adapting to Future Challenges
  • Panelists: Jack Dunnigan, Former ASMFC Executive Director and Assistant Administrator for Oceans and Coastal Services; Gordon Colvin, former Director of Marine Resources, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and ASMFC Commissioner (1982-2007); Robert Boyles, Jr., Deputy for Marine Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; Patrick Keliher; Jason McNamee, Chief, Marine Resources Division, Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife; and Kathy Knowlton, Fisheries Statistics Unit Leader, Georgia Coastal Resources Division
• Plenary Wrap-up & Adjournment, Bob Beal

Law Enforcement Committee (A portion of this meeting is a closed session for Committee members only)

• Call to Order/Roll Call of the Law Enforcement Committee (LEC) Representatives (M. Eastman)
• Approval of Agenda and Minutes from May 2016
• Public Comment
• Discussion of Emerging ISFMP Issues
• Review and Discussion of 2017 Action Plan Items
• Interstate Violator Compacts and Application to Marine Fisheries
• Review Proposed Jonah Crab Claw Harvest Regulations
• Review Warrant and Search Provisions Among LEC Jurisdictions
• Review and Discussion of Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)
• Other Business/Recess

Spiny Dogfish Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Borden)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2016
• Public Comment
• Review and Set Spiny Dogfish Fishery Specifications for 2017/2018 Season Final Action
  • Review Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 2016-2018 Specifications Recommendation (M. Appelman)
• Consider 2016 Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance (M. Appelman) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Coastal Sharks Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (A. Nowalsky)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Updates from NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Division (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Review Proposed Rule for HMS Amendment 5b (Dusky Sharks) and 2016 Stock Assessment Results
  • Review Draft Environmental Assessment for Amendment 10 to the
  • Review ProposedReview Proposed Rule for Blacknose Possession Limits for Federally-permitted Vessels
  • Review Proposed Rule for the 2017 Atlantic Shark Commercial Fishing Season
• Set 2017 Coastal Sharks Fishery Specifications (A. Harp) Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Supplemental   Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Technical Committee Report (N. Lengyel)
  • Performance Evaluation of Addendum IV Regulatory Measures
• Review the 2016 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update (G. Nelson)
• Consider Approval of the Advisory Panel Request to Submit Comment to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council on its Draft Squid Capacity Amendment (J. Gilmore) Possible Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

October 25

8 - 10 AM

(Breakfast to be served at 7:30 AM)

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of FY16 Audit (L. Leach) Action
• Review Conservation Equivalency Guidance Document (T. Kerns) Action
• Review ASMFC Standard Meeting Practices Document (R. Beal) Action
• Awards Committee Report (S. Woodward)
• Review Performance Appraisal/Merit Increase Protocol (R. Beal)
• Review Resolution Regarding Revision of Retirement Plan (L. Leach) Action
• Discuss Revision of Action Plan to Include ACCSP Goal (R. Beal)
• Discuss Health Benefits for Retired ASMFC Employees (R. Beal)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Law Enforcement Committee (A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)

• Social (Open to Commissioners and Staff)
• Update on Future Safe Harbor Issues and Input (Other Emerging Issues)
• Update on Aerial Enforcement Subcommittee Discussions
• Federal/State Agency Reports
• Lobster Enforcement Subcommittee Report and Discussion
• Review Law Enforcement Committee Comments and Recommendations to ASMFC Boards
• Review Out-of-State Shipment/Sale Tracking for Enforcement Needs
• Review Updated ISFMP Issues
• Other Business/Adjourn

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations   Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Estes)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Consider Draft Cobia FMP Public Information Document for Public Comment (L. Daniel) Action
• Red Drum Working Group Report (J. Kipp)
  • Presentation of Follow Up Tasks to the Red Drum Assessment
• Progress Report on the Spot and Atlantic Croaker Benchmark Stock Assessments (J. Kipp)
• Consider 2016 Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance (A. Hirrlinger) Action
  • Black Drum
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Spotted Seatrout
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action   
• Other Business/Adjourn

Tautog Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (A. Nowalsky)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Review 2016 Stock Assessment Update (J. McNamee)
• Provide Plan Development Team Guidance on Draft Amendment 1 (A. Harp, A. Nowalsky)
• Update on Tautog Tagging Trial (A. Harp)
• Other Business/Adjourn

3:30 - 4:30 PM

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Luisi)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2016
• Public Comment
• Review Marine Recreational Information Program Wave 4 Harvest Estimates for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass (if available) (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Consider Management Approaches for 2017 Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fisheries Possible Action
  • Summer Flounder Working Group Report (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Update on Stock Assessment Progress for Black Sea Bass (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Consider 2016 Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
  • Summer Flounder
  • Scup
  • Black Sea Bass
• Other Business/Adjourn

