Meeting Information
The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season. The options aim to alleviate a concentration of effort that may be affecting other fisheries within the Bay and other potential ecological impacts.
Regardless of where a hybrid or virtual hearing is being conducted, all are welcome to participate (the hearing schedule can be found here).
This hybrid hearing on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, is for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. The hearing will take place virtually & in-person at the NYS DEC Division of Marine Resources, 23 Kings Park Blvd (inside Nissequogue River State Park), Kings Park, NY.
Webinar Details
Please click HERE and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu to register for a public hearing webinar. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. Please note that in order to comment during virtual webinar hearings you will need to use your computer or download the GoToWebinar app for your phone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the hearing well in advance of the hearing since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input at the hearing. If you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the virtual or hybrid hearings.
Hearing Presentation Recording
For those who cannot attend any in-person or virtual hearings, the Commission will also post a recording of the hearing presentation on the Commission’s YouTube channel so that stakeholders may watch the presentation and submit comment at any time during the comment process. This recording will be available by early September.
Pending Actions
Action
Status
Contact
- Marty Gary (NY), 631.444.0430
- Matt Gates (CT), 860.876.4393
Public Comment
The public is encouraged to submit comments at any time during the public comment period but no later than 11:59 PM (EST) on October 9, 2026. You can access the Draft Addendum, public hearing schedule, and ways to comment on the Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum II Action Tracker.
We accept public comment in several forms (at public hearings, an online public comment form, an online public comment survey, and via mail or email) and all forms are equally valued. However, we strongly encourage the use of the public comment survey as it allows users to select specific preferred options in the Draft Addendum and provides space for open-ended comments at the end.
Options for Submitting Comments:
- The public comment survey, which was developed to facilitate the gathering of input on the Draft Addendum’s specific options
- Written comments via Atlantic Menhaden Action Tracker, the public comment form below, or comments@asmfc.org
- Written comments submitted via snail mail to James Boyle, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201
- Verbal comments provided at any of the scheduled public hearings