The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.
The final General Public Hearing is a virtual hearing being held via webinar on Thursday, October 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. You can find the webinar link by going to ASMFC.org, and selecting Press Releases from the News dropdown on the homepage (look for the title, States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum II). For questions about this General Public Haring contact James Boyle at 703-842-0740.
The public is encouraged to submit comments at any time during the public comment period but no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 9, 2026. “We accept public comment in several forms (at public hearings, an online public comment form, an online public comment survey, and via mail or email) and all forms are equally valued,” the ASMFC stated in their press release, adding “However, we strongly encourage the use of the public comment survey as it allows users to select specific preferred options in the Draft Addendum and provides space for open-ended comments at the end.”
Those wishing to make final comment before the October 9th deadline can email comments@asmfc.org (write in the email subject line: Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum II).
The ASMFC’s final decision will come at the ASMFC’s 84th Annual Meeting to be held November 9-12, 2026 in Newport, RI. At this same meeting, the ASMFC will also look at an overall reduction in the coastwide menhaden landings. Details at ASMFC.org.
