The Westin Crystal City

1800 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202

703.486.1111

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.

For ease of access, all Board/Section meeting documents have been combined into two documents Main Meeting Materials and Supplemental Meeting Materials. Links to individual board/committee materials can be found below.

Live Streaming

Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning February 6th at 9:30 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 5 p.m.) on Thursday, February 8th. 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.

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 January 30, 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, January 30, 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

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.

February 6

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Train)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Consider American Lobster Addendum XXVI and Jonah Crab Addendum III for Final Approval Final Action
  • Review Management Options and Public Comment Summary (M. Ware)
  • Reports from the Law Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panels (M. Robson, E. Gwin)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum XXVI/III
• Southern New England (SNE) Workgroup Report on Goals and Objectives for SNE Lobster Stock(M. Ware) Possible Action
• Review and Consider Approval of 2020 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Terms of Reference (J. Kipp) Action
• Elect Vice-chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Herring Section Supplemental  Presentations & Audio (to be posted week of Feb 12)

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Beal)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Elect Chair and Vice-chair (R. Beal) Action
• Review Effectiveness of Current Spawning Closure Procedure Possible Action
  • Technical Committee Report (R. Zobel)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Winter Flounder Management Board  Presentations & Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Beal)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from January 2017
• Public Comment
• Elect Chair and Vice-chair (R. Beal) Action
• Review 2017 Groundfish Operational Stock Assessment for Gulf of Maine and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder Stocks (P. Nitschke)
• Discuss Potential Management Response to Operational Assessment Possible Action        
• Consider Specifications for the 2018 Fishing Year (M. Ware) Final Action
• Consider Approval of 2017 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports (M. Ware) Action
• Repopulate the Winter Flounder Advisory Panel (M. Ware)
• Other Business/Adjourn

American Eel Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations & Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gary)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of Draft Addendum V for Public Comment Action
  • Presentation of Management Options (K. Rootes-Murdy)
  • Stock Assessment Subcommittee Report (K. Anstead)
• Consider Approval of 2017 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Advisory Panel Report (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Elect Vice-chair (M. Gary) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

February 7

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 October 2017
• Public Comment
• Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Update (M. Cahall)
• Review Leadership Nominating and Election Process (R. Beal) Possible Action
• Review Indirect Cost Rate (L. Leach)
• Review Appeals Process (R. Beal)
• Review Conservation Equivalency Process (R. Beal)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Strategic Planning Workshop  Presentations & Audio

Weakfish Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations & Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. O’Reilly)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from May 2016
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of 2017 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports (M. Schmidtke) Action
• Consider the Use of Fishery-independent Samples in Fulfilling Biological Sampling Requirements of the Fishery Management Plan (M. Schmidtke) Possible Action                                  
• Discuss Recent Changes in Discards in North Carolina (C. Batsavage)
• 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 October 2017
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of State Implementation Plans for the Interstate Cobia Fishery Management Plan Final Action
  • Technical Committee Report (S. Poland)
• Consider Approval of Draft Addendum I to the Black Drum Fishery Management Plan for Public Comment (M. Schmidtke) Action
• Review Technical Committee/Plan Review Team Report on Recommended Updates to the Annual Traffic Light Analyses for Atlantic Croaker and Spot (C. McDonough) Possible Action
• Consider Approval of 2017 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports for Spanish Mackerel and Spot (M. Schmidtke) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Supplemental  Presentations & Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Armstrong)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Review and Consider Maryland Conservation Equivalency Proposal Final Action
  • Maryland Conservation Equivalency Proposal Overview (M. Luisi)
  • Technical Committee Report (N. Lengyel)
  • Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
  • Advisory Panel Report (M. Appelman)
  • Consider Maryland Conservation Equivalency Proposal (M. Armstrong)
• 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment Progress Update (K. Drew)
• Other Business/Adjourn

February 8

Risk and Uncertainty Policy Workshop  Supplemental Presentation Audio 

• Welcome and Introductions (R. Beal, J. Gilmore)
• Workshop Objectives and Structure (J. McNamee)
• Instant Response Technology Tutorial
• Risk and Uncertainty Exercise: Defining Risk and Uncertainty in Striped Bass Management (J. McNamee)
• Commission Risk Policy Status and Next Steps (J. McNamee)
• Adjourn

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board Supplemental  Presentations & Audio 

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Update from Executive Committee (J. Gilmore)
• Review and Consider Commonwealth of Virginia Appeal of Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Management Plan (T. Kerns) Final Action
• Review and Consider the Climate Change Working Group White Paper (T. Kerns) Final Action
• Habitat Committee Report (L. Havel) Final Action
  • Review and Consider Climate Change Gaps and Recommendations Report
  • Review and Consider Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Policy Report
• North Atlantic Right Whale 5-Year Review and Re-initiation of Endangered Species Act Section 7 Fishery Biological Opinion (M. Asaro)
• Review and Consider Approval of 2019 American Shad Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Terms of Reference (J. Kipp) Action
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Update Regarding Renewable Lease Status and Future Leasing (B. Hooker)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Business Session 

• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October and November 2017
• Public Comment
• Review Non-compliance Findings, If Necessary
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board 

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. Ballou)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2017
• Public Comment
• Consider ISFMP Policy Board Recommendation Regarding Commonwealth of Virginia Amendment 3 Appeal, If Necessary (T. Kerns) Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (B. Ballou)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2017
• Public Comment
• Black Sea Bass Addendum XXX for Final Approval Final Action
  • Review Management Options and Public Comment Summary (C. Starks)
  • Technical Committee Report (G. Wojcik)
  • Advisory Panel Report (C. Starks)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum XXX
• Consider Tabled Black Sea Bass Motion the December Joint Board and Council Meeting (C. Starks)Final Action
  • Move that the 2018 federal waters black sea bass measures include a 15-fish possession limit, 12.5-inch minimum size and season from May 15 – December 31. These measures assume the Commission process will develop measures to constrain harvest to the 2018 RHL. A backstop measure of 14 inches, 5 fish possession limit and a season from May 15 – September 15 would go into effect should the Commission not implement measures to constrain harvest to the 2018 RHL.
• Review and Consider Approval of Summer Flounder and Scup Recreational State Proposals for 2018 Measures (K. Rootes-Murdy) Final Action
  • Technical Committee Report (G. Wojcik)
• Consider Approval of 2017 Scup Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Elect Vice-chair (R. Ballou) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn