AMERICAN LOBSTER MANAGEMENT BOARD
American Lobster Board Approves Addendum XXXII to Repeal Addendum XXVII Gauge and Escape Vent Measures
The Commission’s American Lobster Management Board approved Addendum XXXII to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. The Addendum repeals all gauge and escape vent size measures from Addendum XXVII. Measures related to the v-notch possession definition and the issuance of trap tags are maintained.
In October 2023, under Addendum XXVII a series of changes to the current gauge and escape vent sizes in Lobster Conservation Management Areas (LCMAs) 1 (Gulf of Maine), 3 (federal waters), and Outer Cape Cod was triggered based on observed declines in recruit abundance indices. The Board postponed the implementation of Addendum XXVII to January 1, 2025 to allow the Gulf of Maine states the opportunity to coordinate with Canada regarding possible trade implications and give the industry and gauge makers additional time to prepare for these changes. In October 2024, the Board further delayed implementation
of the gauge and vent size measures, and v-notch possession definition of Addendum XXVII to July 1, 2025.
Addendum XXXII responds to industry concerns about the potential economic impacts of an increase to the minimum gauge size in the Gulf of Maine. By repealing the gauge and vent size measures, the Gulf of Maine states will have the opportunity to engage with the lobster industry, including the Area 1 Lobster Conservation Management Area Team, to identify alternative conservation measures to protect the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock. Maine and New Hampshire reported to the Board that they have already begun convening stakeholder meetings to discuss the state of the fishery and potential management approaches.
Addendum XXXII will be available on the Commission website, asmfc.org, on the American lobster webpage by next week. For more information, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected] or 703.842.0740.
Meeting Summary
In addition to approving Addendum XXXII, the Board received updates from Maine and New Hampshire on recent meetings with the Gulf of Maine lobster industry, a report from the Lobster Conservation Management Team (LCMT) for Area 3, an update from NOAA Fisheries on the Joint New England and Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council Alternative Gear Marking Amendment, and an update on the ongoing benchmark stock assessment for lobster.
As requested by the Board, Maine and New Hampshire reported out on their meetings with the lobster industry on potential management approaches for the Gulf of Maine. Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has held one round of meetings with its Lobster Advisory Council and seven Zone Councils. Maine DMR is planning to hold an additional round of meetings and is considering conducting an industry survey to better understand perceptions of the fishery and the resource. New Hampshire has planned meetings with commercial industry associations in the near term to begin discussing alternative management options.
The Board received an update on the development of a Joint Framework Adjustment initiated by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils that would provide alternative surface-marking provisions for fixed-gear fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region. This is being considered to allow the use of fixed gear without a persistent buoy line such as on-demand trap gear, which has been identified as a possible approach for reducing entanglement risk for large whales. The Board noted input from the states’ lobster industries should be considered before the action is finalized to ensure compatible gear-marking regulations in state and federal waters. Final action is planned for later this year.
The Stock Assessment Subcommittee (SAS) Chair updated the Board on progress on the benchmark stock assessment for lobster. The final assessment workshop was held in February and the SAS has continued to meet via webinar to finalize data and complete base model runs and preliminary projections. The Peer Review Workshop is planned for late August or early September, and the Board will consider the Assessment and Peer Review Reports in October.
For more information, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
Postponed Main Motion from Winter Meeting: Move to add an item to option B in the addendum that says that Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts will provide for the Board by the Winter 2026 Meeting consensus positions to be the basis of future addendum actions affecting the biological productivity of the GOM lobster fishery. Motion made by Mr. Hasbrouck and seconded by Mr. Kaelin. Motion fails.
Postponed Substitute Motion from Winter Meeting: Move to substitute with “Move to add an item to option B in the draft addendum that says that Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts will provide for the Board by the Winter 2026 meeting state consensus positions.” Motion made by Mr. Borden and seconded by Mr. Abbott. Motion fails.
Move to adopt Option B “Repeal Addendum XXVII Gauge and Vent Size Measures” and approve Addendum XXXII, effective June 30, 2025. Motion made by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Abbott. Motion carries (Roll Call: In favor – ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NJ, DE, MD, VA; Abstentions – NY, NOAA Fisheries; 9 in favor and 2 abstentions).
