Saving Seafood

ASMFC and NOAA Seek Contractor to Facilitate the 2027 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit Proposals Due May 1, 2026

March 31, 2026 — The following was released by The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and NOAA Fisheries are issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the planning, facilitation, and execution of the 2027 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit. The Summit will be held during the weeks of March 15-19 or March 22-25, 2027 in Alexandria, VA.

 
The Commission and NOAA Fisheries are committed to sustainable and collaborative management of fisheries resources and have jointly hosted four previous National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summits, starting in 2010. Those Summits identified and described commonly held priorities of the saltwater recreational fishing community through guided and interactive discussions. In addition to strengthening dialogue and relationships, Summit findings and outputs subsequently helped to inform Commission and NOAA Fisheries actions and public engagement work.
 
Proposals must be submitted as an electronic proposal by email no later than 11:59 PM on May 1, 2026, to Alex DiJohnson. Please see the RFP for more details, qualifying requirements, and submission instructions. The RFP is available at https://asmfc.org/resources/2027-national-saltwater-recreational-fisheries-summit-request-for-proposals/.
 
For more information, please contact Alex DiJohnson at alex.dijohnson@accsp.org.

Port meetings to shape future of king and Spanish mackerel fisheries

September 11, 2024 –A series of port meetings continue in late September and October, providing a unique opportunity for fishermen and others interested in the king mackerel and Spanish mackerel fisheries to share their perspectives and vision for the future. The port meetings are being hosted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and state partners along the Atlantic coast in 2024. Meetings were held in North Carolina in April, New England in May, New York in June, and Georgia in July.

“These port meetings are more than public comment opportunities,” explained Council Chair Dr. Carolyn Belcher. “They are designed to gain a better understanding of the impacts of things like climate change and shift in fisheries on communities, consider inter-jurisdictional management, and discuss ways to maintain the long-term sustainability of stocks for these important fisheries.”

Read the full article at National Fisherman

ASMFC Requesting Type Approval Applications for Lobster, Jonah Crab Vessel Tracking Devices

September 7, 2022 — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) shared that it is seeking applications for type approval of electronic vessel tracking devices (devices) for federally permitted American lobster and Jonah crab fishing vessels.

The Commission will approve a list of vendors/devices in which state agencies and the ASMFC can order in bulk, or that members of the industry can order to adhere to Addendum XXIX to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Addendum IV to the Jonah Crab FMP.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

 

MAINE: State closes commercial menhaden fishery, drawing concerns from lobstermen

August 26, 2022 — Maine’s commercial menhaden season will close Sunday, which could have implications for Maine lobstermen who depend on the fish as an affordable source of bait.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission sets a series of quotas for the commercial menhaden fishery in the Northeast, including a small-scale harvest once various thresholds have been reached. Menhaden are also referred to as pogies.

“Maine lobstermen are extremely disappointed to see the pogy fishery close since the resource is healthy and there are still plenty of fish to catch in Maine,” Patrice McCarron, executive director for the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, said in an email.

Read the full article at Maine Public

ASMFC 2022 Summer Meeting Supplemental Materials 2 Now Available

July 29, 2022 — The following was released by the The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The final supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2022 Summer Meeting (August 2-4) are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2022-summer-meeting. The materials include public comment for the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board (click here) and the Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board (click here).