Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Archives

Meeting Materials for March 16th Webinar of the Atlantic Striped Bass Board Now Available

March 10, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Meeting materials for the March 16^th (1-3 PM) webinar of the Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/AtlStripedBassBoardMaterials_March2021.pdf. If we receive any additional public comment, it will be distributed to the Board on March 15^th. The details of the meeting follow.

Meeting Overview
The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will consider recommendations from the Circle Hook Ad Hoc Committee regarding a definition of bait and method of fishing that would require the use of circle hooks, as well as consider how to handle incidental catch. Addendum VI mandates the use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries. The Commission recognized outreach and education would be necessary to garner industry support and provide the bait and tackle industry time to meet increased demand for circle hooks. Therefore, the implementation of the circle hook requirement was delayed a year. In October 2020, the Board approved state circle hook implementation plans with the caveat that no exemptions to the requirement would be permitted. Since then, the Commission and several states have received questions and comments from the public about differing interpretations of the circle hook requirement. Based on the guidance of the Ad Hoc Committee, the Board will consider changes to the circle hook regulations for state implementation.

Webinar Instructions
To register for the webinar go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1442897219080155404, Webinar ID# 671-975-587. The webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the 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.

If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at 914.614.3221 (a pin will be provided to you after joining the webinar); see 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, you can do so by dialing 914.614.3221 (access code: 187-843-855)

Public Comment

Submitting Comments Prior to the Meeting
Public comment may be provided in advance of the meeting by sending comments to comments@asmfc.org no later than March 14 (Subject line: ASB Board).

Providing Comments at the Meeting
For issues that are not on the agenda, the Board Chair will provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of the meeting. The Board Chair 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, the Board Chair will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. The Chair has the 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 more information, please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Approves Draft Addendum VI for Public Comment

August 9th, 2019 — The following was published by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board (Board) approved Draft Addendum VI for public comment. The Addendum was initiated in response to the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment which indicates the resource is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Draft Addendum explores a range of management alternatives designed to end overfishing and reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2020.

“The Draft Addendum is a critical first step to stem overfishing as quickly as possible and begin efforts to rebuild the biomass,” said Board Chair Dr. Michael Armstrong with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. “Following approval of the Addendum, the Board will likely initiate a new amendment to consider a longer-term strategy to fully rebuild the resource.”

The Draft Addendum proposes management options for both commercial and recreational sectors in the ocean and in the Chesapeake Bay in order to reduce total fishery removals by 18% relative to 2017 levels. The proposed measures include reduced quotas for commercial fisheries, and changes in bag limits, minimum sizes, and slot size limits for the recreational sector. Since catch and release practices represent a significant component of overall fishing mortality, the Draft Addendum also explores the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries.

It is anticipated the majority of Atlantic coastal states will conduct public hearings on the Draft Addendum; a subsequent press release will announce the details of those hearings once they become finalized. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum will be available on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Public Input by August 19th. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on September 27, 2019 and should be forwarded to Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum VI). Organizations planning to release an action alert in response to Draft Addendum VI should contact Max Appelman at mappelman@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

Read the press release here

ASMFC 2019 Summer Meeting Preliminary Agenda & Public Comment Guidelines

June 17, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Please find attached and below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2019 Summer Meeting, August 6-8, 2019, in Arlington, VA. The agenda is also available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2019-summer-meeting. Materials will be available on July 24, 2019 on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2019-summer-meeting.

A block of rooms is being held at The Westin Crystal City, 1800 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202. Cindy Robertson will make Commissioner/Proxy reservations and will contact you regarding the details of your accommodations. Please notify Cindy of any changes to your travel plans that will impact your hotel reservations, otherwise you will incur no-show penalties. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

For all other attendees, please reserve online via Star Group Website at http://www.starwoodhotels.com/ or call The Westin Crystal City at 703.486.1111 as soon as possible and mention the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to obtain the group room rate of $179.00 plus tax single/dbl. Please be aware you must guarantee your room reservation with a major credit card or one night’s advance payment. Hotel reservations must be made by Sunday, July 7, 2019. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. If you are being reimbursed by ASMFC for your travel, please make your reservation directly with the hotel. Reservations made through travel websites do not apply toward our minimum number of required reservations with the hotel. Please note, cancellations at The Westin must be made by 4:00 p.m. two days prior to arrival to avoid penalty and an early departure fee of $100.00 will apply when checking out prior to the confirmed date. If you have any problems at all regarding accommodations please contact Cindy at 703.842.0740 or at crobertson@asmfc.org.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Summer Meeting

August 6-8, 2019

The Westin Crystal City

Arlington, 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 the 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 6