SPINY DOGFISH MANAGEMENT BOARD
Meeting Summary
The Spiny Dogfish Management Board met to consider Technical Addendum I to Addendum VII for approval. Addendum VII prohibits overnight soaks for state spiny dogfish permit holders using gillnets of certain mesh sizes in specific times and areas off Maryland and Virginia. The Board approved Technical Addendum I to Addendum VII, which corrects a typo in the longitude of one point in the Delaware and Maryland Bycatch Reduction Area and clarifies the mesh range is “equal to or greater than 5.25 inches (13.3 cm) and less than 10 inches (25.4 cm)” rather than “between 5.25 and 10 inches (13.34 to 25.4 cm).” This change is consistent with the federal action in Spiny Dogfish Framework Adjustment 6 and the intent of Addendum VII as approved by the Board. The Technical Addendum will become effective immediately.
For more information, please contact James Boyle, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator at [email protected].
Motions
Move to approve Technical Addendum I to Addendum VII, effective immediately. Motion made by Mr. Clark and seconded by Mr. Reid. Motion approved by unanimous consent.
ATLANTIC HERRING MANAGEMENT BOARD
Meeting Summary
The Atlantic Herring Management Board met to consider revising specifications for the 2025-2027 fishing years.
In October 2024, the Board adopted the 2025-2027 specifications package for Atlantic herring as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) based on the 2024 Atlantic herring stock assessment and the biomass-based control rule. NOAA Fisheries implemented the 2025 specifications via in-season adjustment in December 2024. In January 2025, NEFMC requested its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) provide updated specification recommendations based on available 2024 catch information. Updated projections were compiled to account for 2024 preliminary catch data indicating 51% of the annual catch limit (ACL) was caught (instead of the 100% assumed in the assessment projections), and account for the 1,000 metric ton transfer to the Area 1A sub-ACL in late 2024. In April 2025, the SSC recommended revising the specifications based on the updated projections since they use the most recent available catch information and remain consistent with the control rule and stock rebuilding timeline. The updated specifications recommended by NEFMC increased the 2025 ACL by 1,846 metric tons. NEFMC voted to increase the 2025-2026 specifications per the SSC recommendation but held 2027 constant at 2026 levels as a precautionary measure given the poor stock status and the upcoming 2026 stock assessment to inform 2027-2029 specifications.
The Board voted to adopt the updated specifications as recommended by NEFMC. NEFMC will submit the recommended 2025-2027 specifications to NOAA Fisheries, and implementation by NOAA Fisheries is anticipated during Summer 2025.
For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
Move to adopt the following revised specifications for the 2025-2027 fishing years for Atlantic herring as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council, contingent on the final rule being published by NOAA Fisheries:
For 2025: Annual Catch Limit (ACL) / Domestic Annual Harvest = 4,556 mt; Area 1A Sub-ACL = 1,317 mt; Area 1B Sub-ACL = 196 mt; Area 2 Sub-ACL = 1,267 mt; Area 3 Sub-ACL = 1,777 mt.
For 2026 and 2027: Annual Catch Limit (ACL) / Domestic Annual Harvest = 9,134 mt; Area 1A Sub-ACL = 2,640 mt; Area 1B Sub-ACL = 393 mt; Area 2 Sub-ACL = 2,539 mt; Area 3 Sub-ACL = 3,562 mt.
For all three years: Border Transfer = 0 mt each year; Fixed Gear Set-Aside = 30 mt each year; Research Set-Aside as a Percentage of Sub-ACLs = 0% each year. Motion made by Ms. Ware and seconded by Mr. Abbott. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
INTERSTATE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM POLICY BOARD
Meeting Summary
The ISFMP Policy Board met to review the Conservation Equivalency Policy: Technical and Guidance Document; receive a progress report on the weakfish stock assessment; and receive reports from the Executive Committee (see Executive Committee Summary) and Law Enforcement Committee (see LEC meeting summary).
In October 2023, the Policy Board approved revisions to the Conservation Equivalency: Policy and Technical Guidance Document to reflect the current application of conservation equivalency in Commission interstate fishery management plans and provide new guidance on the use of conservation equivalency, including stock status. Staff requested clarification and guidance on some of the new directives in the document in order to carry out the guidance consistently across FMPs. The Policy Board discussed and agreed to include a process to review conservation equivalency after each stock assessment though it does not require species management boards to consider allowing conservation equivalency following a stock assessment. The Board will determine how to treat existing conservation equivalency programs when conservation equivalency is no longer allowed in the FMP. Staff will incorporate these changes and additional suggestions and bring the document back to the Policy Board for further review in August.
Staff provided the Policy Board an update on the progress of the Weakfish Stock Assessment Update. The assessment was delayed further due to the need to update the model code to work with a newer version of the software. The assessment will be presented to the Weakfish Board at the August meeting with data through 2023. Under other business, the Board was made aware of a motion from the IUCN that would recommend CITES parties consider the transfer of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) and its look- a-like species, the smooth hammerhead shark (S. zygaena) and the great hammerhead shark (S. mokarran) from Appendix II to Appendix I recommended listing. An Appendix I listing would make exports of these sharks extremely restricted. States will provide staff with information on hammerhead landings and exports if available in order to provide comments to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, who is reviewing the IUCN’s motion.
Also under other business, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts reported it has enacted regulations for the Atlantic bonito and false albacore recreational fisheries in response to the growing popularity of fishing for these species and the potential for them to be overfished. The Commonwealth had reports of increased catch of both species over the past few years, with a dramatic increase in 2024. The regulations include a minimum size limit of 16 inches (fork length) and a combined bag limit of five fish per person for both species. These rules apply to both recreational and commercial fishing, with some exceptions for commercial weir operators and mechanized mackerel jig fishers.
Lastly, a Board member raised concern that Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation funds remain in jeopardy. Funding for the current fiscal year has not been released by the Department of the Interior. While these funds are available to the Commission, they are critical to state budgets for recreational fishing and boating activities. It was suggested states may want to reach out to their Congressional delegations to raise the importance of these funds to the states’ work.
For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Policy Director, at [email protected]
Motions
Move to change “will” to “may” in the last paragraph of page 2, and for stock status conditions on page 3 (first “will”). Motion made by Mr. Nowalsky and seconded by Mr. Sikorski. Motion passes (8 in favor, 7 opposed).
SCIAENIDS MANAGEMENT BOARD
Sciaenids Board Initiates Draft Addendum II to Address Red Drum Stock and Management Concerns
The Commission’s Sciaenids Management Board initiated Draft Addendum II to Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Red Drum. The Draft Addendum will consider a number of changes to the management programs for the southern (South Carolina to Florida) and northern (New Jersey to North Carolina) stocks of red drum in response to the findings of the 2024 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report.
The Draft Addendum will consider modifying Amendment 2 reference points for the southern stock as well as the process to set management measures to achieve the reference points. The recent assessment found the red drum southern stock to be overfished and experiencing overfishing. These proposed modifications to Amendment 2 will allow the southern stock states to propose changes to their current red drum management measures to achieve the new reference points. Although the northern stock is not overfished, nor experiencing overfishing, the Board expressed concern with an increasing trend in fishing mortality observed in the northern stock. As a result, the Draft Addendum will propose changes to the states’ recreational bag limits and slot limits for the northern stock, as well as provide the northern stock states the opportunity to align their differing regulations, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Board will consider approval of Draft Addendum II for public comment in August, with public hearings held in the late summer/early fall.
For more information, please contact Tracey Bauer, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected] or 703.842.0723.
Meeting Summary
In addition to initiating a Draft Addendum to consider changes to the management programs for the northern and southern stocks of red drum (see above press release), the Sciaenids Management Board reviewed a report from the Red Drum Technical Committee (TC) on action items tasked by the Board at its October 2024 and February 2025 meetings and received a progress update on the Atlantic croaker and spot stock assessments.
The Board received a report from the TC which described its methodology to estimate catch reductions from regulation changes for both the southern and northern stocks, the catch reductions needed for the southern stock (Florida – South Carolina) to fish at lower levels of fishing mortality, and the TC’s interpretation of the traffic light analysis result of “Moderate Action,” especially as it relates to the northern stock (North Carolina – New Jersey). Results and recommendations from the TC in this report can be found in the May 2025 Meeting Materials for the Sciaenids Management Board.
The Board also received a progress update on the Atlantic croaker and spot benchmark stock assessments, including updated timelines for both assessments. The Atlantic Croaker and Spot Stock Assessment Subcommittee (SAS) met in October 2024 to discuss different regional trends observed along the Atlantic coast and made a recommendation to change the structure of the assessment from one coastwide model to two regional models. The border between regions will be Cape
Lookout, North Carolina. The SAS will continue development of the Atlantic croaker assessment, with an assessment workshop planned for October 2025 and peer review workshop planned for April 2026. Work on the spot benchmark stock assessment is not planned to resume until May 2026.
For more information, please contact Tracey Bauer, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
For the southern stock of red drum, initiate an addendum to modify the FMP to set the management threshold at F30 and the management goal at F40. Require all states to set regulations that would be expected to not exceed F30 for fishing mortality in their state. Direct staff to conduct a new stock assessment for red drum with a terminal year of 2031. When evaluating state regulations’ ability to not exceed F30, the Technical Committee shall not consider non-compliance. In the case where states have changed their regulations after the terminal year for F in the 2024 stock assessment, the Technical Committee shall use actual recreational harvest estimates to evaluate F. Motion made by Dr. Belcher and seconded by Ms. Burgess. Motion passes (8 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstention).
