Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Mystic Hilton

20 Coogan Boulevard
Mystic, Connecticut 06355

860.572.0731

Final Agenda

Please note: The agenda is subject to change. 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

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 with the main meeting 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 October 21, 2014) 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, October 21, 2014 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.

General Background Materials

Final Agenda

October 27

Atlantic Herring Section Supplemental Material Presentations Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (T. Stockwell)
• Section Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Update on Development of Draft Amendment 3 for Public Comment (M. Yuen)
• Review and Set Atlantic Herring Specifications for 2015 (M. Yuen) Action
• Update on Atlantic Herring Offshore Spawning Study (M. Yuen)
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (M. Yuen) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) Steering Committee  Presentations

• Welcome/Introductions (K. Smith)
  • Approval of Agenda
• Review of Climate Change Impacts to Coastal Fish Habitats
  • Chesapeake Bay (D. Bilkovich)
  • Connecticut (S. Gephard)
  • Florida (K. Smith)
  • Estuarine Acidification (M. Topolski)
• Habitat Assessment Update (J. Devers, J. Clingerman)
  • Winter Flounder Assessment Update (Downstream Strategies-NALCC)
  • Other species and Geographic Regions for Further Work
• Review of 2012-2016 Conservation Strategic Plan (G.Schuler)
• Implementation Updates
  • Coastal Development Outreach (C. Powell)
  • Coastal Threats Outreach (W. Laney)
  • Fish Passage (C. Patterson)
  • Restoration Priorities (D. McReynolds)
• Implementation Planning (C. Powell)
  • Evaluating the Success of the 2014 Implementation Plan
  • Finalize 2015-2016 Implementation Plan
• Diadromous Fish Habitat Assessment (E. Martin)
• FWS-NFHP Funding (J. Devers)
  • Project List Submitted to USFWS
  • Project Ranking and ACFHP/NFHP Annual Review Priorities
  • Pending RFP and Timelines for 2015-2016
• Federal Urban Waters Initiative Update (R. Muir)
  • Regional Updates
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation River Herring Project Status Update (C.Shumway)
• National Fish Habitat Partnership Update (S. Perry)
  • Review of Agenda Items from September Meeting
  • November 2014 FHP Meeting at Restore America’s Estuaries in Washington, D.C.
• Coastal FHP’s Collaboration Update (K. Smith)
  • Major Accomplishments in 2014 and Anticipated 2015 Outcomes
• Whitewater to Bluewater Initiative Update (L. Gardner)
  • Accomplishments to Date
  • Future Collaboration
• International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) Details (G. Erikson)
• Consideration of IFFF ACFHP Membership (K. Smith)
• Next Steps on the Organizational Assessment (P. Campfield)
  • Major Findings
  • Process for Developing a Sustainable FHP Plan
  • Identifying New MOU Partners
• ACFHP Operations (P. Campfield)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Management and Science Committee Presentations

• Welcome/Introductions (O’Hop)
• Approval of Agenda
• Approval of Minutes from April 2014
• Stock Assessment Updates and Review of Stock Assessment Schedule
  • Northern Shrimp, Tautog (K. Drew)
  • Black Drum, Atlantic Sturgeon (J. Kipp)
  • Spot, American Lobster, Black Sea Bass, Atlantic Menhaden (G. Nesslage)
• Review of Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management Reporting (G. Nesslage)
• Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCeMFiS) Presentation (R. Mann)
• Discussion of Changes to Technical Committee Guidelines on Consensus and Voting
• Discussion of ASMFC/MAFMC Observer Program (S. Madsen)
• FishSmart/Barotrauma Overview Presentation and Tools (P. Perra)
• Research Set-Aside (RSA) Presentations and Discussions
  • Mid-Atlantic/Northeast RSA Overview (R. Silva)
  • Mid-Atlantic Experience (J. Gartland)
• NMFS Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis (W. Morrison)
• Review of MSC’s Role in Peer Review Planning (P. Campfield)
• Updates
  • Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (P. Campfield)
  • Cooperative Winter Tagging Cruise (W. Laney)
  • SEAMAP (S. Madsen)
  • NEAMAP (J. Gartland)
  • Coastwide Ageing Activities (J. Kipp)
• Other Business
• Public Comment
• Adjourn

