Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
What Last Year's Award Winners Reveal About Design-Build Excellence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Design-Build Institute of America issued the following news:
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What Last Year's Award Winners Reveal About Design-Build Excellence
Looking across last year's Project/Team Award winners, a clear pattern emerges. The projects that stood out combined strong Owner leadership, meaningful community engagement and disciplined collaboration applied decisively across a wide range of conditions, project types and delivery contexts.
Spanning major transportation infrastructure, emergency response and civic facilities, the projects recognized in 2025 illustrate how design-build
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Design-Build Institute of America issued the following news:
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What Last Year's Award Winners Reveal About Design-Build Excellence
Looking across last year's Project/Team Award winners, a clear pattern emerges. The projects that stood out combined strong Owner leadership, meaningful community engagement and disciplined collaboration applied decisively across a wide range of conditions, project types and delivery contexts.
Spanning major transportation infrastructure, emergency response and civic facilities, the projects recognized in 2025 illustrate how design-buildexcellence takes shape in practice. Together, they offer a clear signal of what the industry's highest-performing teams look like as the 2026 Design-Build Project/Team Awards cycle begins.
Excellence Grounded in Real-World Impact
Two very different DBIA award-winning projects in 2025 -- one a major aviation hub, the other an emergency response effort -- illustrate how design-build excellence shows up across scale, sector and circumstance.
The Kansas City International Airport New Single Terminal and Garage project demonstrated how large, complex infrastructure can extend beyond efficient construction to fundamentally improve the passenger experience. As the city's largest-ever infrastructure investment, the $1.5 billion Progressive Design-Build effort replaced three aging terminals with a single, modern facility delivered 60 days early and $45 million under budget. From intuitive wayfinding and open sightlines to accessible connections, quiet rooms and sensory spaces, the team focused on how people actually move through and experience the airport, creating a terminal that feels calm and welcoming while remaining easy to navigate even at peak demand.
The Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access project showed design-build excellence under entirely different conditions. When Hurricane Ian severed the only connection between the mainland and the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, the design-build team mobilized within days under extreme constraints to restore emergency access and chart a path to permanent repairs. Through close coordination with state leaders, emergency responders and local stakeholders, the team reestablished critical connectivity, supported community recovery and delivered a resilient new causeway months ahead of schedule, demonstrating how collaboration can provide both immediate relief and long-term protection.
In both cases, success was measured by outcomes that mattered to the people who depended on the infrastructure, including reliable service, long-term performance and resilience.
Owner Leadership Sets the Tone
Several award-winning projects underscored the role of strong Owner leadership in shaping successful outcomes.
New York City's Orchard Beach Maintenance and Operations Building was notable not just for the facility itself, but for what it represented: a clear commitment to collaborative delivery and a broader shift in how the Owner approached capital projects. As the NYC Department of Design and Construction's first project delivered under the 2019 Public Works Investment Act, Orchard Beach helped catalyze a broader cultural shift across city agencies and partners. The Owner established a dedicated Design-Build Unit, invested in DBIA professional certification and training for more than 150 staff and extended that training to partner agencies. That approach laid the groundwork for design-build's long-term success citywide.
The Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse reflected similar principles, grounded in a deliberate shift away from an outdated facility toward a civic landmark built on transparency, security and public trust. As a first-time design-build Owner, Clackamas County prioritized long-term value and operational performance, bringing designers, builders and operators into early alignment through a "One Team" approach. Delivered through Oregon's first courthouse public-private partnership, the project pairs collaborative governance with an all-electric design that supports long-term sustainability and public confidence.
These projects reinforced a simple truth: when Owners lead with clarity and intent, design-build teams are better positioned to deliver meaningful results.
Community Engagement Strengthens Outcomes
Another defining characteristic across last year's top projects was meaningful engagement with the communities these projects were built to serve.
At Kansas City International Airport, the design-build team prioritized passenger experience and local identity alongside technical delivery, making Kansas City itself visible throughout the terminal. The team partnered with local artists, makers and vendors, embedding regional culture into the passenger experience while engaging stakeholders to ensure the new terminal reflected how people actually move through and experience the airport every day.
That commitment extended to economic participation. The team set an ambitious goal of 35% utilization of underutilized business enterprises (UBEs) for professional and construction services. Ultimately, contracts were awarded to 133 minority- and women-owned Kansas City-based firms totaling more than $320 million, exceeding the city's workforce participation goals and delivering lasting regional economic benefits. The result was infrastructure that felt intuitive, welcoming and distinctly connected to the community it serves.
