Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

October 21 - 24, 2024

The Westin Annapolis
100 Westgate Circle
Annapolis, Maryland
888.627.8994

Preliminary 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.

Registration

All of the business meetings scheduled during this week (with the exception of scheduled closed sessions) are open to the public, free of charge. However, if you plan on attending any of the Annual Meeting events, please help us prepare for these events by registering for the Annual Meeting events. Only those who will not be reimbursed for travel by the Commission (see travel authorization form) will need to pay the registration fee (e.g., guests and federal participants). The meeting registration fee is $200/per participant and $150/per spouse or guest if you register by October 11, 2024. After October 11th and in Annapolis the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee covers the Monday night welcome reception, the and Tuesday night dinner, as well event materials. You may register by returning the registration form (by email to lhartman@asmfc.org, or US mail to 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201). Once you have registered, payment can be made in several ways (1) check, cash or credit card at the ASMFC Registration Desk at the Annual Meeting; (2) credit card payment can be made here; or (3) mail a check to ASMFC (address above).  
Public Comment Guidelines

 

To provide 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 opportunities 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 comments 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 comments 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 three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (September 30) will be included in the briefing materials.

2.   Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, October 15 will be included in supplemental materials.

3.   Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, October 18 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.

 

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 and email.

General Background Materials

Monday, October 21
9 - 9:30 AM

Atlantic Herring Management Board

  • Consider Specifications for the 2025-2027 Fishing Years
  • Consider Seasonal Allocation for the 2025 Area 1A Fishery
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM

American Lobster Management Board

  • Update on American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment 
  • Consider Data Updates for American Lobster and Jonah Crab
  • Review Lobster Conservation Management Team Reports for Lobster Conservation Management Areas 2 and 3 
  • Consider for Final Approval Draft Addendum XXXI on Delaying Implementation of Gulf of Maine Biological Management Measures
  • Consider Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance for the 2023 Fishing Year 
  • Discuss Tracking Rules
10 AM - 5 PM

Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) Steering Committee

  • Project Updates on Recently Completed and Active On-the-Ground Restoration Projects 
  • Discuss FY26 Project Funding Application
  • National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) Updates: Board Activities, Meetings, National Habitat Assessment  
  • Science & Data Product Development: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
  • Outreach & Communications: Engaging Tribal Organizations and Underserved Communities
    • Collaborative Opportunities with Urban Waters Federal Partnership (EPA/USGS) 
12:15 - 1:15 PM Lunch Break
1:15 - 2:45 PM

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council

  • Consider FY2025 ACCSP Project and Administrative Proposals for Funding
  • Program and Committee Updates
  • Elect Chair and Vice-Chair
3 - 5 PM

Horseshoe Crab Management Board 

  • Set 2025 Delaware Bay Bait Harvest Specifications
  • Consider Stakeholder Workshop Report on Delaware Bay Management Objectives
  • Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2023 Fishing Year 
  • Elect Vice-Chair

Tuesday, October 22
8:30 AM - 5 PM ACFHP Steering Committee (continued)
8:30- 11:30 AM

Sciaenids Management Board

  • Consider 2024 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Respond (if necessary)
  • Discuss Red Drum Risk and Uncertainty Tool
  • Consider Annual Update to Black Drum Indicators
  • Consider Black Drum and Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance for the 2023 Fishing Year
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Lunch Break 
1 - 5 PM Law Enforcement Committee 
12:30 - 2:30 PM

Coastal Pelagics Management Board

  • Consider 2025 Atlantic Cobia State Recreational Measures
  • Review Technical Committee Report on Confidence Interval Approach for Atlantic Cobia
  • South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Update on Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings 
2:45 - 4:15 PM

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

  • Update from Work Group on Precautionary Management in Chesapeake Bay
  • Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2023 Fishing Year
  • Progress Update on 2025 Ecological Reference Point Benchmark Assessment
  • Elect Vice-Chair
4:30 - 5:30 PM

American Eel Management Board

  • Review and Provide Feedback on CITES Actions and Committee Work
  • Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2023 Fishing Year
6:30 - 8 PM Annual Dinner 

Wednesday, October 23
8 - 10 AM

Executive Committee

  • Review and Consider Approval of FY24 Audit
  • Legislative Update
  • Future Annual Meetings Update
8:30 AM - Noon Law Enforcement Committee (continued) 
10:15 - 11:15 AM

Business Session of the Commission

  • Consider Approval of 2025 Action Plan
  • Elect Commission Chair and Vice-Chair
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Shad and River Herring Management Board

  • Consider Update to New Hampshire River Herring Sustainable Fishery Management Plan and Proposal to Reopen Fishery
  • Consider Update to Maine River Herring Sustainable Fishery Management Plan
1 - 5 PM 

Habitat Committee

  • Habitat Management Series: Atlantic Coast Shell Recycling Programs
    • Discuss Formats and Audience Engagement 
    • Develop Timeline for Articles, Content, Final Edits (Deliverables)
  • Habitat Hotline Atlantic
    • Discuss Format and Timeline for December 2024 Release
    • State Updates and Additional Content
  • General Business
    • Updates to FMP Habitat Sections, Fish Habitats of Concern (FHOC) Document, and More
  •      Presentation on Database and Related Online Application of Research Publications that Deal with the Habitat Effects of Fishing Gear
1:30 - 5 PM

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

  • Review 2024 Stock Assessment Update and Consider Management Response (if necessary)
  • Consider Recreational Release Mortality Work Group Report

Thursday, October 24
8:30 AM - Noon Habitat Committee (continued)
9 -10 AM

Spiny Dogfish Management Board

  • Consider Approval of Draft Addendum VII for Public Comment on Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Measures
10:15 - 11:15 AM

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

  • Committee Updates: Executive, Law Enforcement, Habitat, and ACFHP
  • Update on the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Work Regarding Industry-based Trawl Surveys
11:15 AM - Noon

Lunch Break
Noon - 2 PM

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 

  • Consider Approval of the Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda for Public Comment
2:15 - 3 PM

Summer Flounder, Sup and Black Sea Bass Management Board and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 

  • Consider Final Approval of Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum