July 30, 2025 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Supplemental materials for the Commission’s 2025 Summer Meeting are now available athttps://asmfc.org/events/
American Lobster Management Board – Public Comment
American Eel Management Board – Review of Maine Aquaculture Plan and TC Recommendations
Sciaenids Management Board – Red Drum Technical Committee and Stock Assessment Subcommittee Memo: Considerations for New Fishing Mortality Methods Pathway Proposed in Addendum II to Amendment 2 of the Red Drum Interstate Fishery Management Plan; Red Drum Fishery Management Plan Review for FY2024
Executive Committee – Discussion Paper on Establishing and Reviewing Declared Interests
Weakfish Management Board – 2025 Weakfish Stock Assessment Update
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Fishery Management Plan Review for FY2024; Staff Memo: State Overviews of Striped Bass Commercial Tagging Program; Advisory Panel Memo: Member Comments on Draft Addendum III for Board Review; Public Comment
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Public Comment
ISFMP Policy Board – Discussion Paper on Establishing and Reviewing Declared Interests
Webinar Information
Meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning Tuesday, August 5 at 10 AM and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 11:45 AM on Thursday, August 7). To register for the webinar, please go to: https://attendee.
Each day, the webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter. If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.
Meeting Process
Board chairs will ask both in-person and virtual board members if they wish to speak. In-person members can simply raise their hands at the meeting without logging on to the webinar, while virtual members will raise their hands on the webinar. The chair will work with staff to compile the list of speakers, balancing the flow of questions/comments between in-person and virtual attendees. The same process will be used for public comment. 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.
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, 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).
1. Comments received three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (July 14) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5 PM on Tuesday, July 29, will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, August 1, 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.
We look forward to seeing you at the Summer Meeting.