Press Releases

Press Releases

Atlantic Herring Eastern Maine Spawning Closure in Effect Starting August 28 through October 8, 2025

The Atlantic herring Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) fishery regulations include seasonal spawning closures for portions of state and federal waters in Eastern Maine, Western Maine, and Massachusetts/New Hampshire. The Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management Board approved a forecasting method that relies upon at least three samples, each containing at least 25 female herring in gonadal stages III-V, to trigger a spawning closure. However, if sufficient samples are not available then closures will begin on predetermined dates. There are currently no samples from the Eastern Maine spawning area to determine spawning condition. Therefore, per the Addendum II default closure dates,…

August 2025
Press Releases

Atlantic Striped Bass Board Approves Addendum III for Public Comment

The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board approved for public comment Draft Addendum III to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Striped Bass. The Draft Addendum considers management measures to support rebuilding the stock by 2029. The Draft Addendum will also address requirements for commercial tagging programs, a coastwide definition of total length for size limit regulations, and changes to the Maryland recreational season baseline.

August 2025
Press Releases

Sciaenids Board Approves Red Drum Draft Addendum II for Public Comment

The Commission’s Sciaenids Management Board approved Draft Addendum II to Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Red Drum for public comment. The Draft Addendum considers several changes to the management programs in the southern (South Carolina to Florida) and northern (New Jersey to North Carolina) regions in response to the findings of the 2024 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report.

August 2025
Management Measures and Pending Actions, Press Releases

Atlantic Herring Area 1A Fishery Moves to Zero Landing Days on August 5, 2025 at 6:01 p.m.

The Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) Atlantic herring fishery is projected to have harvested 92% of the Season 1 (June 1 – September 30) allocation by August 5. Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, the Area 1A fishery will move to zero landing days through September 30, 2025, as specified in Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring.

August 2025
Press Releases

American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment Review Workshop Scheduled for September 2 – 5, 2025, in Woods Hole, MA

The American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment Review Workshop is scheduled for September 2 – 5, 2025 at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, 384 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA.

July 2025
Management Measures and Pending Actions, Press Releases

Quota Update to Area 1A 2025 Effort Controls – July 2025

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management Board members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts met September 19 via webinar to set effort control measures for the 2024 Area 1A fishery for Season 2 (October 1 – December 31).

July 2025
Press Releases

ASMFC Seeks Contractor to Facilitate a Stakeholder Workshop to Inform Revisions to the DE Bay Horseshoe Crab Adaptive Resource Management Program

Proposals due by 11:59 PM on August 8, 2025

July 2025
Meetings Announcements, Press Releases

Ecological Reference Points Benchmark Assessment Peer Review Scheduled for August 12-15, 2025

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Northern Shrimp. In response to the continued poor condition of the northern shrimp stock, Amendment 4 modifies the first objective of the FMP to recognize the influence of environmental conditions on stock productivity and lengthens the amount of time the Northern Shrimp Section can set a moratorium from one year to up to five years. The Section can call a meeting at any time to review information relative to the fishery and the resource and initiate management action if necessary.

June 2025
Press Releases

Non-Traditional Stakeholders Sought for Participation in ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Advisory Panel

The Commission’s Horseshoe Crab Management Board is in process of re-configuring its Advisory Panel (AP). As part of that process, the Board is seeking nominations for non-traditional stakeholders. Examples of such stakeholders include, but are not limited to, environmental organizations, grassroots organizations, and individuals/groups with an interest in shorebirds or horseshoe crab conservation.

May 2025

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Red Drum Draft Addendum II

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