Initiate an addendum to consider changes to the recreational bag limits and slot limits for the northern stock of red drum to address increasing fishing mortality and to update de minimis provisions of the FMP. Motion made by Mr. Batsavage and seconded by Mr. Geer. Motion carries (7 in favor, 3 abstentions).
ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS MANAGEMENT BOARD
Meeting Summary
The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board met to consider the terms of reference and Stock Assessment Subcommittee (SAS) nominations for the 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment; receive a Technical Committee Report on stock projections to inform Draft Addendum III; and review the management options developed for Draft Addendum III and consider approving the draft addendum for public comment.
Work on the 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment has begun and is scheduled to be peer-reviewed in March 2027 and presented to the Board in May or August 2027, depending on when the peer review report becomes available. The Technical Committee (TC) developed draft terms of reference for the Board’s consideration largely based on the terms of reference from the 2019 benchmark stock assessment with some modifications and new additions. The Board approved the terms of reference as recommended by the TC.
The SAS is populated prior to each benchmark assessment. Several state and federal scientists along with Commission staff were presented to the Board as SAS nominees. The Board approved the SAS nominations as presented.
The Board received a TC-SAS report on stock projections and associated reductions for 2026 to inform Draft Addendum III. Draft Addendum III was initiated in December 2024 to consider changing management measures in 2026 to support stock rebuilding. Stock projections were updated to include the preliminary 2024 estimate of fishery removals. The projections carried forward the TC- SAS assumptions of an increase in fishing mortality in 2025 followed by a decrease in fishing mortality in 2026 and onward as the above-average 2018 year-class moves through the ocean slot limit. The base projection scenario (i.e., status quo management) indicates a 49% probability of rebuilding the stock by 2029 with a 1% reduction in 2026 needed to achieve a 50% probability of rebuilding. To achieve a 60% probability of rebuilding the stock by 2029, a 7% reduction in 2026 is needed. The TC-SAS emphasized that the outcome of management changes designed to achieve reductions of less than 10% would be difficult to measure given the uncertainty in the MRIP estimates. Total removals are not known within 10%, so a reduction of less than 10% would not be statistically distinguishable from no reduction at all (i.e., status quo measures), and there is a high degree of uncertainty in whether measures that accomplish that small of a reduction on paper would be effective in practice.
The TC-SAS report also included sensitivity runs extending the projections beyond 2029 and considering a very low recruitment assumption for future years based on the recent six years of very low recruitment. Under the very low recruitment assumption, spawning stock biomass will start to decline after 2029 as compared to increasing under the base recruitment scenario, even under the low fishing mortality rate projected for 2024. The Board requested that a summary of the very low recruitment sensitivity runs be added to the draft addendum.
The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed management options in Draft Addendum III covering three issues: reduction in fishery removals to support rebuilding; commercial tagging at point of harvest vs. point of sale (added by the Board in February 2025); measuring total length of striped bass (added by the Board in February 2025). After lengthy discussion on whether to move forward with considering a reduction in fishery removals for 2026, the Board voted to keep options for a 2026 reduction in the draft addendum. The Board shortened the list of possible recreational options to achieve the reduction by removing some recreational mode split options and removing the ocean size limit options. The Board also removed the option for a 0.8% commercial quota reduction since it was similar to the 0% commercial quota reduction option. The Board requested an additional option be added for New England seasonal closures considering a dual closure in Wave 3 and Wave 5. The Board also agreed that seasonal closure options must be a minimum of 14-days in duration with the exception of closures added to existing closures. The Board also requested adding text to explain the complexities with potential closures in North Carolina (due to limited fish availability) and potential closures in New York during Wave 2 or Wave 6 (due to existing New York season closures).
The Board also considered adding a fourth issue to the Draft Addendum considering Maryland’s recreational season baseline. The Board agreed to add Maryland’s proposed option for a new season baseline to the Draft Addendum contingent on upon a review by the TC-SAS. The Board requested the TC-SAS discuss the modifications to Maryland’s methodology, the assumption of constant effort when opening a current closure, and any biological impacts that should be considered from the proposed season changes (e.g., impacts on fish staging for spawning in the spring).
The Plan Development Team will revise the Draft Addendum based on the above changes, and the Board will consider approving the revised draft addendum for public comment in August 2025.
For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
Move to approve the Stock Assessment Subcommittee nominations for striped bass as modified today. Motion made by Dr. McNamee and seconded by Mr. Geer. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
Move to approve the Terms of Reference for the 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment for Atlantic Striped Bass. Motion made by Ms. Meserve and seconded by Dr. McNamee. Motion passes by unanimous consent
Move to remove the entire section 3.3 Reduction in Fishery Removals to Support Stock Rebuilding from the document. Motion made by Mr. Clark and seconded by Mr. Cimino. Motion fails for lack of majority (7 in favor, 7 opposed, 2 abstentions).
Move to remove Option 4 from Section 3.3 (0.8% commercial reductions) Motion made by Mr. Batsavage and seconded by Mr. Clark. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
Move to remove all the split separate equal mode reduction options. Motion made by Ms. Meserve and seconded by Mr. Sikorski. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
Move to remove the ocean size limit options of 37”-40” and 38”-41”. Motion made by Dr. McNamee and seconded by Mr. Gary. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
Main Motion
Move to add the Maryland baseline season option to Draft Addendum III. Motion made by Mr. Sikorski and seconded by Mr. Clark. Motion amended.
Motion to Amend: Motion to amend to add contingent upon final review by the TC and SAS of the modifications that were made. Motion made by Mr. Grout and seconded by Mr. Kane. Motion passes (15 in favor, 1 abstention).
Main Motion as Amended: Move to add the Maryland baseline season option to Draft Addendum III contingent upon final review by the TC and SAS of the modifications that were made. Motion passes (13 in favor, 2 abstentions, 1 null).
Move to task the PDT with developing a sub-option for the MD season option that would add an uncertainty buffer. Motion made by Ms. Meserve and seconded by Ms. Patterson. Motion passes (9 in favor, 5 opposed, 2 abstentions).
Move to remove the entire section 3.2 Commercial Tagging Requirements: Point of Sale vs. Point of Harvest from the document. Motion made by Dr. McNamee and seconded by Ms. Meserve. Motion fails (3 in favor, 10 opposed, 3 abstentions).
LAW ENFORECMENT COMMITTEE
Meeting Summary
The Law Enforcement Committee (LEC) welcomed Captain David Bailey from Maryland Natural Resource Police and Captain Jack Chapin from the Massachusetts Environmental Police as new state representatives. Additionally, the committee recognized the retirement and offered gratitude to NOAA General Counsel Attorney Robert Hogan, for his years of support and participation in the LEC. Mr. Joseph Heckwolf succeeds Mr. Hogan as the new committee member from NOAA General Counsel.
Species Discussion
Atlantic Striped Bass – The LEC held a virtual meeting on March 27, 2025, to address the Striped Bass Plan Development Team questions regarding Draft Addendum III of the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. A comprehensive meeting summary was provided to the Striped Bass Management Board during the Spring meeting week.
Bluefish – Staff briefed the committee on the Technical Committee’s (TC) application of the Risk and Uncertainty Tool. The TC is considering using this tool to quantify management uncertainty within the commercial and recreational bluefish fisheries. Two of the seven elements of this tool, Compliance and Enforcement, have enforcement implications and may require the LEC input beyond state compliance reports. The goal of this presentation was to open a dialogue with the LEC and to familiarize the committee with this tool for its future application in fishery management.
Other Business
Case Study – New Hampshire Fish and Game: Lieutenant Delayne Brown presented a case study concerning striped bass enforcement efforts by the New Hampshire Fish and Game department during the Summer of 2024. Two specific cases were highlighted: Case #1 – Castles, Diburro, and Cotone; and Case #2 – Travis.
Lieutenant Brown provided an in-depth study of the origin, procedures, and penalties associated with these cases. Both incidents involved Massachusetts commercial fishers crossing into New Hampshire state waters and exceeding the permitted limit for taking possession of oversized striped bass. Lieutenant Brown shared details of the initial reports of illegal activity, a comprehensive operational plan, and the surveillance techniques employed to apprehend the poachers. The investigations’ strengths and weaknesses were discussed as learning tools for other agencies. Lieutenant Brown acknowledged the cooperation and effort of the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Maine Marine Patrol, and several local police agencies in successfully resolving these cases.
The penalty phase resulted in a total of thirty-four warnings issued and forty-six violations cited, amounting to fines totaling $5,478.00. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is taking action to suspend the commercial permits of these fishers under the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact.
Website – The LEC was presented with the new ASMFC website. Staff provided a tutorial on accessing relevant information, including the LEC page, meetings page, and specific ASMFC guiding documents. LEC offered positive comments regarding the design of the new site.
