The
following management institutions for Atlantic menhaden
are subject to the provisions of the Interstate Fisheries
Management Program (ISFMP) Charter of the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC):
ASMFC
and the ISFMP Policy Board
The
ASMFC (Commission) and the ISFMP Policy Board are generally
responsible for the oversight and management of the'
Commission's fisheries management activities. The Commission
must approve all fishery management plans and amendments,
and must also make all final determinations concerning
state compliance or noncompliance. The ISFMP Policy
Board reviews recommendations
of the various Management Boards and Sections and, if
it concurs, forwards them on to the Commission for action.
Atlantic
Menhaden Management Board
The
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board is established under
the provisions of the Commission's ISFMP Charter and
is generally responsible for carrying out all management
activities.
The
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board (Board) establishes
and oversees the activities of the Plan Development
or Plan Review Team, the Technical Committee and the
Stock Assessment Subcommittee and
requests the establishment of the Commission's Atlantic
Menhaden Advisory Panel. Among other things, the Board
makes changes to the management program under adaptive
management and approves state programs implementing
the Amendment and alternative state programs. The Board
reviews the status of state compliance with the FMP
or Amendment at least annually, and if it determines
that a state is out of compliance, reports that determination
to the ISFMP Policy Board under the
terms of the ISFMP Charter.
Atlantic
Menhaden Plan Review Team
The
Plan Plan Review Team (PRT) is composed of a small group
of scientists and/or managers whose responsibility is
to provide all of the technical support necessary to
carry out and document the decisions of the Atlantic
Menhaden Management Board. It is chaired by an ASMFC
FMP Coordinator. The Atlantic Menhaden PRT is directly
responsible to the Board for providing information and
documentation concerning the implementation, review,
monitoring and enforcement of the FMP. The Atlantic
Menhaden PRT is comprised of personnel from state and
federal agencies who have scientific and management
ability and knowledge of Atlantic menhaden. The PRT
provides annual advice concerning the implementation,
review, monitoring, and enforcement of Amendment 1 to
the FMP.
Atlantic
Menhaden Technical Committee
The
Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee consists of representatives
from state or federal agencies, Regional Fishery Management
Councils, Commission, university or other specialized
personnel with scientific and technical expertise and
knowledge of the Atlantic menhaden fishery. The Board
appoints the members of the Technical Committee and
may authorize additional seats as it sees fit. Its role
is to act as a liaison to the individual state and federal
agencies, provide information to the management process,
and review and develop options concerning the management
program. The Technical Committee provides scientific
and technical advice to the Management Board, and PRT
in the development and monitoring of a fishery management
plan or amendment.
Atlantic
Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee
The
Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee is appointed
by the Technical Committee at the request of the Management
Board, and consists of scientists with expertise in
the assessment of the Atlantic menhaden population.
Its role is to assess the Atlantic menhaden population
and provide scientific advice concerning the implications
of proposed or potential management alternatives, or
to respond to other scientific questions from the Board,
Technical Committee, or PRT. The Stock Assessment Subcommittee
reports to the Technical Committee.
Atlantic
Menhaden Advisory Panel
The
Atlantic Menhaden Advisory Panel is established according
to the Commission' s Advisory Committee Charter. Members
of the Advisory Panel are citizens who represent a cross-section
of commercial and recreational fishing interests and
others who are concerned about Atlantic menhaden conservation
and management. The Advisory Panel provides the Board
with advice directly concerning the Commission's Atlantic
menhaden management program. Normally, the Advisory
Panel meetings are held in conjunction with Board meetings
insofar as possible.
Federal
Agencies
Management
in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Management
of Atlantic menhaden in the EEZ is within the jurisdiction
of the three Regional Fishery Management Councils under
the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). In
the absence of a Council Fishery Management Plan, management
is the responsibility of the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) as mandated by the Atlantic Coastal Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 5105 et seq.)
Federal
Agency Participation in the Management Process
The
Commission has accorded the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) and the NMFS voting status on the ISFMP
Policy Board and the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
in accordance with the Commission's ISFMP Charter. The
NMFS also participates on the Atlantic Menhaden Plan
Development Team, Plan Review Team, Technical Committee
and Stock Assessment Subcommittee.
Consultation
with Fishery Management Councils
At
the time of adoption of Amendment 1, none of the Regional
Fishery Management Councils had implemented a management
plan for Atlantic menhaden nor had they indicated an
intent to develop a plan.
Also
review:
 
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