Winter Flounder Management Board Supplemental Material  Presentations  Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (R. White)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2014
• Public Comment
• Review of Northeast Fisheries Science Center Assessment Update for Gulf of Maine Stock (P. Nitschke)
• Technical Committee Report on Abundance and Biomass Indices for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Stock (S. Correia, K. Drew)
• Advisory Panel Report on Recent Winter Flounder Fisheries Trends (H. Brown)
• Set 2015 Fishing Year Specifications (R. White) Action
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (M. Yuen) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

American Eel Management Board Supplemental Material  Working Group Recommendations Presentations Audio File1 Audio File2

• Welcome/Call to Order (T. O’Connell)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Review of North Carolina’s Proposed Addendum III Regulations Action
• Technical Committee Report on Board Tasks (S. Eyler)
• Draft Addendum IV for Final Approval Final Action
  • Review of Proposed Options (K. Taylor)
  • Working Group Recommendations (T. O’Connell)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum IV
• Other Business/Adjourn

American Lobster Management Board Supplemental Material Presentations Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. McKiernan)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Review of Cancer Crab Public Information Document
  • Review of PID (K. Taylor)
  • Review of Public Comment Summary (K. Taylor)
• Draft Cancer Crab Fishery Management Plan (D. McKiernan) Possible Action
  • Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team for Cancer Crab FMP
• Review of Consistency with State and Federal Regulations Possible Action
  • Review of Recommendations on Trap Transfer Regulations (D. McKiernan)
  • Review of Changes to Federal Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and Impacts to Outer Cape Cod Haul-out (D. McKiernan)
  • Review of Vertical Line Gear Markings (D. McKiernan)
• Update on Southern New England 10% Reduction Evaluation (K. Taylor) Action
• Update on LobsTAH Database (K. Taylor)
• Update on Trap Tag Vendor for 2015-2016 (K. Taylor)
• Consider 2013 FMP Review and State Compliance (K. Taylor) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Habitat Committee

• Welcome/Introductions (K. Smith)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from May 2014
• ACFHP Update (L. Havel)
• Presentation on Collaborating with Local Municipalities (J. Kritzer)
• Presentation on Fisheries and Land Use Discourse (T. Hartley
• Presentation on Blue Carbon Activities in the Coastal Zone (P. Colarusso
• Presentation on Linking Habitats to Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (P. Auster)
• Discuss Opportunities with Restore America’s Estuaries (K. Smith)
• Update on Special Management Zones (M. Yuen)
• Review 2014 Work Plan (M. Yuen)
  • Habitat Management Series Products (M. Yuen)
  • 2014 Habitat Hotline Atlantic: Climate Change Impacts on Fish Habitats (M. Rousseau)
• Presentation from Ocean Acidification Task Force (M. Topolski)
• Set 2015 Work Plan (M. Yuen)
  • Habitat Bottlenecks
• Other Business/Adjourn

Law Enforcement Committee

(A portion of this meeting will be a closed session for Law Enforcement Committee members only to discuss ongoing enforcement activities)

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Ingerson)
• Roll Call of the States
• Approval of Agenda and Minutes from May 2014
• Public Comment
• Review and Update LEC Guidelines for Enforceability
• Discuss LEC Coordination/Collaboration with Outside Advisory Panels
  • Update on AFWA/NACLEC
  • Review Other Law Enforcement Advisory Committee Activities
• Discussion of Shark Fin Possession Regulations and Statutes
  • State Actions Prohibiting Possession
  • Exemptions to Prohibitions
• Report on ASMFC Species Board Actions
  • Atlantic Herring
  • Winter Flounder
  • American Eel
• Discuss Disposition of Seized Atlantic Striped Bass
• Review and Discussion of States’ Use of VMS Data
  • Data Access
  • Coordination Among Agencies
  • Training Opportunities
• Review and Discussion of Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)
• Update on Cancer/Jonah Crab Fishery and Management Options
• Report on ASMFC Species Board Actions
  • American Lobster
  • Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
• Discussion of American Lobster Trap-Tag Transferability
• Discussion of New or Emerging Enforcement Issues for ASMFC Species
• Review and Discussion of ASMFC 2015 Action Plan Tasks for LEC
• Federal Agency Reports
• State Agency Reports
• Special Recognitions
• Other Business (or Possible Future Agenda Items)
• Adjourn

Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations  Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Pierce)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Review Marine Recreational Information Program Wave 4 Harvest Estimates for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass (if available) (K. Rootes-Murdy)
• Discuss Available Management Approaches for the 2015 Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fisheries (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (K. Rootes-Murdy) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

• Welcome/Introductions (C. Patterson)
• Public Comment
  • Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Review of Outstanding Action Items from August 2014
  • Chair Patterson will work with the Three Atlantic Fishery Management Councils to replace Bob Mahood as an Executive Committee Representative
  • ACCSP Executive Subcommittee Tasks for Next Meeting
    • Governance Workgroup (R. Boyles, Jr.)
    • Funding Subcommittee (R. Beal)
    • IPR Workgroup (M. Cahall)
• Review Progress of the Independent Program Review (IPR) Recommendations
  • ACCSP Governance Ad-Hoc Committee Update (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Funding Subcommittee Update (R. Beal)
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Subcommittee Update (M. Cahall)
• ACCSP/ASMFC MRIP-APAIS Transition Plan Update (M. Cahall)
• Closed Session
• Other Business/Adjourn

Business Session  Supplemental Material Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Election of Commission Chair and Vice-Chair Action
• Review 2014 Action Plan Update
• Review and Consider Approval of the 2015 Action Plan Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

ISFMP Policy Board & ACCSP Coordinating Council Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel/C. Patterson)
• Board/Council Consent (L. Daniel/C. Patterson)
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Review Status of the Transition Plan for State Conduct of Angler Point Access Intercept Survey (G. White)
• Confirm Timeline and Process to Complete the Transition (L. Daniel/C. Patterson) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

ACCSP Coordinating Council

• Welcome/Introductions (C. Patterson)
• Public Comment
• Council Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Review of Outstanding Action Items from August 2014
• Review of Recommendations of FY2015 Submitted Proposals (T. Hoopes, R. Bellavance) Action
• ACCSP Status Report
  • Program Update (M. Cahall)
  • Committee Updates (T. Hoopes)
• Review Status of the Independent Program Review (IPR) Recommendations
  • ACCSP Governance Ad-hoc Committee Update (R. Boyles, Jr.)
  • Funding Subcommittee Update (R. Beal)
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Subcommittee Update (M. Cahall)
• Continued Discussion of ACCSP/ASMFC MRIP-APAIS Transition Plan (C. Patterson)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Executive Committee  Supplemental Material
(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Discuss Procedural Issues (R. Beal)
  • What Constitutes a 2/3 Vote with Regard to the Services Abstaining
  • Advisory Panel Involvement in FMP Development
  • Use of Meeting-specific Proxies
• Administrative Oversight Committee Report (D. Grout)
  • Presentation of the FY14 Audit Action
• Executive Director 2015 Priorities (R. Beal)
• Discussion with NOAA Fisheries Regional Leadership
• Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
  • 2015 – Florida
  • 2016 – Maine
  • 2017 – Virginia
  • 2018 – New York
  • 2019 – New Hampshire
• Other Business/ Adjourn

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Supplemental Material  Chesapeake Bay States White Paper on Draft Addendum IV  Presentations Audio File1 Audio File2 Audio File3 Audio File4

• Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Draft Addendum IV for Final Approval (M. Waine) Final Action
  • Review Options (M. Waine)
  • Review of Public Comment Summary (M. Waine)
  • Technical Committee Report (C. Godwin)
  • Advisory Panel Report (K. Place)
  • Law Enforcement Report (K. Blanchard)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum IV
• Other Business/Adjourn

