Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

ASMFC 2022 Spring Meeting

May 2 - 5

Westin Crystal City
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA  22202

Final Agenda

This will be a hybrid meeting (both in-person and remote) to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders (meeting process details are provided below). The Law Enforcement Committee meeting will not be available remotely. 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 meeting materials have been combined into two documents: Main Meeting Materials (these do not include LEC materials) and Supplemental Materials, which do not include supplemental materials for the Atlantic Striped Bass and Sciaenids Boards. For those Boards that have FMP Reviews and Compliance Reports on their agendas, the compliance reports are not posted due to their large file sizes. If you would like a copy of a specific state's or jurisdiction's compliance report, please contact the respective FMP Coordinator. 

Live-Streaming

Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning Monday, May 2 at  10 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 12:30 p.m.) on Thursday, May 5. To register for the webinar, please go to

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6673024452273516048 (Webinar ID:  243-937-907).  If you are joining the webinar but will not be using voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), you can may also call in at +1 (562) 247-8422, access code 616-672-938. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the PIN. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, press the # key when asked for a PIN.

In terms of meeting process, Board chairs will ask both in-person and virtual Board members if they wish to speak. In-person members can simply raise their hands at the meeting without logging on to the webinar, while virtual members will raise their hands on the webinar. The Chair will work with staff to compile the list of speakers, balancing the flow of questions/comments between in-person and virtual attendees. The same process will be used for the public and interested stakeholders when the Board Chair provides an opportunity for public comment. Depending upon the number of commenters, the Board Chair will decide how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.

Each day, the webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.

Public Comment

To provide a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board  approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings.

For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the chair know they would like to speak. Depending upon the number of commenters, the board chair will decide 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 the meeting (April 11) will be included in the briefing materials.
  2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 26 will be included in the supplemental materials.
  3. Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, April 29 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.

Comments should be submitted via email at comments@asmfc.org. All comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.

General Background Materials

Monday, May 2
10 AM - Noon

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Carmichael)
  • Council Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2021
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Funding Decision Document and FY2023 Request for Proposals (J. Simpson) Action
  • Committee Updates
    • 2022 Data Accountability Report – Completed (ComTech)
    • Status Update on 2023-2027 Atlantic Recreational Implementation Plan (RecTech)
    • Status Update on Methodology for Logbook Estimates of Catch and Effort with Dockside Validation (RecTech)
  • Program Updates
  • Other Business/Adjourn
Noon - 1 PM Lunch Break
1 - 2 PM

Coastal Pelagics Management Board  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2020
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Quota Block Timeframe for Cobia Possible Final Action
    • Technical Committee Report (A. Giuliano)
    • Consider Changes to the Three-Year Quota Block for Harvest Specifications for Cobia (J. Cimino)
  • Updates on Spanish Mackerel Stock Assessment Timeline and Federal Waters Management (E. Franke)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
2:15 - 4:15 PM

Sciaenids Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (C. Batsavage)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from August 2021
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Red Drum Simulation Assessment and Peer Review Report Action
    • Presentation of Red Drum Simulation Assessment Report (J. Ballanger)
    • Presentation of Peer Review Panel Report (A. Schueller)
  • Progress Update on Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment (J. Kipp)
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn

Tuesday, May 3
8:30 - 10 AM

Horseshoe Crab Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from January 2022
  • Public Comment
  • Progress Update on Draft Addendum Vlll (C. Starks)
    • Review Recommendations on Options for Implementing the Adaptive Resource Management Framework Revision
    • Provide Guidance to the Plan Development Team
  • Update on PDT Review of Biomedical Mortality and Best Management Practices for Biomedical Collections (C. Starks)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
10:15 - 11:45 AM

Shad and River Herring Management Board  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (L.Fegley)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2021
  • Public Comment
  • Consider American Shad Habitat Plans/Updates (B. Neilan) Action
    • Connecticut River
    • Merrimack River
  • Consider American Shad and River Herring Sustainable Fishery Management Plan Updates (B. Neilan) Action
    • New York (River Herring)
    • Delaware River Basin Cooperative (American Shad)
  • Consider Technical Committee Report from Board Task on Prioritizing Systems for Shad Recovery and DevelopingInventory of Available Data to Support Development of Fish Passage Criteria (B. Neilan)
  • Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for 2020 Fishing Year (J. Boyle) Action
  • Update on the 2023 River Herring Benchmark Stock Assessment
    • Discuss Stock Assessment Subcommittee Membership (K. Drew)
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM Lunch Break
12:45  - 5:15 PM

