Saving Seafood

Council Actions

ASMFC Habitat Hotline Atlantic 2025 Issue Now Available

February 25, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissions’ (ASMFC) Habitat Committee is pleased to present the 2025 Issue of Habitat Hotline Atlantic, which is now available at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/99ee5642fb.html. You will notice that this issue is in a new digitally-interactive flipbook format, though it can also be found in PDF format athttps://asmfc.org/news/newsletters/habitat-hotline-atlantic/2025-annual-issue/. We welcome your feedback on the flipbook format!
 
The focal point of this issue is habitat restoration updates from the East Coast states. From Maine to Florida, state agencies and partners have shared their restoration successes, and ongoing conservation efforts. The 2025 issue also details Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) updates, including: updates on restoration projects, science tools, and collaborations advancing fish habitat conservation across the region. Additionally, the issue highlights the comings and goings of ACFHP Steering Committee members over the past year.
 
Past issues of Habitat Hotline Atlantic can be found at https://asmfc.org/search/-/-/Habitat-Hotline

ASMFC Releases New Habitat Management Series Report on Atlantic States Shell Recycling

February 23, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has released the latest installment in its Habitat Management Series, Atlantic States Shell Recycling. The report highlights the growing role of shell recycling programs in supporting oyster reef restoration, coastal resilience, and sustainable fisheries management along the US Atlantic coast.

 
Oyster reefs are among the most valuable habitats in coastal ecosystems, improving water quality, stabilizing shorelines, and providing critical habitat for commercially and recreationally important species. However, the availability of suitable shell for restoration has become a limiting factor in many regions. Shell recycling programs address this need by collecting used shell from restaurants and community partners, curing it to meet public health and biosecurity standards, and returning it to the water to create or enhance oyster reefs and living shorelines.
 
The report outlines common program models, curing standards, equipment and logistics considerations, permitting frameworks, and performance metrics. Developed in collaboration with state and regional partners, the report provides practical guidance for states seeking to expand or establish shell recycling initiatives. It highlights how collaboration among state agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and volunteers has strengthened restoration capacity and community engagement.
 
“This report showcases how shell recycling programs transform a waste product into a critical restoration resource,” said Russ Babb, New Jersey Bureau of Marine Habitat & Shellfisheries. “By sharing lessons learned and common standards, we aim to support states in building efficient, scalable programs that advance oyster reef restoration and habitat resilience across the coast.”
 
The Atlantic States Shell Recycling report is available for download at https://asmfc.org/resources/habitat-special-report/atlantic-states-shell-recycling-february-2026/ or via the Commission’s website athttps://asmfc.org/programs/habitat/. For more information, please contact Simen Kaalstad, Habitat Program Coordinator, at skaalstad@asmfc.org or 703.842.0743.

Fishermen and Scientists Unite to Tackle Shark Depredation in the Pacific Islands

February 20, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, in partnership with the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group, hosted the region’s first shark depredation workshop Feb. 10–11, 2026, to address the issue and develop mitigation strategies for U.S. Pacific Island fisheries. Fifty-two participants from four countries and all three U.S. Pacific Island territories attended.

Shark depredation was repeatedly raised during the Council’s community consultation meetings held region-wide in 2025. Fishers described lost catch, damaged gear and safety concerns during bottomfishing and trolling—what many called a growing “tax” on their livelihoods. The issue was highlighted in Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, Wai‘anae, Kona, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Manu‘a Islands, where fishers reported more frequent interactions both nearshore and offshore. Fishermen from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawai‘i shared firsthand accounts and the need for practical solutions.

Plenary presentations reviewed trends in shark interactions across the Pacific Islands, the effectiveness and limitations of commercially available deterrent technologies, and the complex regulatory landscape governing shark interactions. Breakout sessions and an evening forum brought fishermen, scientists, managers and technology developers together to identify cost-effective fishing adaptations, priority research gaps and governance challenges linked to environmental change.

Participants described depredation as an increasingly significant economic and operational burden, including longer trips to replace fish. In some fisheries, fishers reported losing up to 50% of their catch in certain instances, along with growing “operational fatigue” from repeated shark encounters.

Fishers also discussed on-the-water strategies to reduce depredation—moving spots frequently to avoid shark aggregation, avoiding chumming or cleaning fish on the grounds, and using high-speed electric reels to bring fish to the surface quickly. Technology discussions included magnetic and electrical devices, as well as chemical repellents, with participants weighing cost, durability and species-specific performance.

“We need to catch the fish; if it works, it works regardless of scientific backing,” said Hawai‘i fisherman Eddie Ebisui III, who volunteered to test deterrent options in real-world conditions.

American Samoa participant Vincent Tofilau said the workshop “provided a ground-breaking platform for scientists and fishermen” and laid the foundation for future regional collaboration.

