MARCH 28, 2013 — The preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2013 Spring Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia has been released. The agenda and guidelines are also available here. The final agenda and meeting materials will be posted to the website by May 8, 2013.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Spring Meeting Preliminary Agenda
May 20 – 23, 2013
Please note: The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of meetings. Interested parties should anticipate meetings starting earlier or later than indicated herein.
Monday, May 20, 2013
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Atlantic Herring Section
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Winter Flounder Management Board
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Law Enforcement Committee
1:15 – 3:15 p.m.
American Lobster Management Board
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
ACCSP Coordinating Council
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
8:00 a.m. – noon
Strategic Planning Workshop
8:30 a.m. – noon
Law Enforcement Committee
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Management & Science Committee
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board
2:45 – 5:15 p.m.
American Eel Management Board
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Annual Awards of Excellence Reception
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
8:30 a.m. – noon
Management & Science Committee
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Horseshoe Crab Management Board
1:15 – 4:15 p.m.
ISFMP Policy Board
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Shad & River Herring Management Board (Please Note: This Board meeting is contingent upon a decision from NOAA Fisheries on a possible proposed listing of river herring under the Endangered Species Act.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Executive Committee
8:45 – 9:45 a.m.
Sturgeon Management Board
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Tautog Management Board
11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
ISFMP Policy Board
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Business Session
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in 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 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 a meeting week will be included on the briefing CD.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be May 14, 2013) will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.
3. Following the Tuesday, May 14, 2013 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).
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, fax, and email.