Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries

Commission

2026 Winter Meeting

Date(s):

Feb 3–5, 2026

Location:

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

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Meeting Information

The 2026 ASMFC Winter Meeting will be February 3-5 at the Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.

Final Agenda
Meeting Summary
Background Materials

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 (January 12) will be included in the briefing materials.
  • Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, January 27 will be included in supplemental materials.
  • Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, January 30 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. 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 3, 2026

9 – 11 AM — American Lobster Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (R. Zobel)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Annual Data Updates (T. Pugh, C. Truesdale)
    • Jonah Crab Offshore Southern New England Indicators
    • American Lobster Indicators and Recruit Index for Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank (GOM/GBK) Stock
  • Technical Committee Report on Board Tasks (T. Pugh) Possible Action
    • Guidance on Management Strategy Evaluation for GOM/GBK
    • GOM/GBK Fishery Projections with Original Addendum XXVII Gauge Increases
  • American Lobster Advisory Panel Report (C. Starks)
  • Reports from Gulf of Maine States on Industry Surveys and Meetings (C. Wilson, R. Zobel, R. Glenn)
  • Update on Request for Information for Alternative Gear Marking Framework (A. Murphy)
  • Review and Populate American Lobster Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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11:15 AM – 12:15 PM — Winter Flounder Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (W. Hyatt)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from January 2023
  • Public Comment
  • Review 2025 Management Track Assessments for Gulf of Maine and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Stocks of Winter Flounder (P. Nitschke/T. Wood)
    • Consider Management Response, If Necessary Possible Action
  • Set 2026-2028 Specifications (T. Bauer) Final Action
    • Review Technical Committee Recommendations (R. Balouskus)
    • Review Advisory Panel Report
  • Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2024 Fishing Year (T. Bauer) Action
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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12:15 – 1:15 PM — Lunch Break

1:15 – 2:15 PM — Spiny Dogfish Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Cimino)
  •  Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from May 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Discuss Spiny Dogfish Accountability Measures Possible Action
    • Review Actions by New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils on Spiny Dogfish Accountability Measures Framework (J. Didden)
    • Consider Complementary Commission Action (J. Boyle)
  • Set Specifications for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 Fishing Years (J. Boyle) Final Action
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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2:30 – 3:30 PM — American Eel Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Hornstein)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Update on Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (T. Kerns)
  • Technical Committee Report on Board Tasks (K. Bonvechio)
    • Review of Aquaculture Plan Provisions
    • Review of Florida Young of Year Survey
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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3:45 – 4:45 PM — Marine Recreational Information Program Presentation on Fishing Effort Survey

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5 – 6 PM — Recognition of Outgoing Commissioners Reception

6:30 – 8:30 PM — Public Hearing on Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

8 – 10 AM — Executive Committee

(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. McKiernan)  
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Meeting Summary from October 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Update from the Declared Interests and Voting Privileges Work Group (R. Beal)
  • Staff Recommendation on Notifying “Actions” on Meeting Agendas (R. Beal)
  • Legislative Update (A. Law)
  • CARES Update (R. Beal)
  • Future Annual Meetings Update (L. Leach)
    • November 8 – 12, 2026 – Newport, Rhode Island
    • 2027 – South Carolina
    • 2028 – Massachusetts
    • 2029 – Pennsylvania
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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  2. Supplemental
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10:15 – 11: 45 AM — Coastal Pelagics Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (R. Beal)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2027 Atlantic Cobia Stock Assessment Terms of Reference (A. Giuliano) Action
  • Review Next Steps and Timeline for Cobia Management
    • Presentation of Specification Setting Process, Recreational Management Measures, and Confidence Interval Approach (E. Franke)
    • Provide Guidance to Cobia Technical Committee on Upcoming Tasks If Needed
  • Consider Approval of Atlantic Cobia Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2024 Fishing Year (E. Franke) Action
  • Consider Approval of Spanish Mackerel Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2023 and 2024 Fishing Years (E. Franke) Action
  • Update from South Atlantic Fishery Management Council on Spanish Mackerel Council Activity (C. Wiegand)
  • Review and Populate Spanish Mackerel Plan Review Team Membership (E. Franke) Action
  • Review and Populate Advisory Panel Membership (T. Berger) Action
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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11:45 – 1:15 PM — Luncheon for Legislative and Governor Appointee Commissioners

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11:45 – 1:15 PM — Lunch Break

1:15 – 3:30 PM — Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Clark)
  •  Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Progress Update on Development of Draft Addendum II for Public Comment (J. Boyle)
  • Advisory Panel Report on 2025 Single-Species and Ecological Reference Points Stock Assessments (M. Lapp)
  • Progress Update on Technical Committee Tasking on Changing Environmental Conditions (C. Craig)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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3:45 – 5:30 PM — Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (J. Maniscalco)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from February 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Consider Regional Distribution of Black Sea Bass Liberalization for 2026-2027 Recreational Management Measures Action
    • Consider Technical Committee Report (R. Sysak)
  • Elect Vice-Chair Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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Thursday, February 5, 2026

8:30 – 10:45 AM — Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (C. Batsavage)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2025
  • Public Comment
  • Review and Consider Approval of Addendum III State Implementation Plans (E. Franke) Action
  • Discuss Work Group on Future Striped Bass Management (E. Franke)
    • Provide Guidance on Work Group Composition, Task Details, and Timeline
  • Discuss 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment (K. Drew)
    • Provide Guidance to Stock Assessment Subcommittee on Biological Reference Points and Spatial Management
  • NOAA Fisheries Report on Considerations for Aquaculture of Atlantic Striped Bass (D. Blacklock)
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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11 AM – 12:30 PM — Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

  • Welcome/Call to Order (D. McKiernan)
  • Board Consent
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Proceedings from October 2024
  • Public Comment
  • Executive Committee Report (D. McKiernan)
  • Review and Discuss 2025 Commissioner Survey Results (A. Law)
  • Update from the Declared Interests and Voting Privileges Work Group (R. Beal)
  • NOAA HMS Update on Recent Coastal Shark Actions (K. Brewster-Geisz)
  • Consider Habitat Management Series Report on Atlantic States Shell Recycling (S. Kaalstad) Final Action
  • Review Noncompliance Findings (If Necessary) Action
  • Other Business/Adjourn
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