Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries

Commission

Fishery Management Plans

Comprehensive plans detailing the strategies and regulations for managing specific fishery resources, aimed at ensuring their sustainability and productivity.

  • Cobia Fishery Management Plan

    The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) has developed an Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Cobia, under the authority of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (ACFCMA). Management authority for this species is from zero to three nautical miles offshore, including internal state waters, and lies with the Commission. Regulations are promulgated by the Atlantic coastal states. Responsibility for compatible management action in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from 3-200 miles from shore lies with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and NOAA Fisheries under their Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan (CMP FMP) under the authority…

  • Tautog – Amendment 1

    Amendment 1 consolidates the 1996 Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and associated addenda, as well as and new management measures into a single document. It is now the comprehensive document for tautog management in state waters.

  • Northern Shrimp Amendment 3

    Amendment 3 consolidates prior amendments (and associated addenda) and recent management decisions into a single document; it is now the comprehensive document for northern shrimp management in state waters.

  • Jonah Crab Addendum II

    In order to reflect the intention of the bycatch limit, to account for Jonah crab caught while targeting another species, the Board added options to Addendum II to establish a definition of bycatch in the fishery.

  • Coastal Sharks Addendum IV

    The Board initiated Addendum IV to the FMP to propose consistent management measures for smoothhound sharks between state and federal waters with the following motion: Move to initiate an addendum to the coastal sharks FMP to address a disconnect of the processing at sea. Commercial fisherman can fully dress (remove head and fin and gut at sea) smooth dogfish if at least 25% of retained catch is smooth dogfish.

  • Atlantic Menhaden Addendum I to Amendment 2

    The purpose of this Addendum is to further modify the bycatch provision for Atlantic menhaden. Currently, Amendment 2 (Section 4.2.1.7) provides for a 6,000 pound per vessel per day bycatch limit. This addendum adds flexibility to the current bycatch provision by allowing two licensed individuals, who are allowed to separately harvest up to 6,000 pounds of menhaden on different vessels, to harvest up to 12,000 pounds of menhaden bycatch when working together from the same fishing vessel using stationary multi‐species gear.

Get Hooked on ASMFC News

Dive into the latest updates and catch all the important news by joining our newsletter mailing list. Stay in the loop with meeting agendas, fisheries management news, and more.

Sign Up