Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ABOUT US MANAGEMENT SCIENCE HABITAT DATA LAW ENFORCEMENT NEWS CALENDAR Program Overview Fisheries Science 101 Surveys NEAMAP SEAMAP Horseshoe Crab Trawl Survey Northern Shrimp Trawl Survey Ventless Trap Survey Research Ageing Tagging Gear Technology Stock Assessments Guidance And Oversight Peer Review Training Documents Stock Assessment Reports By Species Contacts Climate Change Role Of The Commission And The Atlantic Coast States Affected Commission-Managed Species And Management Responses Northern Shrimp American Lobster Atlantic Cobia Black Sea Bass Winter Flounder Contacts Publications And Webpages Multispecies And Ecosystem Approaches Horseshoe Crabs And Shorebirds Atlantic Menhaden Economics And Social Sciences Stock Assessments Guidance and Oversight Coordinating the efforts of the Atlantic coastal states in the development and implementation of interstate fisheries management programs is the Commission’s primary role, with stock assessments forming the basis of management programs. The Commission assesses fish stocks to determine their status, to evaluate how stocks have been affected by management actions, and to forecast future stock conditions under potential new management actions. In fisheries, determining stock status means estimating the size of the population, either in numbers of fish (abundance) or the total weight of the population (biomass), and the rate at which fish are removed by fishing (fishing mortality rate). Population size and fishing mortality rate are compared to reference points that define sustainable conditions to determine whether the stock is overfished (the population size is too low) or overfishing is occurring (the fishing mortality rate is too high). The Commission conducts stock assessments on Commission-managed species in order to determine the health and status of the fish stocks and to provide scientific advice to fisheries managers. The Commission also works closely with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries Science Centers and Regional Fishery Management Councils on the assessments for jointly or cooperatively managed species, such as Atlantic herring, summer flounder, and Spanish mackerel. Generally, the Commission conducts two types of stock assessments: (1) a benchmark stock assessment and (2) a stock assessment update. A benchmark stock assessment is a full analysis and review of the stock condition, focusing on the consideration of new data sources and newer or improved assessment models. This assessment is generally conducted every three to five years and undergoes a formal peer review by a panel of independent fisheries scientists (peer-reviewed stock assessment). A stock assessment update incorporates data from the most recent years into the peer-reviewed assessment model to determine current stock status (abundance and overfishing level). Peer Review In order to ensure the quality and credibility of its stock assessments for management use, the Commission oversees a formal external peer review process to evaluate all benchmark assessments to determine whether the data and methods used to produce the assessment are scientifically sound and appropriate for management use. The Commission’s stock assessment peer review process also includes regional programs following similar procedures coordinated by NOAA Fisheries - the Northeast Stock Assessment Workshop/Stock Assessment Review Committee (SAW/SARC) and the SouthEast Data and Assessment Review (SEDAR). Northeast Region Coordinating Council Within the Northeast region the Commission, along with NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the New England Fishery Management Council, and NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, also participates as a member of the Northeast Region Coordinating Council (NRCC). Formed in 2001, the NRCC’s mission is to “prioritize, communicate, and coordinate fisheries scientific and management resources through in-person meetings that include federal, state, council, and commission managers and scientists of the Greater Atlantic Region of the United States.” In 2019, the NRCC established a new and more collaborative fishery stock assessment process with assessments scheduled years in advance to allow for better planning. The process involves two types of assessments – management track and research track. Management track assessments provide routine, scheduled, and updated advice to directly inform management actions. These assessments are designed to be simple, quick, efficient, and flexible; and able to incorporate new information on a regular cycle. Management track assessments ensure that stock status is updated on a regular and predictable basis. Research track assessments are complex scientific efforts that are designed to be carried out over several years. They can: (1) focus on research topics or on one or more individual stocks; (2) evaluate an issue or new model that could apply to many stocks; and/or consider extensive changes in data, model, or stock structure. Both management and research track assessments are generally conducted though SAW/SARC, with the exception of Commission-only managed species, such as Atlantic striped bass and American lobster. For more information on the NRCC process, visit https://www.nefmc.org/committees/northeast-regional-coordinating-council-nrcc. Training State and federal scientists attend an ASMFC Stock Assessment Training Workshop. Photo ©ASMFC. The Commission conducts workshops and distributes educational materials to provide hands-on training to state fishery biologists in quantitative population dynamics and stock assessment models. Advanced workshops have also been conducted for those state and federal stock assessment scientists in order to facilitate an exchange of information and provide state-of-the-art training in uncertainty principles and modeling techniques. For managers and stakeholders, a Guide to Fisheries Science and Stock Assessments provides an introduction to the concepts and methods that form the basis of stock assessments. Layman educational seminars are also periodically conducted to increase understanding of stock assessment methods and applications. Contacts Patrick Campfield, Director, Fisheries Science Program Assessment Science Committee, Chair, John Sweka Documents ASMFC Stock Assessment Schedule Technical Support Group Guidance and Benchmark Stock Assessment Process (revised August 2019) Fishery-independent Data Use Policy (May 2015) Stock Assessment Training Program Guidance Document Development and Use of Reference Points (December 2008) Guide to Fisheries Science and Stock Assessments Stock Assessment Reports by Species Guide to Fisheries Science and Stock Assessments (June 2009) Report of the Juvenile Abundance Indices Workshop (January 1996) American Eel 2017 American Eel Stock Assessment Update (October 2017) American Eel Stock Assessment Overview (October 2017) Americal Eel Benchmark Stock Assessment (May 2012) Americal Eel Stock Assessment Overview (May 2012) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the American Eel Stock Assessment Peer Review (January 2006) American Lobster AmericanLobsterStockAssessmentOverview_RevisedJan2021 (January 2021) 2020 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (October 2020) American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment Overview (October 2020) American Lobster Stock Assessment Overview (September 2015) American Lobster Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (August 2015) External Independent Peer Review/ Center for Independent Experts: Recruitment Failure in the Southern New England Lobster Stock (October 2010) American Lobster Stock Assessment for Peer Review (March 2009) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the American Lobster Stock Assessment Peer Review (March 2009) American Lobster Stock Assessment for Peer Review (January 2006) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the American Lobster Stock Assessment Peer Review (January 2006) American Lobster Stock Assessment Model Technical Review: Terms of Reference and Panel Report (December 2004) American Lobster Stock Assessment Model Technical Review: Terms of Reference & Panel Report (December 2004) American Lobster Stock Assessment for Peer Review (July 2000) Terms of Reference and Advisory Report for the American Lobster Stock Assessment Peer Review (July 2000) Atlantic Croaker Atlantic Croaker Stock Assessment Peer Review Report (May 2017) 2010 Atlantic Croaker Stock Assessment and Peer Review (August 2010) 2010 Atlantic Croaker Stock Assessment Overview (August 2010) Atlantic Croaker Stock Assessment & Peer Review Reports (November 2005) Terms of Reference and Advisory Report for the Atlantic Croaker Peer Review (October 2003) Atlantic Herring 2020 Atlantic Management Track Peer Review Committee Report (August 2020) Atlantic Herring - 65th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop Assessment Summary Report (August 2018) Atlantic Herring Operational Assessment Report 2015 (August 2015) 54th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop Assessment Report (August 2012) 54th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop Assessment Summary (July 2012) 2009 Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee Summary Report (July 2009) 2009 Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee Full Report (July 2009) Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee Status Report 2006 (January 2006) 2003 Stock Assessment of the Gulf of Maine - Georges Bank Atlantic Herring Complex (February 2004) Atlantic Menhaden Atlantic Menhaden Assessments Overview (February 2020) Atlantic Menhaden Single Species Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (January 2020) Atlantic Menhaden Ecological Reference Point Benchmark Assessment and Peer Review Report (January 2020) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Update (August 2017) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Update Overview (August 2017) SEDAR Stock Assessment Report for Atlantic Menhaden (January 2015) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Update (July 2012) (July 2012) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Update (July 2012) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment and Review Panel Reports (March 2011) A Spatial Ecosystem Model for Atlantic Coast Multispecies Fisheries Assessments of Menhaden and Bluefish (June 2005) Atlantic Menhaden Workshop Proceedings (December 2004) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (February 2004) Collection of Baseline Sociological Data to Describe the Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) Fishery (February 2004) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (October 2003) Terms of Reference and Advisory Report for the Atlantic Menhaden Peer Review (October 2003) Analysis on the Status of Atlantic Menhaden (January 2002) Status of the Atlantic Menhaden Stock and Fishery (January 2001) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (February 1999) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report for the Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (February 1999) Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (February 1999) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report for the Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (February 1999) Atlantic Striped Bass 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment for Atlantic Striped Bass (SAW 66) (April 