A closed session of the meeting was afforded to openly discuss new and emerging law enforcement issues.
Respective agencies were provided with time to highlight their agencies and offer current enforcement efforts. For more information, please contact Kurt Blanchard, LEC Coordinator, [email protected].
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Meeting Summary
The Executive Committee met to discuss several issues, including reviewing the proposed FY26 budget, the Discussion Paper on Declared Interests and Voting Privileges, a Legislative Committee update, CARES update, and a future annual meeting locations update. The following action items resulted from the Committee’s discussions:
A lengthy discussion was held on the Discussion Paper on Declared Interests and Voting Privileges. The Paper focuses on three issues: 1) declared interests, 2) voting privileges, and 3) virtual and hybrid meeting participation. The discussion focused on issues 1 and 2. Staff was asked to draft options for modifying the criteria for qualifying for an interest in a fishery. Staff will also develop further options related to voting privileges for consideration at the Summer Meeting.
Staff presented an update on the Sportfish Restoration reauthorization effort, the status of the FY25 federal budget and NOAA’s development of that budget, the status of the FY26 budget and submission of appropriations requests, and a summary of the recent fisheries Executive Order.
Staff provided an update on the status of the remaining issues with New Jersey and Florida CARES payments due to be repaid after audits found funds made some more than whole or they were ineligible to receive any funds at all.
Staff Leach provided an update on future Annual Meeting locations. October 26-30, 2025 the Annual Meeting will be in Dewey Beach, Delaware; in 2026 Rhode Island; 2027 South Carolina; 2028 Massachusetts; 2029 Pennsylvania and 2030 Georgia.
For more information, please contact Laura Leach, Director of Finance & Administration, at [email protected].
Motions
Move to approve the FY26 proposed budget as presented at this meeting. Motion made by Mr. Haymans and seconded by Mr. Clark. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
ATLANTIC COASTAL COOPERATIVE STATISTICS PROGRAM COORDINATING COUNCIL
Meeting Summary
The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Coordinating Council met to review and approve the FY2026 Request for Proposals (RFP) and review project and program updates.
The Council approved the FY2026 RFP as presented by the Operations Committee and Advisory Panel. The documents included adjusting the primary program priorities to elevate the socioeconomic module and decrease the catch-effort module to reflect past accomplishments and future direction of the ACCSP, adjusting the secondary program priorities to align the socioeconomic module with the three other modules, and adding an Impact on Management score similar to the existing Impact on Stock Assessment. The RFP also includes updated priority matrices from the Biological Review Panel and Bycatch Committees.
Staff presented an update of ACCSP program activities, including software development timelines and projects, major cross-team projects, recreational initiatives and the status of ACCSP regional partner coordination. Stephanie Iverson (VMRC) was recognized for her 25+ years of service to ACCSP.
For more information, please contact Geoff White, ACCSP Director, at [email protected].
Motions
Move to approve the ACCSP FY2026 RFP including updated priorities as presented in the funding decision document, biological and bycatch matrices. Motion made by Ms. Zobel and seconded by Dr. McNamee. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
ATLANTIC MENHADEN MANAGEMENT BOARD
Meeting Summary
The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board met to consider the final report from the Work Group on Precautionary Management in Chesapeake Bay, review a progress update on the ecological reference point (ERP) benchmark stock assessment, and provide direction to the Technical Committee (TC) on stock projections for 2026-2028.
In August 2024, the Board established a Work Group to gain additional information and evaluate options for further precautionary management in Chesapeake Bay, including time/area closures. The Work Group met nine times from September 2024 to April 2025, and develop a report based on Chesapeake Bay predator and fishery data. The Work Group addressed its task without determining if there is or is not an adequate supply of menhaden to support predatory demand in the Bay; instead, it is the responsibility of the Board to determine if or when it is necessary to implement them. Based on the life history of the predators examined, the nature of Chesapeake Bay menhaden fisheries, and recent changes in menhaden availability, the Work Group discussed a number of precautionary management options that the Board could consider for further action (see Work Group Report). The Board discussed tasking the Technical Committee (TC) with evaluating options in the report, but in consideration of the priority for the TC and Ecological Reference Point (ERP) Work Group to complete the single-species assessment update and ERP benchmark assessment for presentation to the Board at the Annual Meeting, the Board decided to continue the discussion of the report at the Summer Meeting.