8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee

(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)

Consider Policy Addressing Non-Payment of State Assessments
Consider Proposed Revision to the Annual Report
Update on Transitioning the For-hire Telephone Survey to State/ACCSP Conduct
Discuss Commission Involvement in Biosecurity and Bait Sources

10:15 a.m. – Noon South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board

Consider Approval of Atlantic Cobia Amendment 1
Progress Update on Draft Addenda for Atlantic Croaker and Spot Traffic Light Analyses
Review and Consider Approval of 2019 Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance Reports for Atlantic Cobia, Atlantic Croaker, and Red Drum

Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00– 2:00 p.m. American Eel Management Board

Review Board Working Group Recommendations on Addressing Coastwide Cap Overages
Review and Consider Approval of Aquaculture Proposals

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Horseshoe Crab Management Board

Consider Potential Management Response to the 2019 Benchmark Stock Assessment
Review and Consider Approval of 2019 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

Progress Update on Menhaden Single Species and Ecological Reference Point Benchmark Stock Assessments
Review and Consider Approval of 2019 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports
Set 2020 Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Specifications

Wednesday, August 7

8:30 – 11:15 a.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

Review Potential Black Sea Bass Commercial Management Strategies and Consider Initiating Management Action to Address Commercial Allocation
Progress Update on the Recreational Management Reform Working Group
Update on Management Strategy Evaluation of Summer Flounder Recreational Fishery Project
Discuss Discard Mortality

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Committee on Economics and Social Sciences

Review Ongoing Committee Activities
Discuss Efforts to Increase the Availability and Use of Socioeconomic Information in Management
Review Committee Input on the Commission’s Draft Risk and Uncertainty Policy

11:30 – 12:30 Spiny Dogfish Management Board

Consider Approval of Draft Addendum VI for Public Comment
Review and Consider Approval of 2019 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15 – 3:15 p.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

Review 2019 Performance of the Stocks Report
Review and Consider Approval of ISFMP Guiding Documents
Update on American Lobster Enforcement Vessel
Committee Reports
Consider Noncompliance Recommendations (If Necessary)

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. Business Session

Consider Approval of Atlantic Cobia Amendment 1
Consider Noncompliance Recommendations (If Necessary)

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Tautog Management Board

Review Implementation Guidelines for the Commercial Harvest Tagging Program
Review and Consider Approval of 2019 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

Thursday, August 8

8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

Consider Approval of Draft Addendum VI for Public CommentMid
Consider Postponed Motions from the April 2019 Meeting:

Main Motion: Move to initiate an Amendment to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan to address the needed consideration for change on the issues of fishery goals and objectives, empirical/biological/spatial reference points, management triggers, rebuilding biomass, and area-specific management. Work on this Amendment will begin upon the completion of the previously discussed Addendum to the Management Plan.

Motion made by Mr. Luisi and seconded by Mr. Clark.

Motion to Amend: Move to amend to add reallocation of commercial quota between states.

Motion made by Mr. Pugh and seconded by Mr. Reid.

Review and Consider Approval of 2019 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30 – 5:00 p.m. NOAA Fisheries Wind Power Workshop for New England and Mid-Atlantic Commissioners

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 an opportunity for 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 30, 2019) 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 30, 2019 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.

ASMFC 2019 Spring Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

April 24, 2019 — The following was published by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Spring Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2019-spring-meeting for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, supplemental meeting materials have been combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2019SpringMeeting/2019SpringMtgMaterialsSupplemental.pdf.

American Lobster Management Board – Progress Report on Draft American Lobster Addendum XXVIII

Atlantic Herring Management Board – Advisory Panel Review of Draft Addendum II; Overview of 1A Management Tools

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Technical Committee Report on Percent Reduction in Harvest to Achieve Fishing Mortality Threshold and Target in 2020, and Example Recreational Options to Achieve Those Reductions; Correspondence Regarding Striped Bass Management; Public Comment

Law Enforcement Committee – MAFMC Letter on Law Enforcement/For-hire Workshop

Executive Committee – Revised Agenda & Draft Work Group Meeting SOPPS

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board – Plan Development Team Report on Black Sea Bass Commercial Management

Business Session – Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment Summary

Horseshoe Crab Management Board – Technical Committee and Stock Assessment Subcommittee Task List; Public Comment; James Cooper Tribute to Board

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board – Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – Committee Task List; MD DNR Memo: State-Gathered Public Input on Potential Management Measures for Atlantic Croaker and Spot

As a reminder, Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning April 29th at 1 p.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 12:15 p.m.) on Thursday, May 2nd. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Please go to – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1041506190356646145 – to register.

