June 17, 2015 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Please find below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2015 Summer Meeting, August 4-6, 2015 in Alexandria, Virginia. The agenda is also available online at The agenda is also available online at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-summer-meeting. Materials will be available on July 23, 2015 at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-summer-meeting.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Summer Meeting
August 4-6, 2015
The Westin Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
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.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee
- Executive Director’s Annual Review (Closed Session)
- Review Performance and Recommended Changes to Appeal Process
- Review Recommended Changes to the Commission Guidance Documents
- Review Recommended Changes to Advisory Panel and Law Enforcement Participation at Board Meetings
- Review Conservation Equivalency Policy
- Future Annual Meetings Update
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Atlantic Herring Section
- Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team on Revising Proposed Spawning Protection Measures of Draft Amendment 3
- Update on New England Fishery Management Council Actions
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. American Lobster Management Board
- Review and Consider Acceptance of the 2015 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Panel Reports
- Discuss Need for Management Response to the Benchmark Assessment
- Discuss Possible Addendum Initiation to Prohibit All Mobile Gear in Closed Area II from June 15- October 31
- Update on Lobster Trap Transfer Database
- Review and Consider Final Approval of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab
- Discuss New England Fishery Observer Program (Tentative)
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. American Eel Management Board
- Review and Consider Approval of Maine Eel Life Cycle Survey
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Tautog Management Board
- Review and Consider Approval of the Draft Public Information Document for Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee
- Status Report (Program and Committee Updates)
- Independent Program Review Progress
- APAIS Update
- Governance Update
- Executive Committee Membership Standard Operating Procedures
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ACCSP Coordinating Council
- Status Report (Program and Committee Updates)
- Independent Program Review Progress
- Executive Committee Membership Standard Operating Procedures
1:15 – 2:45 p.m. Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
- Review Technical Committee Report on Likelihood of Achieving Fishing Mortality Target with Final Implemented Regulations
- Review Technical Committee Report on Fishing Mortality Reference Points for the Coastal and Discard Fleets Consistent with Chesapeake Bay Specific Fishing Mortality Reference Points
- Review Progress on Management-level Projections Using the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Fleet Reference Points
- Review and Consider Approval of the 2015 FMP Review and State Compliance Reports
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
- Update on Atlantic Menhaden Working Group Progress on Ecosystem-based Management Goals and Objectives
- Update on Atlantic Menhaden Working Group Progress on Allocation
- Discuss Quota Rollover Provisions of Amendment 2
Thursday, August 6, 2015
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board
- Executive Committee Report
- Review and Discuss Annual Performance of the Stocks
- Review Management and Science Committee Report on Results of Forage Fish Management Provisions Survey
- Review and Approve Revised Law Enforcement Committee Report on Guidelines for Resource Managers on the Enforceability of Management Measures
- Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report
- Review of Non-compliance Findings (if necessary)
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Business Session
- Consider Approval of Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab
- Review Non-compliance Findings (if necessary)
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
- Review and Consider Approval of the Draft Terms of Reference for the 2016 Benchmark Stock Assessments for Atlantic Croaker and Spot
- Review the 2015 Traffic Light Analyses for Atlantic Croaker and Spot
- Review and Consider Approval of the 2015 FMP Review and State Compliance Reports for Atlantic Croaker, Black Drum, and Red Drum
- Discuss Extending the Provisions of Spanish Mackerel Addendum I for the 2015 Fishing Season and Possibly Beyond
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 in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be July 28, 2015) 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, July 28, 2015 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.
View a PDF of the release here