The Board received a progress report on the ERP benchmark stock assessment. The Board reviewed the conclusions of the Natural Mortality Work Group established by the Stock Assessment Subcommittee (SAS) to consider concerns raised about the estimate of natural mortality. After identifying the discrepancies between two proposed estimates, the SAS developed a new base estimate of natural mortality for the single-species model, which will be reviewed through the ERP benchmark assessment peer-review. The ERP benchmark assessment will be peer-reviewed through the SouthEast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process in August 2025.
Stock projections are conducted after the stock assessment is complete to aid the Board in setting the Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Staff reviewed the previous projections requested prior to setting the TAC for 2023-2025 and requested the Board provide the TC with direction for conducting the projections for the next 3 years. The Board requested the projections include the TACs associated with a 40-60% probability of exceeding the ERP target for 2026-2028 combined and as separate years, and the percent risk of exceeding the ERP target and threshold for nine different TACs ranging from -20% to +20% of the current TAC in 5% increments when it considers specifications for the next one to three years at the Annual Meeting.
For more information, please contact James Boyle, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
No motions made.
TAUTOG MANAGEMENT BOARD
Meeting Summary
The Tautog Management Board met to consider a Technical Committee (TC) report on the New York study of potential alternative commercial tags, receive a progress update on the 2025 stock assessment update, and elect a Board Chair.
In response to a Board task at the August 2023 meeting, the TC identified alternative tag types to evaluate for the commercial tagging program. The tags considered were T-Bar, strap, and Petersen disc tags. The strap tag is a smaller version of the current commercial tag that was previously studied in 2016 prior to the implementation of the tagging program. New York conducted a 30-day feasibility study of the T-Bar and strap tags and examined tagged fish for damage and signs of infection around the tag. After initial consideration, the Petersen disc was eliminated from contention due to the difficulty of application. There was no conclusive evidence of any infections forming for either tag type, although some fish showed redness around the insertion point for both types. Challenges with the T-Bar tag were the inability to determine if the tag was inserted properly and a lower tag retention rate, as well as a significantly higher cost for both the tags and applicator when compared to the current tag. The strap tag created similar, albeit smaller, wounds to the current tag, but it is unclear that it would prevent the reported issues. Although, the smaller strap tag and its applicator are considerably cheaper than the current versions. Given the results and the costs, New York did not recommend any of the tags as a viable alternative to the current tag. The TC discussed the possibility of further testing but did not identify any new tag types to evaluate, and New York noted the funding and staffing challenges to continue to pursue additional studies. Given the lack of a viable alternative, the Board decided to maintain the commercial tagging program unchanged but would consider further testing of alternative tags if new information became available.
The Board received an update on the stock assessment update, which is scheduled to be presented to the Board at the Annual Meeting. The TC discussed the impact of upcoming changes to MRIP effort estimates in 2026 on the assessment. The TC recommended continuing the assessment on the current timeline given the length of time since the last assessment and the uncertainty of potential delays in the availability of the MRIP updates. The Board also elected Matt Gates as Chair.
For more information, please contact James Boyle, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
Move to elect Matt Gates as Chair of the Tautog Management Board. Motion made by Dr. McNamee and seconded by Mr. Luisi.
HORSESHOE CRAB MANAGEMENT BOARD
Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Addendum IX Addendum Allows Multi-Year Specifications for Male-Only Harvest
The Commission’s Horseshoe Crab Management Board approved Addendum IX to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crabs. The Addendum allows the Board to set specifications for male-only harvest. It also establishes a method for managing male-only harvest
limits during multi-year specifications periods, reestablishes seasonal harvest restrictions, and clarifies policy related to harvest caps for Maryland and Virginia.
Addendum IX responds to recommendations from the July 2024 Horseshoe Crab Management Objectives Workshop, which convened a group of stakeholders to explore management objectives for the Delaware Bay-origin horseshoe crab fishery. Workshop participants recommended the Board establish an interim solution to maintain male-only harvest while changes to the Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Framework are explored to better align the model with stakeholder values.
The Addendum allows the Board to set multi-year specifications for up to three years until 2031 based on the ARM Framework. In interim years when the ARM is not used, the Board will manage maximum male harvest limits based on Delaware Bay region spawning survey data. Addendum IX also reestablishes a harvest closure for the Delaware Bay region states from January 1 through June 7. Lastly, the Addendum clarifies the policy included in Addenda VII and VIII for applying Maryland and Virginia harvest caps; these caps further restrict harvest for Maryland and Virginia when female harvest is implemented in the Delaware Bay region.
Addendum IX will be available on the Commission website at https://asmfc.org/species/horseshoe- crab/ by next week. For more information, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Coordinator, at [email protected] or 703.842.0740.