Overfishing assessment may lead Virginia to ban recreational fishing for striped bass

April 8, 2019 — The Virginia Marine Resources Commission is considering banning recreational fishing for trophy-sized striped bass this spring in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay, its coastal waters and Potomac River tributaries because of indications that the species has been overfished.

Striped bass, locally called rockfish, are among the most popular species with regional saltwater anglers. Hundreds of charter captains and thousands of recreational fishermen target the fish throughout the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay region.

In Virginia’s spring trophy season, which is set to run May 1 through June 15, anglers are allowed one striped bass 36 inches or longer per day.

The commission is scheduled to take up the proposed ban at its April 23 meeting, with a proposed effective date for the emergency regulation of April 29. The rationale for the moratorium is an expected final determination in May by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board that the large, mostly female rockfish that do most of the spawning are being overfished.

A preliminary assessment delivered to that board showed the estimated overall fishing mortality exceeded the established standard in 2017. Additionally, female spawning stock biomass (the estimated total weight of all spawning-size females) was 151 million pounds, significantly below the 202 million pound threshold.

Read the full story at The Free Lance-Star

ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Withdraws Draft Addendum V & Maintains Current Measures until Completion of 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment

May 11, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board chose to not advance Draft Addendum V to Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Striped Bass forward for public comment. Instead, it decided to wait until the release of the results of the 2018 benchmark stock assessment before it considered making changes to the management program.

The Draft Addendum was initiated to consider liberalization of commercial and recreational regulations to bring fishing mortality to the target based on the findings of the 2016 assessment update. The Draft Addendum proposed alternative measures aimed to increase total removals (commercial and recreational) by approximately 10% relative to 2015 to achieve the fishing mortality target in 2017. However, 2016 harvest estimates increased without changing regulations. Additionally, fish from the 2011 year class, which was the largest recruitment event since 2004, will become increasingly available to ocean fisheries in the coming years, possibly resulting in further increases to harvest along the coast. The Board also expressed concern that changing the management program could result in fishing mortality exceeding the target.

In preparation for the 2018 stock assessment, the Board approved the Terms of Reference for the assessment, which will explore new biological reference points for management use.

ASMFC 75th Annual Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

October 20, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 75^TH Annual Meeting have been posted at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-annual-meeting for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information).

Spiny Dogfish Management Board – Spiny Dogfish 2017 Specifications Review; MAFMFC October 2016 Meeting Summary

Coastal Sharks Management Board – NOAA Fisheries Presentation on HMS Amendment 5b Proposed Rule; AP Nomination

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Advisory Panel Meeting Summary; Public Comment

Executive Committee – Meeting Summary from August 2016; Draft ASMFC Standard Operating Procedures for Meetings

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – FMP Reviews for Black Drum, Spanish Mackerel and Spotted Seatrout; Advisory Panel Nominations

Tautog Management Board – Guidance on Reference Points

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board – FMP Reviews for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass (NOTE: Two additional documents will be posted on Friday – Memo on Preliminary Black Sea Bass Commercial Landings and Meeting Summary of the 2017 Summer Flounder Recreational Management Working Group).

Shad and River Herring Management Board – Technical Committee Report on Review of the Nemasket River Sustainable Fishery Management Plan; MAFMFC Press Release and Motions on Shad and River Herring

Horseshoe Crab Management Board – Horseshoe Crab and Delaware Bay Ecosystem Technical Committees’ Meeting Summary; FMP Review

ACCSP Coordinating Council – ACCSP Transition Document and Draft MOU

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Advisory panel Report on Draft Amendment 3 Public Information Document; Public Comment

ISFMP Policy Board – Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; Conservation Equivalency Memo; meeting Summary of the Climate Change and Fisheries management Work Group; Draft Correspondence to BOEM; Presentation on National Park Service Director’s Order

American Lobster Management Board – American Lobster Draft Addendum XXV; Technical Committee Report on Season Closures and Trip Limits in the SNE Lobster Fishery; FMP Review for American Lobster

For ease of access, supplemental meeting materials have combined into one PDF –http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2016AnnualMeeting/CombinedSupplementalMaterials_rev.pdf.

As a reminder, Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar athttps://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6632926318150310403 beginning at 8:30 a.m. on October 24th, continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 4:00 p.m.) on October 27^th. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to the proceedings of the Commission’s management boards/sections during the 75^thAnnual Meeting, October 24-27, 2016. Registrants will also be able to view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise during the streaming of the broadcast, the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Board/Section summaries, presentations, and audio files will be available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-Annual-Meeting the week of October 30^th.