Down in Sanibel, community engagement took on a different urgency. When the storm severed the only connection between the mainland and the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, coordination with local officials, emergency responders and residents became mission-critical. With power out, infrastructure damaged and no roadway access, the design-build team mobilized within days, working under austere conditions to restore emergency access and establish a clear path to permanent repairs. Frequent, direct communication, often conducted in real time as conditions shifted, helped align expectations and prioritize lifesaving access while laying the foundation for long-term resilience.
Civic projects reinforced the same lesson. The Orchard Beach Maintenance and Operations Building reflected New York City's attention to neighborhood context and workforce needs, while the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse team engaged stakeholders to shape a facility designed for long-term public use and trust. In each case, early and sustained engagement reduced friction, informed better decisions and strengthened public confidence in the outcome.
Carrying the Standard Forward
Together, last year's award winners offer a clear picture of what excellence in design-build looks like today. It is collaborative, disciplined and grounded in outcomes that serve Owners, users and communities alike.
These are the qualities the 2026 Design-Build Project and Team Awards are designed to recognize. And this year, we are looking for projects that raise the bar even higher. Submissions are now open (https://projects.dbia.org/) for teams whose work demonstrates strong leadership, collaborative delivery and results aligned with Design-Build Done Right(R).
So ask the harder question: Does your project exceed these standards? Did your team push collaboration further, deliver greater value or set a new benchmark for what design-build can achieve? If so, we want to see it.
Awards are given to projects that exemplify the principles of Design-Build Done Right(R), including:
* Design-Build Awards of Merit
* Design-Build Awards of Excellence
* Best In Awards
* Specialty Owner Awards
* Trailblazer in Inclusive Growth Award
* Project of the Year
The submission deadline is Monday, June 1 (there will be no submission extension deadline).
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Original text here: https://dbia.org/blog/what-last-years-award-winners-reveal-about-design-build-excellence/
[Category: Construction]
MHA Provides Essential Support And Resources For New Hospital CEOs
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Feb. 7 -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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MHA Provides Essential Support And Resources For New Hospital CEOs
The Missouri Hospital Association is a trusted partner to the state's hospitals, equipping health care leaders and teams with the knowledge and tools to advance high-quality care. With this goal in mind, each year, MHA convenes new hospital CEOs to introduce them to the breadth of resources and subject matter expertise available through MHA membership.
This two-day event for new CEOs of MHA-member hospitals provides valuable
... Show Full Article
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Feb. 7 -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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MHA Provides Essential Support And Resources For New Hospital CEOs
The Missouri Hospital Association is a trusted partner to the state's hospitals, equipping health care leaders and teams with the knowledge and tools to advance high-quality care. With this goal in mind, each year, MHA convenes new hospital CEOs to introduce them to the breadth of resources and subject matter expertise available through MHA membership.
This two-day event for new CEOs of MHA-member hospitals provides valuablenetworking opportunities and covers a variety of topics, including the following.
* shaping a hospital environment to fulfill your current and future missions
* supporting your hospital's success through public policy and advocacy
* engaging with your state legislators, including an in-person visit to the Missouri Capitol
* discussing challenges, leadership development and public engagement
* advancing quality, safety, research and value-based care
* describing data and analytics available through the Hospital Industry Data Institute for better decision-making
* engaging members and workforce development
* creating new revenue streams and value-added services for member hospitals
"Our member hospital CEOs have told us it is important for them to understand how state government operates and how MHA works with elected officials and various state agencies on their behalf," said MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle. "We also want to help them network and grow their awareness of the expertise and various solutions we have to offer."
Here's what some of last year's attendees said about MHA's new CEO orientation.
"It is easy to stay in your silo. By meeting my peers, I see we have so many commonalities."
"This (new CEO orientation) has renewed my 'why' for working in health care. It is good to know I am not alone."
MHA will host an upcoming orientation for new CEOs of member hospitals Feb. 17-18.
In addition to the new CEO orientation, MHA staff offer in-depth, on-site engagements for hospital leadership teams and can visit member hospitals, upon request.
MHA is privileged to be part of its member hospitals' teams and advocate for a health care environment in which hospitals can thrive. Learn more about the value of MHA membership.
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About Missouri Hospital Association
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 135 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.
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Original text here: https://www.mohospitals.org/newsroom/mha-provides-essential-support-and-resources-for-new-hospital-ceos
[Category: Health Care]
ENA Applauds Passage of Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Reauthorization Act
SCHAUMBURG, Illinois, Feb. 7 -- The Emergency Nurses Association issued the following statement on Feb. 4, 2026, by President Dustin Bass on the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Reauthorization Act:
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ENA Applauds Passage of Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Reauthorization Act
"The passage of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act is a victory in the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Health Care Coalition's effort to protect the health and well-being of nurses, physicians and all health care professionals.
