The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will convene its 2025 Winter Meeting on February 4 through 5 at the Westin Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting will be accessible via live-stream for those unable to attend in person. Participants can register for the webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1665035982583617623 and join by phone at +1 (562) 247-8422 with access code 709-788-873.
Also, the Atlantic Menhaden Work Group on Precautionary Management in Chesapeake Bay will meet separately on February 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. This session will not be live-streamed through the Winter Meeting’s webinar link. Details are available at https://asmfc.org/calendar/2/2025/Atlantic-Menhaden-Work-Group-on-Precautionary-Management-in-Chesapeake-Bay-/2493.
Attendees are encouraged to review the final agenda and meeting materials, which have been broken down into two documents: the 2025 Winter Meeting Materials Combined and the Supplemental Combined. These resources provide comprehensive information to prepare for the discussions and decisions anticipated during the meeting.
Striped Bass Discussion Key Points
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board is set to convene during the 2025 Winter Meeting on February 4, 2025, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Westin Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Participants can attend in person or via webinar; registration details are available on the ASMFC’s official website.
Stock Assessment Schedule: The Board will review the timeline for the 2027 Benchmark Stock Assessment, which is slated to begin this year and be presented in mid-2027. The Technical Committee has raised concerns about the overlap between the proposed 2026 Stock Assessment Update and the benchmark assessment, suggesting potential adjustments to the schedule.
Draft Addendum III for 2026 Measures: Following the decision to maintain current management measures for 2025, the Board initiated an addendum to consider strategies for 2026 aimed at supporting stock rebuilding. Guidance will be provided to the Plan Development Team to shape these future management options.
Advisory Panel Membership: The Board will consider the nomination of Peter Fallon from Maine to join the Atlantic Striped Bass Advisory Panel, bringing additional expertise to the group’s deliberations.
For further details, including public comment guidelines and general background materials, please visit the ASMFC’s official meeting page at https://www.asmfc.org/home/2025-winter-meeting.