Meeting Summary
In addition to approving Addendum IX, the Horseshoe Crab Management Board reviewed recommendations from the Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Subcommittee and discussed the composition of the Advisory Panel (AP).
In February, the Board tasked the ARM Subcommittee with reviewing the reward and utility functions of the ARM Framework and discussing what input from stakeholder groups would be needed to provide directions on potential changes. This task responded to a recommendation from the July 2024 stakeholder workshop on horseshoe crab management in the Delaware Bay region. The ARM Subcommittee recommended initiating a process to seek stakeholder input on various value- based aspects of the reward, utility, and harvest policy functions of the ARM Framework. The Board supported pursuing such a process, which could include educational meetings and a stakeholder workshop to identify changes to these functions that would better reflect current stakeholder values. Funding would need to be identified to conduct a workshop.
Responding to another recommendation from the July 2024 workshop, the Board also discussed possible changes to the AP. The current composition of the AP includes state-specific seats and two seats for non-traditional stakeholders. The Board expressed interest in reshaping the panel so that there is a more even distribution of advisors from each region (northeast, New York, Delaware Bay, and Southeast). It also determined that an open solicitation process should be used to seek additional nominations for non-traditional stakeholders (e.g., conservation interests). The Board agreed to form a Work Group to develop recommendations on an appropriate distribution of advisors and review new nominations.
For more information, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at [email protected].
Motions
Main Motion
Move to adopt Options 1B and 1B-1 under Issue 1, Option 2B under Issue 2, and Option 3B under Issue 3. Motion made by Mr. Clark and seconded by Ms. Kennedy. Motion amended.
Motion to Amend: Move to amend to replace 1B-1 with 1B-2. Motion made by Ms. Lengyel Costa and seconded by Mr. Hyatt. Motion passes (9 in favor, 3 opposed, 3 abstentions).
Main Motion as Amended: Move to adopt Options 1B and 1B-2 under Issue 1, Option 2B under Issue 2, and Option 3B under Issue 3. Motion passes (11 in favor, 4 abstentions).
Move to approve Addendum IX with the management options selected today. The Addendum is effective immediately, and measures pertaining to the season closure in the Delaware Bay must be implemented by January 1, 2026. Motion made by Mr. Clark and seconded by Ms. Lengyel Costa. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
Main Motion: Move to approve the nominations of Edwin Chiofolo and Arthur (Pete) Bender to the Advisory Panel. Motion made by Mr. Hornstein and seconded by Mr. Geer. Postponed.
Motion to Postpone: Move to postpone until the Board has made a decision on how to compose the Advisory Panel. Motion made by Mr. Clark and seconded by Mr. Dyar. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
COMMISSION BUSINESS SESSION
ASMFC Approves Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Northern Shrimp. In response to the continued poor condition of the northern shrimp stock, Amendment 4 modifies the first objective of the FMP to recognize the influence of environmental conditions on stock productivity and lengthens the amount of time the Northern Shrimp Section can set a moratorium from one year to up to five years. The Section can call a meeting at any time to review information relative to the fishery and the resource and initiate management action if necessary.
Amendment 4 also adds management triggers to the FMP as part of the annual stock monitoring process. Management triggers include recruitment and temperature triggers that signal potential improvement in stock conditions. The recruitment trigger will be achieved when the stock experiences non-failed recruitment for three consecutive years. If achieved, a stock assessment update will be conducted. If the recruitment trigger is not achieved, but non-failed recruitment occurs in two out of three years, the Section will consider conducting a winter sampling program without the use of size-sorting grates. This program will allow the Northern Shrimp Technical Committee to evaluate stage and length frequencies, and year class persistence before initiating a full assessment update. The temperature trigger will be considered reached when two out of three consecutive years of winter surface temperature and spring bottom temperature in the Gulf of Maine fall below the 80th percentile of the reference period. If achieved, the Section will consider a winter sampling program. These triggers are intended to help the Section identify if the stock is viable enough to support a fishery.
Finally, Amendment 4 adds the specifications setting timeline and management triggers to measures subject to change through adaptive management, allowing these management measures to be changed in the future via an addendum rather than an amendment.
All provisions of Amendment 4 are considered effective immediately. Amendment 4 will be available on the Commission’s website, https://asmfc.org/species/northern-shrimp/, by the end of May. For more information, please contact Chelsea Tuohy, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mailto:[email protected]or 703.842.0740.
Motions
On behalf of the Northern Shrimp Section, move the Commission approve Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp as amended by the Section. Motion by Mr. Grout. Motion passes with one objectio