"This is just the first step. As a proud member
... Show Full Article
SCHAUMBURG, Illinois, Feb. 7 -- The Emergency Nurses Association issued the following statement on Feb. 4, 2026, by President Dustin Bass on the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Reauthorization Act:
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ENA Applauds Passage of Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Reauthorization Act
"The passage of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act is a victory in the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Health Care Coalition's effort to protect the health and well-being of nurses, physicians and all health care professionals.
"This is just the first step. As a proud memberof the ALL IN Coalition, ENA now urges Congress to fund the programs created by the act to drive improvements in the systems where health workers are educated, train and practice.
"For too long, nurses, physicians and other health care workers have suffered from burnout and poor mental health while giving their all to deliver patient care. This act funds programs that support the mental health of the people who are there for us every day and offers evidence-based guidance to facilities to address operations that contribute to burnout.
"This is the kind of support that can keep a nurse at the stretcherside. It can save careers and it can save lives.
"I encourage everyone to contact their lawmakers and urge Congress to provide $45 million for Lorna Breen Act programs in the next fiscal year using the Fund Lorna Breen Act Programs Action Alert."
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The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 40,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.
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Original text here: https://www.ena.org/news-publications/newsroom/ena-applauds-passage-dr-lorna-breen-health-care-provider-reauthorization
[Category: Nursing]
California Chamber of Commerce: Building an Affordable California Act Hits Key 25% Signature Threshold Ahead of Schedule as Diverse Coalition Lines Up to Support Measure
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 7 -- The California Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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Building an Affordable California Act Hits Key 25% Signature Threshold Ahead of Schedule as Diverse Coalition Lines Up to Support Measure
Early momentum and broad coalition reflect strong voter support for reducing our cost of living by cutting red tape and building essential projects faster
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Sacramento, CA--Today, the Building an Affordable California Act campaign notified the California Secretary of State that it has surpassed the 25% signature threshold required
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 7 -- The California Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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Building an Affordable California Act Hits Key 25% Signature Threshold Ahead of Schedule as Diverse Coalition Lines Up to Support Measure
Early momentum and broad coalition reflect strong voter support for reducing our cost of living by cutting red tape and building essential projects faster
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Sacramento, CA--Today, the Building an Affordable California Act campaign notified the California Secretary of State that it has surpassed the 25% signature threshold requiredto qualify the measure for the November 2026 ballot--reaching the milestone weeks ahead of schedule.
The early achievement reflects strong voter support for fixing California's outdated project approval system, where long delays drive up costs that are ultimately passed on to renters, homebuyers, families paying electricity and water bills, and taxpayers. By modernizing the approval process, the measure helps California address our high cost of living by delivering essential projects faster--including housing, clean energy, water infrastructure, transportation, and schools--while keeping strong environmental and labor protections fully intact.
"Californians have too long paid the price for bureaucratic red tape and delays, and they're ready for solutions," said Jennifer Barrera, President & CEO, California Chamber of Commerce. "Reaching this milestone early shows voters are eager to modernize the project approval process so we can build what we need, bring costs down, and make California more affordable. We can protect the environment and good-paying jobs while delivering the essential projects California urgently needs."
The campaign is supported by a broad and growing coalition of affordable housing advocates, civil-rights leaders, clean energy advocates, health care providers, water providers, agricultural groups, and business organizations united around a shared goal: lowering the cost of living and delivering the basics Californians depend on.
"Unnecessary permitting delays drive up costs and slow the delivery of critical water infrastructure Californians depend on every day. The Building an Affordable California Act modernizes the process, providing clear timelines and accountability so we can focus investing in delivering clean, reliable water without sacrificing environmental or community protections," said Jennifer Capitolo, Executive Director, California Water Association.
"High costs disproportionately harm Black & Brown families and communities of color. By accelerating essential infrastructure, the Building an Affordable California Act helps lower costs and make sure communities get the basic services they deserve," said Rick Callender, President, NAACP California/Hawaii Conference.
"Building clean energy faster means lower bills, cleaner air, and more reliable power. The Building an Affordable California Act delivers real benefits for Californians while keeping the state on track to meet its climate goals," said Alex Jackson, Executive Director, American Clean Power - California.
