Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

The Commission's email system is currently down and we are working to resolve it as soon as possible. If you need to reach staff, please either email us at ASMFC1942@gmail.com or call the office at 703.842.0740. Thank you for your patience. 

WWII played a significant role in the proceedings of the Commission's 1st Annual Meeting in 1942. The U.S. government believed that "food would win the war" and any limits or restrictions that would inhibit short-term food production were inconsistent with this outlook. President Roosevelt established a temporary Office of the Coordinator of Fisheries to ensure the greatest possible fish production, and each fisheries organization, including ASMFC, was directed to appoint a liason to that office. This spurred the Commission into instant action to coordinate, gather scientific knowledge, and conduct experiments all in the name of winning the war. Discussions at the Annual Meeting included setting aside the year's pack of salmon, sardines, Atlantic herring and mackerel for the government, and the development of a menhaden cannery especially for wartime consumption.