The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is an interstate Commission formed by the 15 Atlantic coast states in 1942, and coordinates the conservation and management of shared near shore fishery resources. The Commission’s vision is healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015. ASMFC assists the states in managing river herring populations through the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River Herring.
Massachusetts is a member state on the Commission and represented by the Division of Marine Fisheries. The Division has representatives on all diadromous fish technical committees and actively participates with managmeent boards for these fisheries.
Shad and River Herring Information Page
Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad & River Herring (2009)
Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad & River Herring (1999)
Fishery Management Plan for American Shad and River Herrings (1985)