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (M. Bell)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from January 2022
  • Public Comment
  • 2021 Landings Data Update (J. Boyle)
  • Consider Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 for Public Comment (T. Kerns) Action
    • Review 2020 Landings Proposal
  • Other Business/Adjourn
6:30 - 8 PM 2020 and 2021 Annual Awards of Excellence Reception

Wednesday, May 4

8 - 10 AM

Breakfast will be available at 7:45 AM

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

  • Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
  • Committee Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Meeting Summary from January 2022
  • Public Comment
  • Review and Consider Approval of the Commission Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (L. Leach) Action
  • Consider Changes to the Commission’s Appeals Policy (R. Beal)
  • Discuss Use of De Minimis in Interstate Fishery Management Plans (T. Kerns)
  • Conduct the Executive Director’s Performance Review (Closed Session)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

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

  • Call to Order/Roll Call of the LEC Representatives (J. Snellbaker)
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Public Comment
  • Introductions
  • Review Enforceability Guidelines and Consider Updates, as Needed
  • Review and Discuss ASMFC Species
    • Trackers in the American Lobster Fishery
    • Atlantic Herring: Update on Regulation Changes in Federal Waters
  • State Agency Reports
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Review and Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
10:15 - 11:15 AM

Coastal Sharks Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (M. Bell)
  • Committee Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2021
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Zero Retention Limit/Closure of the Shortfin Mako Fishery Final Action
  • Overview of the NOAA Fisheries Proposed Rule (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Review Convention in the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Proposal to List 54 Shark Species in Appendix ll (D. Colson Leaning) Possible Action
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn

11:30 AM - 5:15 PM

1 hour lunch break included

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gary)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval Proceedings from January 2022
  • Public Comment
  • Draft Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Final Approval Final Action
    • Review Options and Public Comment Summary (E. Franke)
    • Advisory Panel Report (E. Franke)
    • Law Enforcement Committee Report (K. Blanchard)
    • Consider Final Approval of Draft Amendment 7
  • Review 2022 Stock Assessment Update Projection Scenarios (K. Drew)
  • Consider Next Steps for Draft Addendum VII to Amendment 6 Possible Action
    • Motion from October 2021: Move to defer until May 2022 consideration by the Atlantic Striped Bass Board of Draft Addendum VII to Amendment 6 to allow further development and review of the transfer options
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn

Thursday, May 5
8:30 - 11 AM

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

  • Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from January 2022
  • Public Comment
  • Executive Committee Report (S. Woodward)
  • Consider Changes to the Appeals Policy (R. Beal) Final Action
  • Update on Mode Split Work Group (R. Beal)
  • Report from De Minimis Work Group (T. Kerns) Possible Action
  • Update on East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning (T. Kerns)
  • Committee Reports
    • Law Enforcement Committee (T. Kerns)
  • NOAA Report on Sea Turtle Bycatch in Trawl Fisheries (C. Upite)
    • Review Stakeholder Outreach on Action to Develop Bycatch Reduction Measure to Reduce Sea Turtle Takes
  • Update on MAFMC’s Consideration of Re-initiating the Research Set Aside Program (R. Beal)
  • Review Information Related to Tautog Commercial Tagging Program (J. Boyle)
  • Review Noncompliance Findings (if necessary) Action
  • Other Business/Recess
11 - 11:15 AM

Business Session  Audio

  • Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from January 2022
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Approval of Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass (M. Gary) Final Action
  • Consider Noncompliance Recommendations (if necessary)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

ISFMP Policy Board and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC)  Presentations  Audio

  • Reconvene with the MAFMC
  • Initial Discussion on Commission Harvest Control Rule Draft Addenda and MAFMC Framework (D. Colson Leaning, J. Beatty)
  • Other Business/Adjourn