September 11, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Please find here and below the meeting details, preliminary agenda, and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 84th Annual Meeting, which will be held November 9-12, 2026 at Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island. This will be a hybrid meeting to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders in all meetings. The Law Enforcement Committee, Habitat Committee, and Atlantic Coast Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee will have unique webinar links that will be available as part of the individual committee materials. The Annual Meeting page also includes the other important background information such as the travel authorization and reimbursement guidelines; simply open the accordion at Background Materials to access those documents. Materials will be available October 28th on the Commission website at https://asmfc.org/events/2026-annual-meeting/.
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.
Our Rhode Island Commissioners have been working closely with us on the meeting details and are looking forward to welcoming you all to Newport. A seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, Newport is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately 33 miles southeast of Providence, 20 miles south of Fall River, Massachusetts, 74 miles south of Boston, and 180 miles northeast of New York City. It is known as a New England summer resort and is famous for its historic mansions and its rich sailing history. Newport hosted the first US Open tournaments in both tennis and golf, as well as every challenge for the America’s Cup between 1930 and 1983. It is also the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport, which houses the US Naval War College, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. It was a major 18th-century port city and has many buildings from the colonial era.
All of the business meetings scheduled during this week (with the exception of scheduled closed sessions) are open to the public, free of charge. However, if you plan on attending any of the Annual Meeting events, please help us prepare for these events by registering early (see below for more details).
ACCOMMODATIONS
A block of rooms is being held at Hotel Viking. The Commission will make hotel reservations for Commissioners and Proxies. For all other attendees, please make your reservations online through this link to get our negotiated rate of $150 plus taxes per night, and an urban destination fee and tax of $25 per night. Hotel reservations must be made by October 12, 2026. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. Reservations made through travel websites do not apply towards the Commission’s minimum number of required reservations with the hotel. If you have any problems regarding accommodations, please contact Lisa Carty at 703.842.0713 or lcarty@asmfc.org.
Please click here to complete the Registration, Attendance, and Accommodations Form. This form ensures we have accurate information on meeting attendance and event participation. Please notify Lisa Carty of any changes to your travel plans that will impact your hotel reservations, otherwise you will incur no-show penalties. Individual reservations canceled within 3 days without a documented reason will be charged a cancellation fee equal to the guest room rate for the entire length of the reservation. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
REGISTRATION
Completion of the Registration, Attendance, and Accommodations Form is required for all participants, whether or not you will be reimbursed for travel by the Commission. However, only those who will not be reimbursed for travel by the Commission (see travel authorization form) will need to pay the registration fee (e.g., guests and federal participants). The meeting registration fee is $200 for participants and $150 for spouses or guestsif you register by October 30, 2026. After October 30 and in Newport, Rhode Island, the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee covers the Monday night welcome reception, the Tuesday night dinner, Captain David H. Hart Award lunch on Wednesday, and event materials.
GETTING TO NEWPORT
The Hotel Viking is accessible by automobile or airplane. T.F. Green International Airport in Providence and Boston Logan International Airport are the closest major airports. The closest Amtrak Station is located in Kingston, roughly 30-40 minutes from Hotel Viking located at 1 Railroad Avenue in West Kingston.
FISHING TOURNAMENT
Plans are well underway for the 33rd Annual Laura Leach Fishing Tournament. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. You will receive a T-shirt with your $20 entry fee; and 100% of the tournament proceeds will be donated to a local charity to be determined by the host state. The tournament runs from Sunday (11/8) through noon on Wednesday (11/11); the raffle drawing and tournament prizes will be awarded Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.
Public 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 that 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, if any, 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).
1. Comments received three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (October 19) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, November 3 will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, November 6 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.
Preliminary 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.
