Meeting Information
The 2025 ASMFC Spring Meeting will be May 5–8 at the Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.
More information will be added closer to the meeting dates.
Background Materials
- Official Roster
- Travel Authorization Form
- Travel Reimbursement Guidelines
- Travel Voucher
- Proxy Form
- AP Nomination Form
- Financial Disclosures and Conflict of Interest Policy & Form
- Compact, Rules and Regulations
- ISFMP Charter
- 2024-2028 Strategic Plan
- 2025 Action Plan
- Appeals Process
- Conservation Equivalency Guidance Document
- Status of the Stocks
- Assessment Schedule
- 2025 Winter Meeting Summary
Pending Actions
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
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).You may submit public comment by attending a public hearing held in your state or jurisdiction or mailing, faxing, or emailing written comments to the address below. Only comments received at a public hearing or written comments submitted to the Commission will become part of the public comment record.
- Comments received three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (April 14) will be included in the briefing materials.
- Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, April 29 will be included in supplemental materials.
- Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, May 2 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.
Meeting Agenda
The agenda is subject to change. 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.
Monday, May 5, 2025
1:30 – 3:30 PM — American Lobster Management Board
- Update on Benchmark Stock Assessment for American Lobster
- Consider Final approval of Draft Addendum XXXII to Repeal Addendum XVII Minimum and Gauge Size Requirements
- Report from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts on Industry Meetings
- Review Report of Lobster Conservation Management Team Area 3
- Update on Joint New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Alternative Gear Marking Amendment
- Discuss Vessel Tracking Rules
- Explore:
3:45 – 4:45 PM — Weakfish Management Board
- Consider 2025 Stock Assessment Update and Possible Management Response
- Elect Vice-Chair
- Explore:
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
9 – 10 AM — Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board
- Review and Consider Conservation Equivalency: Policy and Technical Guidance Document
- Progress Update on Ongoing Stock Assessments
- Reconvene on May 8
- Explore:
10:15 – 11:45 AM — Sciaenids Management Board
- Consider Red Drum Technical Committee Report on Stock Assessment Follow-Up Tasks and Possible Management Response
- Progress Update on Atlantic Croaker Benchmark Stock Assessment
- Explore:
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM — Luncheon for Legislative and Governor Appointee Commissioners
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM — Lunch provided for Commissioners and Proxies
1:15 – 5:15 PM — Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
- Consider Terms of Reference for 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment
- Consider Massachusetts Conservation Equivalency Proposal for Commercial Fishery Size Limit
- Consider Approval for Public Comment Draft Addendum III on Proposed Management Measures for 2026
- Explore:
1:30 – 5 PM — Law Enforcement Committee
- Review and Discuss Enforcement of Commission Species
- Review and Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)
- Explore:
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
8 – 10 AM — Executive Committee
- Review and Consider Approval of FY26 Budget
- Review White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures
- Future Annual Meetings
- Conduct Executive Director Performance Review (Closed Session)
- Explore:
8:30 – 11:30 AM — Law Enforcement Committee (continued)
- State Agency Reports
10:15 AM – 12:15 PM — Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Coordinating Council
- Review and Consider Approval of FY26 Budget
- Review White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures
- Future Annual Meetings
- Conduct Executive Director Performance Review (Closed Session)
- Explore:
12:15 – 1:15 PM — Lunch Break
1:15 – 3:15 PM — Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
- Consider Final Report from Work Group on Precautionary Management in Chesapeake Bay
- Update on 2025 Ecological Reference Point Benchmark Assessment
- Provide Direction to Technical Committee on 2026-2028 Stock Projections
- Explore:
3:30 – 4 PM — Update on Responsible Offshore Science Alliance for Commissioners
4 – 4:45 PM — Tautog Management Board
- Review Technical Committee Report on New York Study of Alternative Commercial Tags
- Progress Update on 2025 Tautog Stock Assessment Update
- Elect Vice-Chair
- Explore:
Thursday, May 8, 2025
8:30 – 10:15 AM — Horseshoe Crab Management Board
- Consider Final Approval of Draft Addendum IX on Multiyear Specifications for Male Only Harvest
- Review Adaptive Resource Management Subcommittee Recommendations Regarding Input on Changes to Reward/Utility Functions
- Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership
- Explore:
10:30 – 11:45 AM — ISFMP Policy Board
- Executive Committee Report
- Review White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures
- Committee Reports
- Review Noncompliance Findings, if necessary
- Explore:
11:45 AM – Noon — Business Session
- Consider Noncompliance Recommendations, if necessary
- Explore: