The Westin Crystal City

1800 S. Eads Street
Arlington, VA 22202

703.486.1111

Final Agenda

The Shad and River Herring Management Board, previously scheduled for May 1^st (11:15 a.m. – Noon), has been cancelled. The Tautog Management Board will be meeting in its place (same date and time). 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. Links to individual board/committee materials can be found below.

Live-Streaming

Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning April  30^th at 10 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 2:15 p.m.) on Thursday, May 3^rd. 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. Please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1945339924799258370 to register.

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 April 24, 2018 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, April 24, 2018 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

Monday, April 30

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board Jointly with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council  Supplemental  Draft Proceedings from February 2018  Presentations  Audio1  Audio2

• Welcome/Call to Order (B. Ballou/O’Reilly)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of Summer Flounder Draft Amendment and Public Hearing Document for Public Comment (K. Dancy, K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
  • Review Management Alternatives
  • Presentation of Management Documents
• Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management (J. Beaty, C. Starks) Possible Action
  • Overview of Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Discussion Document
  • Review Draft Alternatives for Framework/Addendum on Recreational Issues
  • Review Preliminary February 2018 Black Sea Bass Recreational Harvest Estimates
• Other Business/Recess  

Bluefish Management Board Jointly with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Luisi)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2012
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of Draft Scoping and Public Information Document for Allocation Amendment (M. Seeley, C. Starks) Action
  • Overview of Draft Scoping and Public Information Document
• Other Business/Adjourn

Tuesday, May 1

Coastal Sharks Management Board  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Miller)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Review North Atlantic Shortfin Mako Stock Assessment, NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Emergency Rule Measures and Amendment 11 (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Technical Committee Report (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Discuss Possible Board Comment to HMS on Amendment 11 (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Discuss Potential Management Response (K. Rootes-Murdy) Possible Action
• Review SEDAR 54 Sandbar Shark Stock Assessment (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Technical Committee Report (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Update on Endangered Species Act Status of Oceanic Whitetip Shark (C. Young)
  • Technical Committee Report (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Consider Approval of 2016 and 2017 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• 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)
• Call to Order/Roll Call of the LEC Representatives
  • Approval of Agenda and May 2017 Minutes Action
• Public Comment
• Review and Comment on Ropeless Fishing Technologies Action
• Review of 2018 Action Plan Items
• Review and Discuss ASMFC Species Management Issues
• Federal Agency Reports
• State Agency Reports
• Review and Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Issues Closed Session
• Discuss Use of Drones in Enforcement
• Review Potential Changes to Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark Rules                        
• Update on Regional and National Enforcement Meetings 
• Update on LEC Orientation Process for New Members (Robson)
• Review LEC  Information on ASMFC Website (Robson)
• Discuss NOAA FY19 Budget and Joint Enforcement Agreement Impact
• New Business
• Adjourn

Tautog Management Board  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. McKiernan)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Review Connecticut Commercial Measures Proposal (C. Starks) Final Action
  • Technical Committee Report
• Other Business/Adjourn

Legislators and Governors' Appointees Luncheon

• Introductions
• General Comments/Discussion
• Discuss Non-compliance

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Presentations  Audio

Atlantic Herring Section  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (P. Keliher)
• Section Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Discuss Potential Impact of Possession Limits in the Atlantic Mackerel Fishery on the Atlantic Herring Area 1A Fishery (M. Ware) 
• Technical Committee Report on Spawning Fish Sampling Protocols (R. Zobel) Possible Action
• Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance (M. Ware) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Northern Shrimp Section  Supplemental
(Meeting will not be available via webinar but interested parties may listen to proceedings via conference call at 1-888-394-8197, Passcode 499811)