Monday, November 9
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Atlantic Herring Management Board
Set Specifications for the 2027-2029 Fishing Years
Set Quota Period for the 2027 Area 1A Fishery
Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2025 Fishing Year
Update from New England Fishery Management Council
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) Steering Committee
Restoration Project Updates
FY26 Projects – Active
FY27 Project List – Recommended for Funding
Finalize 2027-2031 Conservation Strategic Plan
Draft 2027-2028 Action Plan
ACFHP Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Workshop Updates
Discuss Multi-State Funding Opportunities
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. American Lobster Management Board
Report from Management Objectives Process Steering Committee
Technical Committee Reports
Jonah Crab Data Update
American Lobster Data Update
Progress on Board Tasks
Reports from Gulf of Maine States on Industry Surveys and Meetings
Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2025 Fishing Year
Summary of Comments on NOAA’s Request for Information for Alternative Gear Marking Framework
12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Lunch Break
1 – 5 p.m. Law Enforcement Committee
1:45 – 3 p.m. Coastal Sharks Management Board
Updates from NOAA Fisheries on Ongoing Management Actions
Presentation on Shore-based Fishing in North Carolina
Discussion on Use of Drones in Shark Fishing
Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2025 Fishing Year
3:15 – 5:15 p.m. Sciaenids Management Board
Consider 2026 Atlantic Croaker Benchmark Assessment and Peer Review Report
Consider Black Drum Indicators Update
Provide Guidance on Timing of Red Drum Traffic Light Analysis Updates
Progress Update on the 2028 Spot Benchmark Stock Assessment
Elect Vice-Chair
6 – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
Tuesday, November 10
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council
Consider 2027 Proposals for Funding
Consider Changes to 2027 Access Point Angler Intercept Survey Sampling
Program and Committee Updates
Elect Chair & Vice-Chair
9 a.m. – Noon ACFHP Steering Committee (continued)
9 a.m. – Noon Law Enforcement Committee (continued)
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Horseshoe Crab Management Board
Consider Updates to Adaptive Resource Management Framework (ARM) Model Reward, Utility, and Harvest Policy Functions
Advisory Panel Report
Delaware Bay Ecosystem Technical Committee Report
Consider Initiating an Addendum to Implement Changes to the ARM Framework
Review Delaware Bay Region Bait Harvest Specifications for the 2027 Fishing Year
Review Horseshoe Crab and Red Knot Survey Data
Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2025 Fishing Year
12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Shad and River Herring Management Board
Consider Shad and River Herring Sustainable Fishery Management Plans, Alternate Management Plans, and Habitat Plan Updates
Provide Guidance to Technical Committee on Timing of Next Shad and River Herring Stock Assessments
2:45 – 5 p.m. Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
Set Specifications for 2027-2029 Fishing Years
Consider Addendum II for Final Approval
Consider Commercial Quota Reallocation
Consider Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance for the 2025 Fishing Year
Adjourn/Reconvene on November 11
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annual Dinner
Wednesday, November 11
8 – 9:30 a.m. Executive Committee
Presentation of FY26 Audit
Discuss Process for Reviewing Species Declared Interests
Legislative Update
Future Annual Meetings Update
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Habitat Committee
Review Results of ASMFC Commissioner Survey on Habitat Information Needs
Mapping Project Updates
Finalize Habitat Hotline Atlantic 2026 Issue
Committee Species Assignments
Discuss ASMFC Habitat Priorities
Roundtable Habitat Updates
9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Commission Business Session
Consider Approval of 2027 Action Plan
Elect Commission Chair and Vice-Chair
10:45 – 11:15 a.m. Commissioner Photo Shoot
11:15 a.m. – Noon Spiny Dogfish Management Board
Review Accountability Measures Proposed Rule
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Captain David H. Hart Award Luncheon
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
Update and Proposed Next Steps from the Steering Committee for the Work Group on Future Striped Bass Management
Update on Revised Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey Estimates
Progress Update on the 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment
2:45 – 5:30 p.m. Atlantic Menhaden Management Board (continued)
Thursday, November 12
8:30 – 11 a.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board (Part of this meeting will be with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council)
Sector Separation Amendment Stakeholder Workshop Results (Joint Discussion with the Council)
Committee Reports
Update on the Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey Estimates
Update on Recreational Angler Partnership Improvement Directive (RAPID)
Update on Stock Assessments
Review Noncompliance Findings, if necessary
11 – 11:15 a.m. Commission Business Session
Consider Noncompliance Recommendations, if necessary
11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board
Approve Scup Winter I Addendum XXXVI for Public Comment
Review Black Sea Bass State-by-State Commercial Quota Allocation Performance
If there are any questions concerning the Commission’s 84th Annual Meeting, please contact us at 703.842.0740. We look forward to seeing you all in Newport in November!