"California's housing shortage is one of the biggest drivers of our affordability crisis, and project delays only make it worse. The Building an Affordable California Act cuts unnecessary delays so homes can be built faster and at lower cost--helping more families find housing they can afford," said Dan Dunmoyer, President & CEO, California Building Industry Association.
"We are proud to support the Building an Affordable California Act--it cuts permitting red tape, delays, and bureaucracy so we can build the housing we need and lower rent and mortgage costs for Californians," said Corey Smith, Executive Director, Housing Action Coalition.
"Water is essential in producing a healthy and affordable food supply. The Building an Affordable California Act helps improve access to water by reducing delays and costs of our vital water projects so our family farms can keep food more cost effective for California families and continue feeding the nation and the world," said Emily Rooney, President, Agricultural Council of California.
BACKGROUND: The Building an Affordable California Act modernizes California's project approval and permitting process for essential projects--including housing, water infrastructure, clean energy, transportation infrastructure, hospitals and health care facilities, schools and educational facilities, broadband, and wildfire prevention and resilience projects--by establishing clear timelines, improving accountability, and reducing unnecessary delays, while preserving strong environmental, labor, and tribal cultural resource protections.
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Original text here: https://advocacy.calchamber.com/2026/02/06/building-an-affordable-california-act-hits-key-25-signature-threshold-ahead-of-schedule-as-diverse-coalition-lines-up-to-support-measure/
[Category: Business]
American Fintech Council and Financial Technology Association Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans in Joint Amicus Briefs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) and Financial Technology Association (FTA) Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans in Joint Amicus Briefs
The American Fintech Council (AFC) and the Financial Technology Association (FTA) today submitted joint Amicus Briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) and Financial Technology Association (FTA) Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans in Joint Amicus Briefs
The American Fintech Council (AFC) and the Financial Technology Association (FTA) today submitted joint Amicus Briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI,Inc., outlining how Earned Wage Access (EWA) is a consumer-friendly financial tool that is distinct from a loan and provides workers access to their already earned wages. The trade groups urged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse flawed district court decisions that mischaracterize EWA as extensions of credit, potentially jeopardizing access to this valued financial product.
"EWA allows workers to access wages they've already earned from work they've already done, serving as an important alternative to high-interest predatory loans," said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. "When courts misapply lending laws to non-loan products, they risk cutting off access to safe, transparent financial tools and pushing consumers toward harmful alternatives. We encourage the court to recognize the nuances of EWA products and ensure the regulatory structure reflects how these products truly work."
"Earned wage access frees workers from an arbitrary and rigid payroll cycle that doesn't meet their financial needs," said Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association. "These products are not loans and should be regulated in a way that reflects their unique characteristics. We respectfully urge the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to follow the text of the law and protect access to these valued financial tools."
EWA allows workers to obtain a portion of their earned wages ahead of the regular payroll schedule, empowering them to use their own wages to cover regular expenses and emergency needs. These products offer a safe and easy-to-use alternative to high-interest loans or predatory payday lending. Critically, EWA does not charge interest, late fees, or penalties, and there is no legal obligation to repay a transfer. If a user declines to repay, the only effect is that they cannot obtain further transfers until they repay the current transfer.
In both Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI Inc., district courts held that the plaintiffs had plausibly alleged violations of the Truth in Lending Act and the Military Lending Act. However, those decisions are severely flawed because those laws only apply to credit products, and they define "credit" as the right "to incur debt and defer its payment." But EWA users incur no debt because they have no obligation to repay a transfer. Furthermore, optional expedited transfer fees are not finance charges, because they are optional fees selected by users, not mandatory fees imposed by EWA providers.
Federal courts should not disrupt the ongoing, nationwide EWA policymaking process by applying ill-fitting laws designed for credit to EWA products. EWA is classified as a service distinct from loans in 11 states, and Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to regulate EWA and appropriately recognize it as such. In 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an Advisory Opinion that similarly recognized EWA as a product separate from extensions of credit.
Read the joint trades' full amicus briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI, Inc. To learn more, read "Just the Facts: Earned Wage Access."
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ABOUT AFC
A standards-based organization, the American Fintech Council (AFC) is the largest and most diverse trade association representing financial technology (fintech) companies and innovative banks. On behalf of over 150 member companies and partners, AFC promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.
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ABOUT FTA
The Financial Technology Association (FTA) is a network of fintech leaders shaping the future of finance. We champion the power of technology-driven financial services to catalyze innovation and advocate for modernized policies and regulations that reflect the digital transformation.
