Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries

Commission

2026 Summer Meeting

Date(s):

Aug 4–6, 2026

Location:

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

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Meeting Information

The 2026 ASMFC Summer Meeting will be August 4-6 at the Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.

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Contact

Tina Berger, 703.842.0749

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:

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 (July 13) will be included in the briefing materials.
  • Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, July 28 will be included in supplemental materials.
  • Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, July 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.

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.  At these meetings, action may be taken on any agenda item, including, but not limited to, reports from staff, technical committees, stock assessment committees, peer reviews, Law Enforcement Committee, advisory panels, plan review teams, and plan development teams.

Also of note, the Commission will be considering changes to its Rules and Regulations regarding guidelines on states declared interest on species management boards.


Tuesday, August 4, 2026

10 – 11 AM — Atlantic Herring Management Board

  • Review 2025 Benchmark and 2026 Management Track Assessments 

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM — American Lobster Management Board

  • Update on Steering Committee Progress
  • Report from Lobster Conservation Management Team 5 on Proposed Closure Changes 
  • Reports from Gulf of Maine States on Industry Surveys and Meetings
  • Update on NOAA’s Request for Information on Alternative Gear Marking Framework

12:15 – 1:30 PM — Lunch Break

1 – 4 PM — Committee on Economics and Social Sciences

  • Updates on Ongoing Tasks
  • Updates from Atlantic Striped Bass Recreation Demand Model Modelers
  • Discuss AI and Economics
  • Discuss Process for Better Utilizing CESS Expertise
  • Outline Risk and Uncertainty Changes for the Risk and Uncertainty Work Group

1:30 – 2:30 PM — Winter Flounder Management Board

  • Consider Technical Committee Report on Potential Impacts of Increasing Bag Limit in Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic
  • Review New England Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Specification Process

2:45 – 4:45 PM — Tautog Management Board

  • Consider Approval of Draft Addendum I for Public Comment: Measures to Address Changes in Stock Status for New Jersey-New York Bight and Delaware-Maryland-Virginia Stock Units
  • Review Risk and Uncertainty Decision Tool Scores

5 – 6 PM — ASMFC Public Outreach (Westin Lobby)

  • Informational Exchange among Commission Members, Staff, and Meeting Attendees; All are Welcome; Light Snacks

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

8 – 9 AM — Executive Committee

8:30 AM – 4 PM — Committee on Economics and Social Sciences (continued)

9:45 – 11 AM — Spiny Dogfish Management Board

  • Consider Northern Region Conservation Equivalency Proposal
    • Proposed Weekly Trip Limit
  • Review Accountability Measures Proposed Rule 
  • Review CESS Report

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM — Coastal Pelagics Management Board

  • Set Cobia Fishery Specifications 
  • Update on Benchmark Stock Assessment
  • Consider Cobia Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports for 2025 Fishing Year

12:30 – 2 PM — Luncheon for Legislative and Governor Appointee Commissioners

12:30 – 2 PM — Lunch Break for Commissioners and Proxies

2 – 5:30 PM — Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

  • Consider Approval of Draft Addendum II for Public Comment: Modifying the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap
  • Review CESS Report on Board Task
    • Impacts to Bait Fishery from Changes in Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap
  • Consider Guidance to Technical Committee on 2027-2029 Specifications

Thursday, August 6, 2026

8:30 – 9:30 AM — Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

  • Consider Comments to NOAA Fisheries on its Document: Charting A Course for Striped Bass: Science and Regulatory Innovation for Offshore Aquaculture 
  • Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports for 2025 Fishing Year

9:45 – 11:45 AM — Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

  • Review Commission Guiding Documents 
  • Discuss De Minimis Guidance
  • Committee Reports: Assessment Science Committee and Committee on Economics and Social Sciences
  • Update on Recreational Angler Partnership Improvement Directive (RAPID)
  • Review Noncompliance Findings, if necessary

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM — Commission Business Session

  • Consider Changes to Commission Rules and Regulations
  • Consider Noncompliance Recommendations, if necessary