Shad and River Herring Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (B. Goldsborough)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from May 2016
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of the Nemasket River, Massachusetts Sustainable Fishery Management Plan for River Herring (B. Chase) Final Action
  • Review Technical Committee Memo on the Nemasket River Sustainable Fishery Management Plan
• Discuss the Timetable for the Five-Year Update of Shad and River Herring Sustainable Fishery Management Plans (A. Harp)
• Review Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Decision on Potential Management of Shad and River Herring (B. Goldsborough)
• Other Business/Adjourn

October 26

Horseshoe Crab Management Board  Supplemental   Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Consider Comments from the Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Subcommittee on Draft Addendum VIII (K. Rootes-Murdy) Possible Action
  • ARM Subcommittee Report (K. Anstead)
• Horseshoe Crab Technical Committees Report (S. Doctor) Possible Action
  • Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Survey Reports Summary
  • ARM Framework Harvest Output for 2017
  • Recommendations on Bait Trials
• Set 2017 Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Fishery Specifications (K. Rootes-Murdy) Final Action
• Consider 2016 Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan Review (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council
Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Introductions (R. Boyles, Jr.)
• Council Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes from August 2016
• Public Comment
• ACCSP Status Report (M. Cahall)
  • Program Updates
  • Committee Updates
• Presentation of the Universe of Electronic Reporting Efforts on the Atlantic Coast (M. Cahall)
• Consider Recommendations of FY2017 Submitted Proposals (P. Campfield, J. Morgan) Action
• Consider Addendum to Memorandum of Understanding to Reflect Governance Change (R. Boyles, Jr.) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Business Session  Supplemental  Audio

• Welcome/Introductions (D. Grout)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Election of Commission Chair and Vice-chair (R. Beal) Action
• Review and Consider Approval of the 2017 ASMFC Action Plan Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Captain David H. Hart Award Luncheon

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Ballou)
• Board Consent
• Approval of Agenda
• Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Review Timeline of Menhaden Activities through 2019 (M. Ware)
• Set 2017 Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Specifications Final Action
  • Review Stock Projections and Trends in Recent Juvenile Abundance Indices (J. McNamee)
  • Consider Postponed Motion to Set the 2017 Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
    • Motion to set the 2017 Coastal TAC for the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery at 225,456 metric tons (20% Increase)
• Consider Draft Amendment 3 Public Information Document for Public Comment Action
  • Overview of Public Information Document (M. Ware)
  • Advisory Panel Report (J. Kaelin)
• Technical Committee Report (J. McNamee)
  • Review of “The Fate of an Atlantic Menhaden Year Class”
• Biological Ecological Reference Points Working Group Progress Report (S. Madsen)
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

October 27

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board  Supplemental  Audio
 

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Executive Committee Report (D. Grout)
• Review Revisions to the Conservation Equivalency Guidance Document (T. Kerns) Final Action
• Update on the Climate Change Working Group (T. Kerns)
• Discuss Risk and Uncertainty Policy Workgroup White Paper (J. McNamee)
• Habitat Committee Report (T. Kerns) Action
  • Review and Consider the Sciaenid Habitat Source Document
  • Review State Reports on Climate Change Initiatives
  • Review the Draft Letter to BOEM Regarding Seismic Testing
• Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report (P. Campfield)
• Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
• Review Non-Compliance Findings, If Necessary Possible Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Herring Section  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. White)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2016
• Public Comment
• Elect Vice-chair Action
• Review and Discuss White Paper on Fishery Performance and Alternative Management Tools (A. Harp, R. White) Possible Action
• Set 2017 Atlantic Herring Specifications for Area 1A Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

12:30 - 4 PM

(Lunch to be provided)

American Lobster Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Borden)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2016
• Public Comment
• Consider American Lobster Draft Addendum XXV for Public Comment (M. Ware) Action
• Discuss Trap Caps Included in Addenda XXI and XXII (M. Ware)
• American Lobster Reporting Work Group Report (M. Ware) Possible Action
• Consider Jonah Crab Draft Addendum II for Public Comment Action
  • Jonah Crab Working Group Report (M. Ware)
• Consider 2016 American Lobster Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance (M. Ware) Action
• Update on the Atlantic Marine Monument Designation (M. Ware)
• Update on New England Fishery Management Council Deep-Sea Coral Amendment (M. Ware)
• Other Business/Adjourn