2019) Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Overview (April 2019) 2016 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update (October 2016) 2015 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update (October 2015) 2013 Update of the Striped Bass Stock Assessment using Final 2012 Data (December 2013) 2013 Atlantic Striped Bass Benchmark Stock Assessment (December 2013) 2011 Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update (January 2011) 2009 Stock Assessment Report for Atlantic Striped Bass (January 2009) Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Summary Report (January 2008) Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Report (January 2008) Atlantic Striped Bass Assessment Report Appendices (January 2008) 2005 Stock Assessment Report for Atlantic Striped Bass (January 2005) 2004 Stock Assessment report for Atlantic Striped Bass (January 2004) 2003 Stock Assessment & Advisory Report for Atlantic Striped Bass (January 2003) 2002 Atlantic Striped Bass Advisory Report (January 2002) 2001 Stock Assessment Report for Atlantic Striped Bass (January 2001) 2000 Advisory and Summary Report on the Status of Atlantic Striped Bass (January 2000) Proceedings of the 1993 Striped Bass Stock Assessment Workshop (December 1993) Atlantic Sturgeon 2017 Atlantic Sturgeon Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (October 2017) Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Overview (October 2017) Terms of Reference and Advisory Report for the American Shad and Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Peer Review (March 1998) Terms of Reference and Advisory Report for the American Shad and Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Peer Review (March 1998) Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Peer Review (March 1998) Black Drum Black Drum Stock Assessment & Peer Review Reports (February 2015) Black Sea Bass NEFSC Operational Assessment of the Black Sea Bass, Scup, Bluefish, and Monkfish Stocks, Updated Through 2018 (February 2019) Black Sea Bass Stock Assessment (December 2016) Black Sea Bass Stock Assessment Summary (December 2016) Proceedings of the 2013 Black Sea Bass Ageing Workshop (December 2013) 2004 Black Sea Bass Benchmark Stock Assessment (May 2004) Bluefish NEFSC Operational Assessment of the Black Sea Bass, Scup, Bluefish, and Monkfish Stocks, Updated Through 2018 (December 2019) Bluefish Operational Assessment (July 2019) Bluefish Benchmark Stock Assessment for 2015 (August 2015) 2014 Bluefish Stock Assessment Update (July 2014) 2013 Bluefish Stock Assessment Update (July 2013) 2012 Bluefish Stock Assessment Update (July 2012) 2011 Bluefish Stock Assessment Update (June 2011) 2010 Bluefish Assessment Summary (June 2010) 2009 Bluefish Assessment Summary (June 2009) 2008 Bluefish Assessment Summary (July 2008) 2007 Bluefish Assessment Summary (June 2007) 41st SAW Bluefish Assessment Summary (June 2005) Horseshoe Crab 2019 Horseshoe Crab Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (May 2019) Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Overview (May 2019) 2013 Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Update (August 2013) ASMFC Stock Assessment Overview for Horseshoe Crab (February 2010) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Peer Review (November 2009) Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment for Peer Review (November 2009) A Framework for Adaptive Management of Horseshoe Crab Harvest in the Delaware Bay Constrained by Red Knot Conservation (November 2009) Terms of Reference Report for the Stock Assessment of Atlantic Coast Horsehoe Crabs: A Proposed Framework (January 2006) Northern Shrimp Data Update for Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2019) 2018 Assessment Report for the Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2018) 2018 Northern Shrimp Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (October 2018) Stock Status Report for Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2017) Stock Status Report for the Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2016) 2015 Stock Status Report for Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2015) 2014 Stock Status Report for Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2014) 2013 Assessment Report for Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp (November 2013) 2012 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2012) 2011 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2011) 2010 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2010) 2009 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2009) 2008 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2008) 2007 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2007) 2006 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2006) 2005 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2005) 2004 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2004) 2003 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2003) 2002 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2002) 2000 Assessment Report for Northern Shrimp (January 2000) Red Drum 2017 Red Drum Stock Assessment Overview (February 2017) Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (February 2017) 2009 Red Drum Stock Assessment Overview (January 2009) Assessment of Atlantic Red Drum for 1999: Northern and Southern Regions (January 1999) Scup Operational Assessment of the Black Sea Bass, Scup, Bluefish, and Monkfish Stocks, Updated Through 2018 (April 2019) Scup Benchmark Stock Assessment for 2015 (August 2015) 2011 NEFSC Stock Assessment of Scup (January 2011) Shad & River Herring AmericanShadStockAssessmentOverview_Oct2021 (October 2021) American Shad Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (August 2020) American Shad Stock