ASMFC 2023 Spring Meeting

May 1 - 3 

Westin Crystal City
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA  22202

Final Agenda

Live Streaming

Webinar link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8336694404906038107

Webinar ID: 780-037-899

Phone: +1.914.614.3221; access code 140-893-572

A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see the attached 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.

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).

Meeting Process

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 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 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 three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (April 10) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 25^th will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, April 28^th 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

• Official Roster
• Travel Authorization Form
• Travel Reimbursement Guidelines
• Travel Voucher
• Proxy Form
• AP Nomination Form
• Financial Disclosures and Conflict of Interest Policy & Form
• Compact, Rules and Regulations
• ISFMP Charter
• 2019-2023 Strategic Plan
• 2023 Action Plan
• Appeals Process
• Conservation Equivalency Guidance Document
• Status of the Stocks
• Assessment Schedule
• 2023 Winter Meeting Summary

Monday, May 1

American Lobster Management Board Audio Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. McNamee)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from January 2023    
    
• Public Comment
• Consider Addendum XXVII on Increasing Protection of Spawning Stock Biomass of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Stock for Final Approval (C. Starks) Final Action
  • Review Options and Public Comment Summary (C. Starks)
  • Advisory Panel Report (G. Moore)
  • Consider Approval of Addendum XXVII
• Update from Work Group on Implementation of Addendum XXIX: Tracker Devices in the Federal Lobster and Jonah Crab Fishery (T. Kerns)
• Progress Update on 2023 Jonah Crab Benchmark Stock Assessment (J. Kipp)
• Review Lobster Conservation Management Team Roles and Process (C. Starks)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board  Supplemental   Supplemental 2  Audio Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Bell)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2023
• Public Comment
• Review Report on the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery in Virginia (P. Geer)
• Progress Update on Menhaden Single-species and Ecological Reference Point (ERP) Stock Assessments Action
• Review and Consider Approval of ERP Terms of Reference (K. Drew)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Sciaenids Management Board  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (C. Batsavage)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider 2023 Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report Final Action
  • Presentation of Stock Assessment (C. McDonough)
  • Presentation of Peer Review Panel Report (M. Reichert)
  • Consider Acceptance of Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report for Management Use
  • Consider Adopting Annual Indicators
• Consider Not Conducting 2023 Atlantic Croaker and Spot Traffic Light Analyses (T. Bauer)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Tuesday, May 2

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Draft Addendum I Public Comment Summary  Supplemental  Supplemental 2  Audio1  Audio2  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gary)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from January 2023
• Public Comment
• Update on Atlantic Striped Bass Cooperative Tagging Program (J. Newhard)
• Technical Committee Report (M. Celestino) Possible Action
  • Projections Using 2022 Preliminary Data and Quota Utilization Scenarios
  • Consider Management Response to the Technical Committee Projections
• Consider Approval of Addendum I on Ocean Commercial Quota Transfers Final Action
  • Review Options and Public Comment Summary (E. Franke)
  • Review Advisory Panel Report (E. Franke)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum I
• Other Business/Adjourn

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Snellbaker)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Introductions
• Review and Discuss Vessel Tracker Agency Interface (J. Simpson)
• Discuss and Consider Changes to Enforceability Guidelines (J. Snellbaker)
• Review and Discuss Commission Species (as needed)
  • Atlantic Striped Bass Plan Review Team Compliance Question
• Review and Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)
• State Agency Reports
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. McNamee)
• Council Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider Funding Decision Document and FY2024 Requests for Proposals (J. Simpson) Action
• Update on Program and Committee Activities (G. White, J. Simpson)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Coastal Sharks Management Board  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Bell)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Review NOAA Fisheries’ Final Actions and Consider Comment on Proposed Actions for Coastal Sharks (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Proposed Rule to Prohibit the Harvest of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
  • Final Amendment 14 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
  • Final Atlantic Shark Fishery Review (SHARE)
  • Scoping for Amendment 16 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP
  • Scoping for Electronic Reporting
  • Proposed Rule for Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP
• Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for 2021 Fishing Year (C. Starks) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Wednesday, May 3

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from February 2023
• Public Comment
• Report of the Administrative Oversight Committee (J. Cimino) Action
  • Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
• Discuss Potential for Legislator and Governors Appointee Commissioner Stipends (R. Beal)
• Review Potential Changes to the Conservation Equivalency Policy and Technical Guidance Document (T. Kerns)
• Legislative Committee Update (A. Law)
• Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
  • October 15-19, 2023 – Beaufort, North Carolina
  • 2024 – Maryland
  • 2025 – Delaware
  • 2026 – Rhode Island
  • 2027 – South Carolina
• Executive Director Performance Review (Closed Session)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board  Supplemental Audio
Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2023
• Public Comment
• Executive Committee Report (S. Woodward)
• Discuss Possible Responses to Issues Identified in the Commissioner Survey (T. Kerns)
• Consider Options Paper for Atlantic Bonito and False Albacore Management (T. Kerns) Possible Action
• Update on Follow-up Addendum for the Harvest Control Rule Action
  • Overview of Timeline
  • Consider Approval of Plan Development Team Membership
• Discuss Future of Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Research Set-aside Program (R. Beal) Possible Action
• Assessment Science Committee Report (K. Drew) Action
• Law Enforcement Committee Report (K. Blanchard)
• Update on East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative (T. Kerns)
• Review Noncompliance Findings (if necessary) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Horseshoe Crab Management Board  Supplemental  Supplemental 2 Audio
Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider Work Group Report on Biomedical Best Management Practices (C. Starks) Action
• Review Potential Processes and Resources Required for Evaluating Management Objectives for the Delaware Bay Bait Fishery (C. Starks) Possible Action
• Other Business/Adjourn