Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

ASMFC Winter Meeting - February 2-4, 2016

The Westin Alexandria

400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

703.253.8600

Final Agenda

The agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided below. 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 9:00 a.m. on February 2nd and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 3:45 p.m.) on February 4th. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board/section deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast, the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. To register for the webinar, please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/86228471613051649.
For ease of access, all Board and Section meeting materials (including the Business Session and ISFMP Policy Board) have been combined into 2 PDFs - CombinedFile and SupplementalCombined. Some documents may be large, so please be patient downloading.

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 with the main meeting materials.

2.   Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be January 26, 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 Tuesday, January 26, 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 & Voucher 2015 Annual Meeting Summary Compact, Rules and Regulations
Travel Reimbursement Guidelines Stock Status Overview & Assessment Schedule ISFMP Charter
Proxy Form AP Nomination Form Robert's Rules of Order
Official Roster Policy on Commissioner Financial Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Financial Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Form

Final Agenda
February 2
    
9:00 a.m. – Noon

American Lobster Management Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio (afternoon only)

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Borden)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Discuss Future Management of Southern New England American Lobster Stock
    • Technical Committee Report (B. Glenn)
  • Review and Discuss Catch and Landings Records for JonahCrab-only Trap Fishermen (M. Ware)
  • Consider Draft Addendum I to the Jonah Crab Fishery Management Plan for Public Comment (M. Ware) Action
  • Review Catch Records from Jonah Crab Claw Fishermen and Discuss Action to Create a Standard for Claw Landings (M. Ware) Possible Action
  • Approve Implementation Plans for the Jonah Crab Fishery Management Plan (M. Ware) Action
  • Update on New England Fishery Management Council Deep Sea Coral Habitat Amendment (D. Grout)
  • Update on State/Federal American Lobster Observer Programs (M. Ware)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Atlantic Herring Section Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (R. White)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Draft Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (A. Harp) Final Action
    • Review Options (A. Harp)
    • Public Comment Summary (A. Harp)
    • Advisory Panel Report (J. Kaelin)
    • Consider Final Approval of Amendment 3 (R. White)
  • Overview on the Research Set-Aside Program
  • Other Business/Adjourn
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.

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 November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Review 2016 Black Sea Bass Commercial Quotas (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Draft Addendum XXVII for Final Approval Final Action
    • Review Options (K. Rootes-Murdy)
    • Public Comment Summary (K. Rootes-Murdy)
    • Advisory Panel Report (K. Rootes-Murdy)
    • Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
    • Consider Final Approval of Addendum XXVII
  • Set Scup 2016 Recreational Fishery Specifications (K. Rootes-Murdy) Final Action
  • Update on Black Sea Bass and Summer Flounder Amendment Process (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.

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

  • Welcome/Introductions (Coordinating Council Chair R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Public Comment* (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Committee Consent (R. Boyles, Jr.) Action
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Program Status Updates (M. Cahall)
    • Program Status
    • APAIS
    • Seafood Traceability
  • Governance Update (C. Patterson)
  • Consider Approval of Executive Committee Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Action
  • 2016 Calendar
    • Discuss Executive Committee Meeting Frequency Action
  • Review Action Items from Previous Meeting
    • Executive Committee SOP Edits Submitted to C. Patterson in January In Progress
  • Closed Executive Session
  • Other Business/Adjourn

*See Public Comment Guidelines: http://www.accsp.org/documents/ACCSP_PublicCommentPolicyOct2013.pdf
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

ACCSP Coordinating Council

  • Welcome/Introductions (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Public Comment* (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Council Consent (R. Boyles, Jr.) Action
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • ACCSP Status Report
    • Program Update (M. Cahall)
    • APAIS Update (M. Cahall)
    • Committee Updates (P. Campfield)
    • Independent Program Review Update (M. Cahall)
  • Other Business
February 3
    
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

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

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
  • Committee Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Meeting Summary from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Overview of Commission Guidance Documents and Consider Recommendations to the ISFMP Policy Board for Changes
  • Discuss ACCSP Governance (R. Boyles)
  • Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
    • 2016-Bar Harbor, Maine
    • 2017-Virginia
    • 2018-New York
    • 2019-New Hampshire
  • Other Business/Adjourn
10:15 – 11:00 a.m.