Assessment Overview (August 2020) River Herring Stock Assessment Update Volume II: State‐Specific Reports (August 2017) River Herring Stock Assessment Update Volume I: Coastwide Summary (August 2017) River Herring Stock Assessment Update Overview (August 2017) River Herring - River Herring Benchmark Assessment: Volume I (includes Terms of Reference & Advisory Report, Technical Committee Response to Peer Review Report, and Coastwide Assessment) (May 2012) River Herring - River Herring Benchmark Assessment: Volume II (includes State/Jurisdiction-specific Stock Status Summaries) (May 2012) River Herring - River Herring Stock Assessment Overview (May 2012) Shad - American Shad Terms of Reference & Advisory Report (August 2007) Shad - American Shad Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review: Volume I - Stock Assessment Overview (August 2007) Shad - American Shad Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review: Volume II - State-Specific Assessments for Maine to Delaware River and Bay (August 2007) Shad - American Shad Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review: Volume III: State-Specific Assessments for Maryland to Florida (August 2007) Shad - American Shad & Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Peer Review: Terms of Reference and Advisory Report (conducted March 1998; printed July 1998) (July 1998) Shad - American Shad Stock Assessment Peer Review Report (March 1998) Stock Assessment of River Herring from Selected Atlantic Coast Rivers (November 1990) River Herring - Stock Assessment of River Herring from Selected Atlantic Coast Rivers (November 1990) Investigations of Ocean Landings for American Shad and River Herrings from United States East Coast Waters (September 1989) Stock Assessment of American Shad from Selected Atlantic Coast Rivers (October 1988) Shad - Stock Assessment for American Shad from Selected Atlantic Coast Rivers (October 1988) River Herring Stock Assessment Update Volume II: State‐Specific Reports (November -0001) Spanish Mackerel South Atlantic Spanish Mackerel Stock Assessment Report (December 2012) Spiny Dogfish Update of Landings and Discards of Spiny Dogfish in 2014 (September 2014) 2010 TRAC Status Report (January 2010) 2010 NMFS BRP Update (January 2010) Spot Spot Stock Assessment Peer Review Report (May 2017) Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Stock Assessment Overview (July 2019) 66th SAW Summer Flounder Stock Assessment Report (February 2019) 66th SAW Summer Flounder Stock Assessment Summary Report (February 2019) Stock Assessment Update of Summer Flounder for 2015 (August 2015) 57th SAW Summer Flounder Stock Assessment Report (December 2013) 2011 NEFSC Stock Assessment of Summer Flounder (January 2011) 2006 NEFSC Summer Flounder Assessment and Biological Reference Point Update (January 2006) 2005 SAW Summer Flounder Assessment Update and Biological Reference Point Estimation (January 2005) Tautog 2021 Tautog Regional Stock Assessment Update Abbreviated Report (November 2021) 2021 Tautog Regional Stock Assessment Update with Appendices (October 2021) Tautog Regional Stock Assessment Update Overview (October 2021) 2016 Tautog Stock Assessment Update (February 2017) 2016 Tautog Regional Stock Assessment and Desk Review Report (August 2016) Tautog Stock Assessment and Peer Review Reports (February 2015) Tautog Ageing Workshop Report (May 2012) 2011 Tautog Stock Assessment Update Summary (January 2011) Tautog Stock Assessment for Peer Review Report (January 2006) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the Tautog Stock Assessment Peer Review (January 2006) Weakfish Weafish Stock Assessment Overview (November 2019) Weakfish Stock Assessment Update Report (October 2019) Weakfish Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (May 2016) 2016 Weakfish Stock Assessment Overview (May 2016) 48th SAW Weakfish Assessment Summary (January 2009) 2006 Weakfish Stock Assessment (January 2006) Stock Assessment of Weakfish through 2000 (January 2002) 1994 Assessment of Atlantic Coast Weakfish (January 1994) 1991 Assessment of the Status of the Atlantic Coast Weakfish Stock (January 1991) Winter Flounder 2020 Winter Flounder Stock Assessment Overview (July 2021) Gulf of Maine Winter Flounder 2020 Assessment Update Report (August 2020) Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2020 Assessment Update Report (August 2020) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder Operational Assessment (December 2017) Gulf of Maine Winter Flounder Operational Assessment (December 2017) Proceedings from the Winter Flounder Ageing Workshop (February 2012) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder Stock Assessment for 2011 (May 2011) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) Winter Flounder Assessment Summary for 2011 (January 2011) Gulf of Maine (GOM) Winter Flounder Assessment Summary for 2011 (January 2011) 2008 GARM GOM Winter Flounder Assessment (January 2008) 2008 GARM SNE/MA Winter Flounder Assessment (January 2008) Stock Assessment Update and Overview of Interstate Fishery Management Activities for Inshore Stocks of Winter Flounder (December 1993) Jonah Crab Jonah Crab Pre-Assessment Data Workshop Report (July 2021) Cobia Atlantic Cobia Stock Assessment Overview (February 2020) SEDAR 58 Atlantic Cobia Stock Assessment and Peer Review (February 2020) South Atlantic Cobia Stock Assessment Report (January 2013) SEARCH SITE get connected Facebook Twitter Audio HOME PUBLIC INPUT PUBLICATIONS JOBS KIDS/TEACHER RESOURCES CONTACT US LINKS Phone: 703-842-0740 Fax: 703-842-0741 info@asmfc.org 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201 2021 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission | All rights reserved. | Website designed by TM Design Inc. | Powered by New North