Recommendations emphasized fishermen must be active partners in solutions and that improved data are needed to better understand the scale of depredation and its impacts on commercial, noncommercial and subsistence fisheries.

Key recommendations included:

  • Improve regionwide reporting and data collection on depredation events, including fish lost to sharks, number of hooked sharks and socio-economic costs, using simple and non-burdensome tools and building on existing surveys and programs.
  • Coordinate near-term, cooperative field testing of deterrent technologies with fishermen and share results across islands; evaluate cost, durability and species-specific performance and consider combinations of deterrents and adaptive fishing practices.
  • Expand localized research to better understand shark abundance and behavior by island areas and U.S. exclusive economic zones, and ensure assessments and management decisions reflect local conditions. This could expand capabilities for managing sharks in fisheries.
  • Improve clarity and consistency among federal, state and territorial regulations to allow harvest of shark species with healthy populations, and explore funding mechanisms (e.g., grants or subsidies) that can help fishermen adopt mitigation measures where regulations limit responses to depredation.

The Council will hear a report on workshop outcomes at its 206th meeting on March 24-26, 2026. Participants urged the agencies, universities and community organizations to identify a lead entity to champion this issue and to convene a follow-up workshop within 6–12 months to review progress and share results from on-the-water deterrent trials. Participants also recommended expanding future discussions to include additional stakeholders, such as shark tourism operators, alongside fishers, scientists and managers.

Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds pointed out the lack of funding through industry cooperative research and development programs such as the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) grant program. “S-K funding comes from 30% of customs receipts on imported fish products, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but only about $10 million is available to fishermen through grants. That’s a drop in the bucket of the support the program was intended to provide.”

The S-K Act requires at least 60% of funds be used for direct industry assistance grants benefiting the fishing community.

Meeting Summary and Motion from the February 10, 2026 Joint Meeting of the MAFMC and ISFMP Policy Board

February 18, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The meeting summary and motion from the February 10, 2026 joint meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Commission’s ISFMP Policy Board are now available and can be found here. Presentations, briefing materials, motions, and webinar recordings are available on the Council’s February 2026 meeting page.

 

ASMFC Begins Preparations for Benchmark Stock Assessment for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia

February 18, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has initiated a benchmark stock assessment for Atlantic migratory group cobia to be completed in 2027. The goals of the assessment are to evaluate the health of the stock along the Atlantic coast from Georgia northward to inform management. While updating the stock assessment model and datasets used in the 2020 benchmark stock assessment (SEDAR 58) will be considered, additional data sources and potential new models will also be explored due to data limitations and changes in management. The Commission’s stock assessment process and meetings are open to the public, except for when confidential data are being discussed.

The Commission welcomes the submission of data sources that will contribute to the goals of the assessment. This includes, but is not limited to, data on growth, maturation, migration, tagging, natural mortality, environmental impacts, abundance/biomass, and fishery removals. Essential data needs for the Cobia assessment are fishery-independent data sources that can contribute to indices of abundance, data to inform the discards in fisheries, including size information, and bycatch in other directed fisheries. For data sets to be considered, the data must be sent in the required format, with accompanying description of methods, to the Commission by March 20, 2026. For more information on submitting data, including the appropriate format, please contact CJ Schlick. 

The Commission will hold multiple data workshops in the spring of 2026, with some webinar sessions and one in-person session, to review all available data sources and identify datasets to be incorporated in the stock assessment. The Data Workshops are open to the public, please contact Emilie Franke or visit https://asmfc.org/events/ for information on the workshops.                                                                                    

Fishers, Scientists and Community Invited to Talk Shark Depredation

February 6, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

More and more Hawaiʻi, Guam, American Samoa, and Mariana fishers are reporting the same frustrating story: sharks showing up on the grounds, taking fish off the line and biting into hard-earned catch. It’s not just lost fish — it’s lost time, lost fuel and lost opportunity, and it can make it harder to fish, support local livelihoods and feed our community.

To bring those experiences together with the latest information and practical tools, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and Pacific Islands Fisheries Group will host a community discussion and expert panel on shark depredation in Hawaiʻi waters and the Pacific. The public forum accompanies a two-day workshop on shark depredation and mitigation. Experts from all over the world, including scientists and shark deterrent manufacturers, are engaging with members of the fishing community and local agency staff to develop strategies to reduce the impact of shark depredation in U.S. Pacific Islands fisheries.
This forum is designed to be practical and fisher-focused. Participants will be able to share what they’re seeing on the water, hear from experts about current observations and impacts, and get clarity on existing regulations — including what fishers can and can’t do. The gathering will also highlight shark deterrent technologies and other ideas that may help reduce depredation and improve fishing success.
The event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. Input from fishers and community members will help shape next steps, including cooperative research priorities, outreach needs and future management considerations.
A summary of current research and research needs is available here and on our Hot Topics web page.
All fishers, scientists and community members are welcome! Event details are provided in the flyer below. For more information, please contact Mark Fitchett (mark.fitchett@wpcouncil.org) or Alex Min (pacificfisheries@gmail.com).