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Train)
• Section Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Discuss Potential Inclusion of a Second Management Issue in Draft Addendum I to Extend Current Fishing Season Range in the Fishery Management Plan
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Introductions (L. Fegley)
• Public Comment
• Council Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes from October 2017
• ACCSP Status Report
  • Program Status (M. Cahall)
  • Committee Updates (A. Dukes)
• Review and Consider Approval of FY19 Request for Proposals (M. Cahall) 
• Accountability Standards (L. Fegley)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Wednesday, May 2

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Report of the Administrative Oversight Committee (P. Keliher)
  • Presentation of FY19 Budget Action
• Report on Legal Opinion Regarding Proxies Serving as Officers (R. Beal)
• Discuss Commissioner Conflict of Interest (R. Beal)
• Discuss Appeals Process (R. Beal)
• Discuss Future Scope of MRIP/APAIS Activities (R. Beal/M. Cahall)
• Future Annual Meetings Updates (L. Leach)
  • October 21-25, 2018 – New York, New York
  • October 27-31, 2019 – Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  • 2020 – New Jersey
  • 2021 – North Carolina
• Executive Director Performance Review Closed Session
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (N. Meserve)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2017
• Public Comment
• Review and Consider Approval of Terms of Reference for the 2019 Atlantic Menhaden Single Species Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review (K. Anstead) Action
• Review and Populate the Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee Membership (K. Anstead) Action
• Review and Consider Approval of Terms of Reference for the 2019 Atlantic Menhaden Ecosystem-Based Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review (K. Drew) Action
• Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports (M. Appelman) Action
  • Review State Implementation Plans for Amendment 3
• Other Business/Adjourn

American Lobster Management Board  Supplemental   Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Train)        
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Lobster Conservation Management Team (LCMT) Proposals to Reduce Latent Effort Possible Action
  • Review Board Task Regarding Latent Effort (M. Ware)
  • Review LCMT Proposals
  • Discuss Board Goals and Objectives Regarding Task
  • Consider Board Action in Response to Proposals
• Law Enforcement Committee Report (R. Cloutier)
  • Enforceability of Ropeless Fishing
• Plan Development Team Update on American Lobster Draft Addendum XXVII (M. Ware)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Winter Flounder Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Pierce)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Review and Consider Rhode Island Proposal on Commercial Trip Limits (M. Ware) Final Action
  • Overview of Rhode Island Proposal
  • Technical Committee Report
  • Consider Approval of Rhode Island’s Proposal
• Other Business/Adjourn

Thursday, May 3

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Update from the Executive Committee (J. Gilmore)
• Review and Consider Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York Appeal of Addendum XXX to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (T. Kerns) Final Action
• Committee Reports
  • Artificial Reef (L. Havel)
  • Law Enforcement (M. Robson)
• Marine Recreational Information Program Update on the Transition to the Fishing Effort Survey and the Calibration Process (K. Denit)
• Review Noncompliance Findings, if Necessary Possible Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Business Session

• Welcome/Introductions (J. Gilmore)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment           
• Review Noncompliance Findings, if Necessary (J. Gilmore) Possible Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Ballou)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Consider ISFMP Policy Board Guidance Regarding Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York Addendum XXX Appeal, if Necessary (T. Kerns) Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

South Atlantic States/Federal Fisheries Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (P. Geer)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2018
• Public Comment
• Addendum I to the Black Drum Fishery Management Plan for Final Approval (M. Schmidtke) Final Action
  • Review Options and Public Comment Summary
  • Review Committee Reports
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum I
• Consider Management Action Based on Technical Committee/Plan Review Team Recommended Updates to the Annual Traffic Light Analyses for Atlantic Croaker and Spot (M. Schmidtke) Possible Action
• Updates on SEDAR 58 Cobia Stock Identification Workshop and Board Tasking of Cobia Technical Committee from February 2018 (M. Schmidtke)
• Review Draft Terms of Reference and Schedule for the SEDAR 58 Atlantic Cobia Stock Assessment (M. Schmidtke)
• Discuss Questions from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Possible Transfer of the Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia Fishery Management (M. Schmidtke)
• Other Business/Adjourn