ASMFC Meeting This Week
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) meets this week in Arlington, Virginia. There will also be a virtual option to listen and provide public comment when appropriate.
Topics of interest to North Carolina at this meeting include, but are not limited to: red drum, weakfish (grey trout), spot, and croaker.
On the topic of red drum, the data shows that the northern region (which includes North Carolina) is not experiencing overfishing and it is not overfished. Nevertheless, in order to address “increasing fishing mortality in the region” the Board will be looking to approve management options to go out for public comment that will look at adjusting the current slot limit for red drum to reduce harvest.
The Board will also be reviewing an updated stock assessment for weakfish (grey trout). In the documents the Technical Committee (TC) did not recommend using the updated stock assessment for management. Although there were some positive trends in the most recent data, the TC did not think it was enough to change the current status of the weakfish stock. The TC also does not believe management changes are warranted at this time and recommend a benchmark stock assessment be conducted as soon as possible.
In regards to spot, the TC recommends maintaining current management measures. The TC also noted that the spot benchmark stock assessment is estimated to resume next year.
For Atlantic croaker, the TC recommends maintaining current management measures. The croaker benchmark stock assessment is currently ongoing and is scheduled to be completed within the next year.
Shad & River Herring, Atlantic Striped Bass, and Atlantic Manhaden will also be discussed at this meeting.
Tuesday, August 5th
10:00am Meeting begins
2:45-5:00pm Sciaenids Management Board
- Consider Red Drum Draft Amendment II on Modifications to Red Drum Management for Public Comment
- Review 2025 Traffic Light Analysis for Spot and Atlantic Croaker
- Sciaenids Board Materials
- Sciaenids Board Supplemental Materials
Wednesday, August 6th
10:00-11:00am Shad & River Herring Management Board
11:30-12:15pm Weakfish Management Board
- Consider 2025 Weakfish Stock Assessment Update
- Weakfish Board Materials
- Weakfish Stock Assessment Update
1:15-5:30pm Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
Thursday, August 7th
8:30-9:30am Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
9:45-11:30am Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out.
Thomas Newman
Fisheries Liaison