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Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/american-fintech-council-afc-and-financial-technology-association-fta-urge-ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals-to-appropriately-recognize-earned-wage-access-as-a-service-distinct-from-loans-in-joint-amicus-briefs
[Category: Financial Services]
All Interested Parties Invited to ASTM Organizational Meeting on Standards Development for Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Systems
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania, Feb. 7 [Category: Materials Management] -- ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, which develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for materials, products, systems and services, posted the following news release on Feb. 5, 2026:
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All Interested Parties Invited to ASTM Organizational Meeting on Standards Development for Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Systems
The proposed activity is intended to complement existing AI governance efforts.
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ASTM International will hold an organizational meeting
... Show Full Article
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania, Feb. 7 [Category: Materials Management] -- ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, which develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for materials, products, systems and services, posted the following news release on Feb. 5, 2026:
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All Interested Parties Invited to ASTM Organizational Meeting on Standards Development for Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Systems
The proposed activity is intended to complement existing AI governance efforts.
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ASTM International will hold an organizational meetingon March 4-5, 2026, to explore the potential establishment of a new ASTM Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Systems. The meeting will take place at ASTM headquarters in West Conshohocken, PA and is open to all interested stakeholders.
The meeting follows a successful planning process and marks the transition from concept to execution for a proposed committee focused on AI as deployed in manufacturing systems--where equipment, data, software, and human decision-making intersect.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in manufacturing equipment and production environments, often without shared definitions, performance expectations, or validation norms. Without coordinated standards development, this fragmentation can create risk, inefficiency, and uncertainty. ASTM International is uniquely positioned to address this gap by serving as a neutral, consensus-based forum for applied, sector-specific standards.
The objectives of the organizational meeting are to convene key stakeholders; establish clarity around scope, intent, and structure; and identify priority areas where standards are needed. The meeting will also assess stakeholder interest and help determine the appropriate path forward for standards development activity in this area.
The program will include opening remarks and context-setting discussions that will focus on applied challenges such as AI at the equipment and system level; data, models, and decision-making in production environments; interoperability, validation, safety, and trust; and areas where standards are missing, unclear, or misaligned.
The meeting is designed to balance authority with participation, grounding discussions in operational reality while avoiding over-prescription. The proposed activity is intended to complement existing AI governance efforts by translating broader principles into practical guidance for manufacturing systems.
The expected participants will consist of manufacturing end users, equipment and automation providers, AI and digital technology providers, government and public-sector observers, and academia.
ASTM International welcomes participation from all interested parties. To register for the meeting, please visit: https://na.eventscloud.com/aiinmfgsysmarch5
For more information on participation or ASTM membership, visit www.astm.org.
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Original text here: https://www.astm.org/news/press-releases/astm-meeting-ai-manufacturing-systems
ASMFC Spiny Dogfish Board Sets Quota for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 Fishing Seasons
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 7 -- The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission issued the following news release:
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ASMFC Spiny Dogfish Board Sets Quota for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 Fishing Seasons
The Commission's Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved a coastwide commercial quota for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 fishing seasons (May 1-April 30) of 9.2 million pounds (statespecific allocations are provided in table below), pending approval by NOAA Fisheries. The quota is consistent with the measures recommended to NOAA Fisheries by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 7 -- The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission issued the following news release:
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ASMFC Spiny Dogfish Board Sets Quota for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 Fishing Seasons
The Commission's Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved a coastwide commercial quota for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 fishing seasons (May 1-April 30) of 9.2 million pounds (statespecific allocations are provided in table below), pending approval by NOAA Fisheries. The quota is consistent with the measures recommended to NOAA Fisheries by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils(Councils). The Board also maintained the commercial trip limit in state waters of 7,500 pounds for the northern region states of Maine through Connecticut. The states of New York through North Carolina have the ability to set state-specific trip limits based on the needs of their fisheries. The Commission's actions are final and apply to state waters (0-3 miles from shore). The Councils forwarded their recommendations for federal waters (3 -200 miles from shore) to NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for final approval.
Table: Spiny Dogfish State Allocations (in pounds) for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 Fishing Seasons
* Any overages in the above quota allocations will be deducted from that region's or state's quota allocation in the subsequent year. Similarly, any eligible rollovers from one season can be applied to that region's or state's quota allocation the following year.
The approved coastwide quotas represent a 1.5% reduction from the current fishing season's coastwide quota of 9.3 million pounds. The decreased quota is based on the Councils' maintaining the acceptable biological catch estimate from 2025/2026 but setting aside a slightly higher amount for discards. For more information, please contact James Boyle, FMP Coordinator, at jboyle@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
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Original text here: https://asmfc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pr04SpinyDogfishSpecs.pdf
[Category: Environment]