Horseshoe Crab Management Board Presentations  Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. Gilmore)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2014
• Public Comment
• Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee Report (P. Howell)
  • Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Survey Reports Summary
  • Adaptive Resource Management Framework Harvest Output for 2015
• Set Specifications for 2015 Delaware Bay Fishery (J. Gilmore) Final Action
• Consider 2014 FMP Review and State Compliance (M. Hawk) Action
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Commissioner Workshop on Fisheries Socioeconomics  Supplemental Material Presentations

• Guidance for the use of Social Science in Fisheries Management (M. Hall-Arber)
  • How can social science be utilized by ASMFC? Social scientists offer their expertise to Technical Committees on issues pertaining to impacts of regulatory changes, as well as participate on Plan Development Teams. Specifically, social science can determine what socio-cultural conditions may be affected by changes in policy.
  • A simple example: Tradable quota can have social consequences, as the consolidation of the fishing fleet can change relationships in different fishing groups, the fishing fleet characteristics and some demographics.
  • What social factors are typically considered?We explain some of the social characteristics that are studied when determining the influence of a regulatory change or reallocation.
  • Regulations and beyond: Social science not only helps to describe management change impacts but is also necessary in considering other fisheries topics of interest such as climate change or ecosystem-based management strategies.
  • What data are available? We discuss social science indicators and indices available through NMFS and ACCSP, and gaps in these data sets.
• Cost-benefit Analysis vs. Economic Impact Analysis in Fisheries (J. Holzer Bilbao)
  • Motivation:  There is a common misunderstanding that cost-benefit and economic impact analyses are synonymous; the results of the 2013 CESS socioeconomic survey of ASMFC Commissioners confirmed the distinction between these concepts is unclear.
  • A simple example:  Starting with the example of an investment decision between two companies (one with high economic impact but low value, one with low economic impact but higher value), we intuitively explain the distinction between the two types of analyses. We will discuss additional examples drawn from fisheries management (race-to-fish versus ITQ fishery, and allocation of quota between sectors).
  • What is cost-benefit analysis? The objective is to determine economic value (i.e. net benefits), which is a relevant metric when assessing the allocation of limited resources across competing projects/policies (i.e. economic efficiency). Costs are treated as a “negative” here, in the sense that for a given set of benefits, minimizing costs increases the economic value of a project.
  • What is economic impact analysis? The objective is to assess the effects of a given project/policy on the jobs and income of a region. Costs are treated as “positive” here, in the sense that increasing costs may increase jobs and income impacts in a region.

Coastal Shark Management Board Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order(A. Nowalsky)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Set 2015 Coastal Sharks Specifications (C. Belcher) Final Action
• Update on NOAA Fisheries’ Amendment 6 and Amendment 9
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Spiny Dogfish Management Board  Supplemental Material Presentations  Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gibson)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Review 2015/2016 Spiny Dogfish Specifications
  • Fishery Performance Report (J. Didden)
  • Spawning Stock Biomass and Reference Point Update (P. Rago)
• Consider 2014 Spiny Dogfish FMP Review and State Compliance (M. Hawk) Action
• Spiny Dogfish Addendum V for Final Approval Final Action
  • Review Options and Public Comment Summary (M. Hawk)
  • Technical Committee Report (S. Newlin)
  • Advisory Panel Report (M. Hawk)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum V
• Rhode Island Alternative Management Proposal Action
  • Review of Rhode Island Proposal (E. Schneider)
  • Technical Committee Report (S. Newlin)
  • Consider Approval of Rhode Island’s Proposal
• Other Business/Adjourn

ISFMP Policy Board  Supplemental Material Presentations Audio File

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from August 2014
• Public Comment
• Habitat Committee Report (K. Smith)           
• Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report (L. Havel)
• Law Enforcement Committee Report (M. Robson)
• Management and Science Committee Report (S. Madsen)
• Review and Consider Revisions to the ASMFC Committee Guidance and Assessment Process Document (T. Kerns) Action
• Progress Report on Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment (M. Waine)
• Other Business/Adjourn

Business Session (if necessary)  Supplemental Material

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Daniel)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Public Comment
• Report from ASMFC Resolution Committee
• Other Business/Adjourn