Remembrance of the F/V Lily Jean

February 6, 2026 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council extends our sincere condolences to the families, loved ones, and fishing communities affected by the tragic sinking of the F/V Lily Jean on Friday, January 30, 2026.

A full remembrance, along with information on how to support the families impacted by this loss, is available here.

ASMFC Spiny Dogfish Board Sets Quota for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 Fishing Seasons

February 5, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved a coastwide commercial quota for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 fishing seasons (May 1-April 30) of 9.2 million pounds (state-specific allocations are provided in table below), pending approval by NOAA Fisheries. The quota is consistent with the measures recommended to NOAA Fisheries by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils). The Board also maintained the commercial trip limit in state waters of 7,500 pounds for the northern region states of Maine through Connecticut. The states of New York through North Carolina have the ability to set state-specific trip limits based on the needs of their fisheries. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to state waters (0-3 miles from shore). The Councils forwarded their recommendations for federal waters (3 –200 miles from shore) to NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for final approval.

 

Winter Flounder Stock Assessment Updates Find GOM Stock Not Experiencing Overfishing & SNE/MA Stock Not Overfished or Experiencing Overfishing

February 4, 2026 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

The Commission’s Winter Flounder Management Board received the results of the 2025 Stock Assessment Updates for the Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) winter flounder stocks and set specifications for the 2026-2028 fishing years.

 
For the GOM stock, it is unknown if the stock is overfished. However, the exploitation rate is estimated to be 19% of the overfishing exploitation threshold proxy, indicating the stock is not experiencing overfishing. The commercial fishery has experienced sharp declines in landings since the peak in 1982 at just over 6 million pounds. Landings declined steadily to approximately 770,000 pounds in 1999 and is estimated to be approximately 354,283 pounds in 2024. Recreational landings represented a significant portion of total harvest on the GOM stock during the 1980s, ranging between 2.5 and 10.5 million pounds. Recreational landings dropped below 440,000 pounds in 1992 and continued to drop to a time series low of approximately 49,824 pounds in 2024. This significant reduction in landings is largely attributable to low availability and/or low effort.


 
Survey indices for the GOM stock have shown little change in the composition of age classes over time. This is concerning given the declining level of annual landings and low exploitation rate in the GOM. Overall, these indices of abundance have not shown any positive response to the large declines in commercial and recreational removals since the 1980s. However, recent increases (2021-2024) in biomass, if continued, may be the beginning of a response to low fishing effort. 
 
The SNE/MA stock is considered not overfished nor experiencing overfishing. Spawning stock biomass (SSB) is estimated at 6.14 million pounds, 89% of the SSB target of 6.86 million pounds. Total fishing mortality is estimated at 0.048, which is 21% of the overfishing threshold of 0.233. Natural mortality, defined as the removal of fish from the stock due to causes not associated with fishing, is a source of uncertainty in the stock assessment and may be contributing to declining abundance. Although the stock is not overfished and not experiencing overfishing, trends in survey indices and model estimates all continue to indicate the stock is in poor condition.
 
SNE/MA commercial landings have declined significantly from the record high of 22.6 million pounds in 1981 to an all-time low of approximately 76,941 pounds in 2023. In 2024, commercial landings are estimated at 167,772 pounds. In response to the poor condition of the stock, a moratorium in the SNE/MA fishery was implemented in federal waters between May 2009 and April 2013. Concurrently, a 50-pound commercial bycatch limit was implemented in state waters and still remains in place today. 
 
The SNE/MA recreational fishery has also experienced significant declines over time due to decreases in abundance. Landings were around 12 million pounds in the early 1980s, increased to 18.5 million pounds in 1984, and then precipitously declined to between 2 and 4.5 million pounds from 1992 to 2001. Landings continued to decline over the next two decades, from a high of 1.4 million pounds in 2002 to a low of 1,102 pounds in 2019. In 2024, recreational landings were estimated at 4,409 pounds.
 
Considering the results of the assessment updates and catch limits recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council, the Board maintained 2025 recreational and commercial measures for the GOM and SNE/MA winter flounder stocks for the 2026-2028 fishing years (see Table 1). However, the Board discussed the 2 fish recreational possession limit currently in place for the SNE/MA stock, including concerns the low possession limit was discouraging targeting of winter flounder by the recreational fishery. The Board tasked the Winter Flounder Technical Committee to examine the potential impacts of increasing the SNE/MA recreational possession limit and corresponding open seasons, and report its findings to the Board by the Commission’s August 2026 meeting.