ASMFC 2023 Summer Meeting

August 1 - 3 

Westin Crystal City
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA  22202

Final Agenda

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 three documents: 2023 Summer Meeting Materials, 2023 Summer Meeting Supplemental and 2023 Summer Supplemental2.

Live Streaming

Webinar link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8211916328494316377 

Webinar ID: 505-145-715

Phone: +1.914.614.3221; access code 865-531-935

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 (July 10th) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 25^th will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, July 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 Spring Meeting Summary

Tuesday, August 1

9 - 10 AM

Shad & River Herring Management Board  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Fegley)
• Board Consent                                                                       
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2023
• Public Comment
• Consider Update to Potomac River Fisheries Commission American Shad Sustainable Fishery Management Plan (W. Eakin) Final Action
  
• Update on US Geological Survey Alosine Genetic Repository and Expanding Collection Efforts (W. Eakin)   
• Progress Update on the 2024 River Herring Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
• Other Business/Adjourn                                                          

American Eel Management Board  Supplemental   Supplemental 2  Presentations Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (P. Edwards)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2023
• Public Comment
• Consider Stock Assessment Subcommittee Report on Alternative Analysis of Index Methods for Setting Management Measures Action
  • Presentation of Stock Assessment Subcommittee Report (S. Eyler)
    
  • Consider Acceptance of 2023 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report for Management Use
  • Consider Management Response, if necessary
• Review Maine Glass Eel Quota Provision of Addendum V (C. Starks) Action
  
• Review Maine life Cycle Survey Report (D. Carty)
  
• Consider Approval  of 2024 Maine Aquaculture Proposal (C. Starks) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn
  

Coastal Sharks Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations
Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (E. Burgess)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from May 2023
• Public Comment
• Presentation on Scoping for Draft Amendment 16 to the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (G. DuBeck)
• Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for 2021 Fishing Year (C. Starks) Action
  
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gary)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceeidngs from May 2023
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for 2022 Fishing Year (T. Kerns) Action
  
• Review Status of 2023 Emergency Action Possible Action
  
  • Public Hearing Summary (T. Kerns)
  • Discuss Timeline for Possible Extension of Emergency Action 
• Consider Approval of Draft Addendum II on 2024 Management Measures for Public Comment (T. Kerns) Action
  
• Other Business/Adjourn

Wednesday, August 2

Executive Committee  Supplemental  Audio

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

• Welcome/Introductions (S. Woodward)
• Committee Consent 
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from May 2023
• Public Comment
• Consolidated Appropriations Act Update (R. Beal)
• Review Findings of the Legislative and Governor Appointee Commissioner Survey Regarding Stipends (R. Beal)       
• Legislative Update (A. Law)  
• Discussion on Per Diem Rates (R. Beal)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Coastal Pelagics Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for Atlantic Cobia for 2022 Fishing Year (C. Tuohy) Action
  
• Consider Total Harvest Quota for Atlantic Cobia for the 2024-2026 Fishing Years Final Action
  
  • Technical Committee Report (A. Giuliano)
  • Consider Setting Total Harvest Quota for 2024-2026
• Consider Timeline for Potential Review of State Recreational Allocation for Atlantic Cobia Possible Action
• Consider 2022 Spanish Mackerel Stock Assessment Update
  
  • Presentation of Stock Assessment Report
  • Presentation of Peer Review Report and Response from South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (J. Carmichael)
• Update from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council on Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings (J. Carmichael)
• Other Business/Adjourn

East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
• Review Findings from the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative (T. Kerns)
  
  • Overview of Summit
  • Review Draft Possible Action Plan
  • Discuss Next Steps
• Public Comment
• Other Business/Adjourn

Tautog Management Board Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Luisi)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from January 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for 2022 Fishing Year (J. Boyle) Action
  
• Consider Committee Reports on Commercial Tagging Program and Possible Changes to the Tagging Program Possible Action
  
  • Technical Committee Report (C. Weedon)
    
  • Law Enforcement Committee Report (K. Blanchard)
• Progress Update on the 2025 Tautog Stock Assessment Update (K. Drew)
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn
  

Thursday, August 3

Spiny Dogfish Management Board  Supplemental  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (N. Merserve)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2023
• Public Comment
• Review Progress on Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils’ Joint Action on Monkfish and Dogfish Fisheries to Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch (C. Ferrio)
  
• Consider Approval of Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for 2021-2022 Fishing Season (J. Boyle) Action
  
• Other Business/Adjourn

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board  Supplemental

Supplemental2  Presentations  Audio

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
• Board Consent 
  
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from May 2023
• Public Comment
• Executive Committee Report (S. Woodward)
  
• Review and Consider Changes to the Conservation Equivalency Policy and Technical Guidance Document (T. Kerns) Possible Action
  
• Update on Risk and Uncertainty Policy Development (J. Patel)
• Report from the Atlantic Coast Fish Habitat Partnership (S. Kaalstad)
  
• Review Noncompliance Findings, if necessary Action
  
• Other Business/Adjourn