ASMFC 2024 Summer Meeting

August 6 - 8

Westin Crystal City
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA  22202

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.

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 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 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 15) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, July 30 will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, August 2 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
• 2024-2028 Strategic Plan
• 2024 Action Plan
• Appeals Process
• Conservation Equivalency Guidance Document
• Status of the Stocks
• Assessment Schedule
• 2024 Summer Meeting Summary

Tuesday, August 6

Atlantic Herring Management Board

• Review 2024 Management Track Assessment
• Consider Atlantic Herring FMP Review and State Compliance Reports for the 2023 Fishing Year

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

• Review Report from US Geological Survey on Osprey Data in Chesapeake Bay
• Progress Update on 2025 Ecological Reference Point Benchmark Stock Assessment
• Elect Vice-Chair

Spiny Dogfish Management Board

• Review Report on State Impacts of Action by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils to Reduce Sturgeon Bycatch and Consider Complementary Action

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

• Consider Initial Recommendations from Recreational Release Mortality Work Group
• Consider FMP Review and State Compliance Reports for the 2023 Fishing Year

American Lobster Management Board

• Progress Update on American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment
• Review Plan Development Team Report on Conservation Measures for Lobster Conservation Management Areas 2 and 3
  • Lobster Conservation Management Team Reports
• Review Report on Colby College Economic Analysis on the Lobster Gauge Increase
• Update on United States and Canada Discussion of the Gauge Increase
• Consider Final Approval of Addendum XXX (Mitchell Provision)
• Consider Report from Tracking Work Group

Wednesday, August 7

Atlantic Sturgeon Management Board

• Review 2024 Stock Assessment Update

Sciaenids Management Board

• Consider 2024 Spot and Atlantic Croaker Traffic Light Analyses
• Consider Red Drum and Atlantic Croaker FMP Reviews and State Compliance Reports for the 2023 Fishing Year
• Update on Benchmark Stock Assessments for Red Drum, Atlantic Croaker, and Spot

Coastal Pelagics Management Board

• Consider Atlantic Cobia FMP Review and State Compliance Reports for the 2023 Fishing Year
• Consider Approval of Addendum II on Recreational Allocation, Harvest Target Evaluation, and Timeline for Setting Management Specifications
• Review Public Comment and Advisory Panel Report
• Update from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council on Mackerel Port Meetings 

Shad and River Herring Management Board

• Consider 2024 River Herring Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Reports

Thursday, August 8

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

• Committee Reports
• Executive Committee
• Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership
• Habitat Committee
• Assessment Science Committee
•      Presentation of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Program
•      Update on American Eel Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species Activity 
• Review Noncompliance Findings, if necessary

 Commission Business Session

• Consider Noncompliance Recommendations, if necessary