Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries

Commission

2025 Winter Meeting

Event Date:

Feb 4 –

Feb 5, 2025

Location:

Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202

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  1. Meeting Info
  2. Meeting Agenda
  3. Pending Actions
  4. Public Comment
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Meeting Information

The ASMFC’s 2025 Winter Meeting was held Feb. 4–5, 2025, in Arlington, VA.

Meeting Summary
Final Agenda

For ease of use, all meeting materials have been combined into two documents: 2025 Winter Meeting Materials Combined and Supplemental Combined.

Background Materials

Pending Actions

Action

Status

Public Comment

To ensure fair opportunity for public input, ASMFC meetings offer opportunities for verbal comments on non-agenda and agenda items. Written comments are accepted following a specific timeline for inclusion in meeting materials. Read the guidelines for more information.

Comment Guidelines

To provide a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:

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 opportunities 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 comments 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 comments for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).

  • Comments received three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (January 13) will be included in the briefing materials.
  • Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, January 28 will be included in supplemental materials.
  • Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, January 31 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.

  • Mail: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1050 North Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201
  • Email: comments@asmfc.org; Subject line: ASMFC 2025 Winter Meeting
  • Fax: (703) 842-0740

Meeting 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 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, February 4

American Lobster Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (P. Keliher)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Progress Update on Benchmark Stock Assessment for American Lobster (J. Kipp)
  • Consider Annual Data Update of Jonah Crab Indices
    • Jonah Crab Offshore Southern New England Indices (C. Truesdale)
  • Consider Lobster Conservation Management Team Reports
    • Area 2 Lobster Conservation Management Team Report (C. Truesdale)
  • Update from Maine on Lobster Conservation Management Area 1 Gauge Increase (P. Keliher) Possible Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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Meeting Agenda
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

Spiny Dogfish Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (P. Geer)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Addendum VII on Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction for Final Approval (J. Boyle)
    Final Action
    • Review Public Comment Summary
    • Review Advisory Panel Report
    • Consider Final Approval of Addendum VII
  • Revise Specifications for the 2025/2026 Fishing Year (J. Boyle) Final Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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  1. Meeting Agenda
  2. Supplemental
  3. Presentations
  4. Audio

Horseshoe Crab Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (E. Reid) 
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024                                                       
  • Public Comment 
  • Consider Approval of Draft Addendum IX on Multi-year Specifications for Male Only Harvest of Delaware Bay-origin Horseshoe Crabs for Public Comment (C. Starks) Action
  • Discuss Advisory Panel Composition
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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  1. Meeting Agenda
  2. Presentations
  3. Audio

Sciaenids Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Haymans)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024                                                       
  • Public Comment
  • Update on Board Tasks to Red Drum Technical Committee (J. Kipp)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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  1. Meeting Agenda
  2. Presentations
  3. Audio

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (M. Ware)                      
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from December 2024          
  • Public Comment                                                  
  • Review and Consider Stock Assessment Schedule
    • Review Timeline for 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Technical Committee Recommendation on Assessment Schedule (K. Drew)
    • Consider Whether to Conduct 2026 Stock Assessment Update Possible Action
  • Discuss Scope of Draft Addendum III for 2026 Measures
    • Review Timeline and Initial Scope (E. Franke)
    • Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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  1. Meeting Agenda
  2. Supplemental
  3. Audio

Wednesday, February 5

Executive Committee

Breakfast will be available at 7:30 AM; a portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Meeting Summary from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • NOAA Grants Management/CARES Update (R. Beal)
  • Review White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures (R. Beal)
  • Legislative Update (A. Law)
  • Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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  1. Meeting Agenda
  2. Supplemental
  3. Audio

Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)                                                        
  • Board Consent (J. Cimino)
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Executive Committee Report (J. Cimino)
  • Review and Discuss 2024 Commissioner Survey Results (A. Law)
  • Discuss White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures (R. Beal)
  • Update on Ongoing Stock Assessments Action
  • Review Noncompliance Findings, if necessary Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn 
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  1. Meeting Agenda
  2. Presentations
  3. Audio