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board Supplemental Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Conservation Equivalent Management Proposals from Maryland and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (L. Fegley/M. Gary) ACTION
    • Technical Committee Report (J. McNamee)
    • Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
  • Review Draft Amendment 3 Development Timeline (M. Waine)
    • Ecosystem Reference Points
    • Revisiting Fishery Allocation and Socioeconomic Analysis
  • Discuss Timeline for Setting 2017 Fishery Specifications (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
11:15 – 11:45 a.m

Atlantic Sturgeon Management Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda 
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2014
  • Public Comment
  • Update on 2017 Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
  • Review and Populate Stock Assessment Subcommittee Membership (M. Appelman) Action
  • Overview of NOAA Fisheries Critical Habitat Designation Process for Atlantic Sturgeon (K. Damon-Randall)
  • Elect Vice-Chair (J. Clark) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
Noon – 12:30 p.m.

Spiny Dogfish Management Board  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Borden)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Review and Set 2016-2018 Fishery Specifications Final Action
    • Review Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 2016-2018 Specifications (J. Didden)
    • Review New England Fishery Management Council 2016-2018 Specifications (A. Harp)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.

Coastal Sharks Management Board  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (A. Nowalsky)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Discuss Differences in State and Federal Smoothhound Catch Composition Regulations for Processing at Sea (A. Harp)
  • Review and Set the 2016 Smoothhound Quota (A. Harp) Final Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Horseshoe Crab Management Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Review Scope of Work to Consider Changes to the Adaptive Resource Management Framework (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Review Alternative Bait Trial Results (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
3:45 – 4:30 p.m.

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Estes)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Progress Update on Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Desk Review (J. Kipp)
  • Progress Update on the Spot and Atlantic Croaker Stock Assessments (J. Kipp)
  • Discuss Recommendation to the ISFMP Policy Board Regarding Spotted Seatrout Management (L. Daniel) Possible Action
  • Consider 2015 FMP Review and State Compliance for Spot (M. Ware) Action
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.

Tautog Management Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (A. Nowalsky)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Progress Update on Draft Amendment 1 Development (A. Harp)
  • Progress Update on University of Connecticut Long Island Sound and New York/New Jersey Stock Assessments (A. Harp)
  • Review the Law Enforcement Subcommittee Commercial Harvest Tagging Program Objectives (M. Robson)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
February 4
  
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
  • Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Tabled Motions from November 2015(J. Gilmore) Action
    • Move to initiate an Addendum to reconsider management options in the Chesapeake Bay from Addendum IV for 2016 based on the stock assessment update in 2015 and retrospective projections. Motion made by Mr. Luisi and second by Mr. O’Reilly. Motion tabled until February 2016.
    • Move toamend to remove the words “in the Chesapeake Bay.” Motion made by Mr. Clark and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion tabled until February 2016.
  • Consider Conservation Equivalent Management Proposals from Maryland and Potomac River Fisheries Commission (M. Luisi/M. Gary) Action
    • Technical Committee Report (M. Appelman)
    • Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
  • Update on 2016 Cooperative Winter Tagging Program (W. Laney)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Winter Flounder Management Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order(M. Gibson)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Technical Committee Report on the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder Fishery and Management Program Under Zero Possession Limits (P. Nitschke)
  • Overview of Federal Management Measures (J. Cournane)
  • Discuss Future Management of Winter Flounder (M. Gibson)
  • Review and Set 2016-2018 Specifications (A. Harp) Final Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
10:30 a.m. – Noon

American Eel Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Review and Consider North Carolina’s Aquaculture Plan Action
    • Technical Committee Report (S. Eyler)
    • Advisory Panel Report (M-B. Delucia)
    • Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
  • Consider South Carolina’s Survey Sampling Proposal Action
    • Technical Committee Report (S. Eyler)
  • Consider Maine’s Conservation Equivalent Management Proposal Action
    • Technical Committee Report (S. Eyler)
  • Initiate Discussion to Consider Changes to Addendum IV Yellow Eel Allocations (J. Gilmore) Possible Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
12:15 – 3:15 p.m.

Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Executive Committee Report (D. Grout)
  • Review and Discuss 2015 Commissioner Survey Results (T. Kerns)
  • Review and Consider Revisions to the ASMFC Guidance Documents (T. Kerns) Final Action
  • Discuss Direction of Management when Stocks are not Responding to Management Due to Climate Impacts or Other Reasons (D. Grout)
  • Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report (L. Havel)
  • South Atlantic Board Report (J. Estes) Possible Action
  • Update on the Weakfish Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. 

Business Session  Audio

  • Welcome/Introductions (D. Grout)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from November 2015
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Final Approval of Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Herring FMP (R. White) Final Action
  • Consider Amending the Commission’s Rules and Regulations (R. Beal) Action
  • Review Non-compliance Findings (if necessary)
  • Other Business/Adjourn