ASMFC 2023 Winter Meeting

January 31 - February 2

Westin Crystal City
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA  22202

Final Agenda

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.

For ease of access, all meeting materials have been combined into two documents: 2023 Winter Meeting Materials Combined & 2023 Winter Meeting Supplemental Combined

Live Streaming

Webinar link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6463339894285834846

Webinar ID: 905-077-435

Phone: 562.247.8321, access code 941-166-838

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 (January 10) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, January 24^th will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, January 27^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
• 2022 Annual Meeting Summary

Tuesday, January 31

Atlantic Herring Management Board  Supplemental  Supplemental 2  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Ware)
  • Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
• Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Set Specifications for the 2023-2025 Fishing Years (E. Franke) Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

American Lobster Management Board  Supplemental  Supporting Documents  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (J. McNamee)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Review Report from Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team and Progress on Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduciton Plan (C. Coogan/M. Trego)
• Consider Draft Addendum XXVII on Increasing Protection of Spawning Stock Biomass of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Stock for Public Comment (C. Starks) Action
• Update from Work Group on Implementation of Addendum XXIX on Electronic Vessel Tracking for Federal Permit Holders (C. Starks)
• Other Business

Winter Flounder Management Board  Supplemental  Supporting Documents Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (B. Hyatt)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from February 2021
• Public Comment
• Review 2022 Management Track Assessments for Gulf of Maine and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Stocks of Winter Flounder (P. Nitschke/T. Wood)
• Set Specifications for 2024-2025 Fishing Years Final Action
  • Review Technical Committee Recommendations (R. Balouskus)
  • Review Advisory Panel Report (B. Brown)
• Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2021 Fishing Year (T. Bauer) Action
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board  Supplemental  Supporting Documents  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Gary)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider Addendum I on Ocean Commercial Quota Transfers for Final Approval Final Action
  • Review Options and Public Comment Summary (E. Franke)
  • Review Advisory Panel Report (E. Franke)
  • Consider Final Approval of Addendum I
• Other Business/Adjourn

Wednesday, February 1

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

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
• Committee Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Meeting Summary from November 2022
• Public Comment
• CARES Act Update (R. Beal/L. Leach)
• Discussion on Stipends for Legislative and Governors Appointee Commissioners (R. Beal)
• Discuss Collection of Sharks for Scientific and Educational Purposes (J. Clark)
• Discuss Distribution of Fishery Disaster Funding in FY2023 Omnibus Spending Bill (R. Beal)
• Other Business/Adjourn

American Eel Management Board  Supporting Documents  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (P. Edwards)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from October 2021
• Public Comment
• Review and Consider 2022 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report for Management Use and Respond if Necessary Possible Action
  • Presentation of Stock Assessment Report (S. Eyler)
  • Presentation of Peer Review Report (J. Flowers)
  • Consider Acceptance of Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report for Management Use
  • Consider Management Response (if necessary)
• Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2021 Fishing Year (C. Starks) Action
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board  Supplemental  Supplemental 2  Supporting Documents  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (M. Bell)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider Approval of State Implementation Plans for Addendum I to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (J. Boyle) Final Action
• Consider Atlantic Menhaden Technical Addendum to Addendum I to Amendment 3 (J. Boyle) Final Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Spiny Dogfish Management Board  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (N. Merserve)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from January 2022
• Public Comment
• Set Specifications for 2023/2024 Fishing Year Final Action
• Review Monitoring Committee and Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Council’s Recommendations for the 2023 Fishing Year (J. Didden)
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Thursday, February 2

Shad and River Herring Management Board  Supplemental  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (L. Fegley)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Consider North Carolina American Shad Sustainable Fishery Management Plan Update (B. Neilan) Final Action
• Update on the 2023 River Herring Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
• Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2021 Fishing Year (J. Boyle) Action
• Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
• Elect Vice-Chair Action
• Other Business/Adjourn

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board  Supplemental  Audio  Presentations

• Welcome/Call to Order (S. Woodward)
• Board Consent
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Proceedings from November 2022
• Public Comment
• Executive Committee Report (S. Woodward)
• Review and Discuss Commissioner Survey Results (T. Kerns)
• Discuss Atlantic Bonito Management (D. McKiernan)
• Update on Ongoing Stock Assessments Action
• Review Noncompliance Findings (if necessary)
• Other Business