Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries

Commission

2025 Spring Meeting

9:00 am EDT

– 5:00 pm EDT,

May 5 –

May 8, 2025

Location:

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

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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.

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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

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

  • Welcome/Call to Order (R. Zobel)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from March 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Addendum XXXII on Repealing Gauge and Vent Size Changes of Addendum XXVII for Final Approval (C. Starks) Final Action
  • Update from Maine and New Hampshire on Industry Meetings (C. Wilson, R. Zobel)
  • Report from Lobster Conservation Management Team Area 3 (H. Soule)
  • Update on Joint New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Alternative Gear Marking Amendment (A. Murphy)
  • Update on American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment (T. Pugh)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

3:45 – 4:15 PM — Spiny Dogfish Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (P. Geer)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Technical Addendum I to Spiny Dogfish Addendum VII for Final Approval (J. Boyle) Final Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

4:30 – 5 PM — Atlantic Herring Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Grout)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Revised Specifications for the 2025-2027 Fishing Years (E. Franke) Final Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

9 – 10 AM — Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
  • Board Consent (J. Cimino)
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Review and Consider Conservation Equivalency: Policy and Technical Guidance Document (T. Kerns) Final Action
  • Progress Update on On-Going Stock Assessments (K. Drew)
  • Recess/Reconvene on May 8, 2025
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

10:15 – 11:45 AM — Sciaenids Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. Haymans)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Red Drum Technical Committee Report (E. Simpson) Possible Action
    • Recommendations on Benchmark Stock Assessment Follow-up Tasks
  • Progress Update on Atlantic Croaker Benchmark Stock Assessment (J. Kipp)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

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

  • Welcome/Call to Order (M. Ware)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Update on 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew) Action
    • Review and Consider Stock Assessment Terms of Reference
    • Review and Populate Stock Assessment Subcommittee Membership
  • Consider Approval of Draft Addendum III on Future Management Measures, Commercial Tagging, and Total Length Measurement for Public Comment (E. Franke) Action
    • Technical Committee Report on Stock Projections (K. Drew)
    • Maryland Proposal for Recreational Season Baseline Option (M. Luisi)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

1:30 – 5 PM — Law Enforcement Committee

  • Welcome/Call to Order (S. Pearce)
  • Committee Consent (S. Pearce)
    • Approval of Agenda
  • Public Comment
  • Introductions
  • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Leadership Introduction/Joint Enforcement Agreement Discussion (S. Pearce, J. Binniker)
  • New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Case Study (D. Brown)
  • Break
  • Review and Discuss Commission Species
    • Bluefish Uncertainty Tool (C. Touhy)
    • Other Species
  • Meeting Recess/Reconvene on May 7 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

8 – 10 AM — Executive Committee

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Meeting Summary from February 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Report of the Administrative Oversight Committee Final Approval (D. Kiernan)
    • Review and Consider Approval of FY26 Budget
  • Legislative Update (A. Law)
  • Review White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures (R. Beal)
  • Update on CARES Act Repayment Progress (R. Beal)
  • Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
    • October 26 – 30, 2025 – Dewey Beach, Delaware
    • 2026 – Rhode Island
    • 2027 – South Carolina
    • 2028 – Massachusetts
    • 2029 – Pennsylvania
    • 2030 — Georgia
  • Other Business
  • Conduct Executive Director Performance Review (Closed Session)
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

8:30 – 11:30 AM — Law Enforcement Committee (continued)

  • Reconvene
  • Review and Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)
  • State Agency Reports (S. Pearce)
  • ASMFC Website Review (T. Berger)
  • Other Business/Adjourn

10:15 AM – 12:15 PM — Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Coordinating Council

  • Call to Order/Welcome/Introductions (G. White, K. Knowlton)
  • Council Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Minutes from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Funding Decision Document and FY2026 Request for Proposals (J. Simpson) Action
  • Update on Program and Committee Activities (G. White, J. Simpson)
  • Other Business
  • Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

12:15 – 1:15 PM — Lunch Break

1:15 – 3:15 PM — Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Final Report from Work Group on Precautionary Management in Chesapeake Bay (M. Gary) Possible Action
  • Progress Update on 2025 Ecological Reference Point Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
  • Provide Direction to Technical Committee on 2026-2028 Stock Projections (K. Drew)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

3:30 – 4 PM — Update on Responsible Offshore Science Alliance for Commissioners

4 – 4:45 PM — Tautog Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (R. Beal)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2023
  • Public Comment
  • Review Technical Committee Report on New York Study of Alternative
    Commercial Tags (C. Weedon)
  • Progress Update on the 2025 Tautog Stock Assessment Update (K. Drew)
  • Elect Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

Thursday, May 8, 2025

8:30 – 10:15 AM — Horseshoe Crab Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (E. Reid)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Addendum IX on Multi-year Specifications for Male-Only Harvest of Delaware Bay-origin Horseshoe Crabs for Final Approval Final Action
    • Review Options and Public Comment Summary (C. Starks)
    • Advisory Panel Report (B. Hoffmeister)
    • Consider Addendum IX for Final Approval
  • Adaptive Resource Management Subcommittee Report (J. Sweka)
    • Recommendations Regarding Possible Changes to Reward/Utility Functions
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger, C. Starks) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

10:30 – 11:45 AM — ISFMP Policy Board

  • Reconvene
  • Executive Committee Report (J. Cimino)
  • Review White Paper on Board Voting and Virtual Meeting Standard Operating Practices and Procedures (T. Kerns)
  • Law Enforcement Committee Report (K. Blanchard)
  • Review Noncompliance Findings (If Necessary) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio

11:45 AM – Noon — Business Session

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp for Final Approval Final Action (D. Grout)
  • Consider Noncompliance Recommendations, if necessary
  • Other Business/Adjourn
  • Explore:
Meeting Materials
Supplemental
Presentations
Audio