News  DMF News 2023 Q3 & Q4

In early summer of 2023, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and all the fisheries agencies from North Carolina to Maine implemented, through an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission emergency action, a major change in the slot size for striped bass caught recreationally in the ocean along the Atlantic coast. Read on to learn more about Addendum II. 

Earlier this year, we put out a request for volunteer anglers willing to record data while fishing for striped bass to help us understand the causes of post-release mortality. Read on to learn more about the project. 

Beginning in January 2025, the vast majority of commercial lobster harvesters north of Cape Cod will see an increase in the minimum size from 3 ¼” to 3 5/16”, and two years later, in 2027, the minimum size will increase another 16th of an inch to 3 ⅜”,  This adjustment will result in a harvest loss of  some of the smallest marketable lobsters typically weighing less than 1.25 lbs. Read on to learn more about upcoming regulation changes. 

In October 2023, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released an updated population estimate for the endangered North Atlantic right whale.  Read on to learn more about how DMF is working to conserve the right whale population. 

DMF’s seafood marketing program created an educational video highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect right whales. The short video features Director Dan McKiernan speaking on camera about all the state’s and region’s significant conservation accomplishments and the state of affairs of right whale conservation. Read on to learn more about the video as well as the link to view the full video. 

On November 17, 2023, the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission and DMF awarded the David L. Belding award posthumously to Mike Hickey who led DMF’s shellfish program for over four decades and retired in 2020 after 51 years of service.  Read on to learn more about the Belding Award and Mike Hickey's service to DMF. 

Jonah crabs (Cancer borealis) are part of a mixed crustacean fishery where permitted fishers can choose to target American lobster or Jonah crab with their traps.  With the collapse of the Southern New England lobster stock in the early 2000s, some fishers switched from targeting lobster to targeting Jonah crab. Read on to learn more about the latest stock assessment. 

Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) and rock crab (Cancer irroratus) are commonly found in Massachusetts waters and are sometimes collectively referred to as “Cancer crabs.” Read on to learn more about them. 

MA DMF engages in offshore wind by conducting technical review of permitting documents, fulfilling advisory roles for regional research efforts, providing best management recommendations to state and federal agencies in response to developer permitting submissions, and is committed to engaging fishery stakeholders in all phases of industry development. Read on to learn more about the latest offshore wind update. 

The DMF Diadromous Fish Project actively monitors river herring, American shad, American eel, and rainbow smelt spawning runs in coastal rivers to contribute to population assessment and management of these species and to inform restoration planning. Read on for the latest updates from the Diadromous Program. 

The Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby has a longstanding history that adds a splash of competition to every fishing season in Massachusetts. Read on to learn about the 2023 derby season. 

Our Saltwater Angler Education initiative works to promote responsible recreational saltwater fishing in coastal Massachusetts waters, specifically reaching out to those who are new to the sport. Read on to learn about what the Saltwater Angler Education Program was up to in 2023.

Read on to learn about what the Seafood Marketing Program was up to during the second half of 2023. 

The US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is an exchange program that brings professionals from abroad to the US for short-term visits to gain first-hand experience in their areas of expertise in the American system and cultivate long term relationships with their American counterparts. Read on to learn more about the program. 

Read on to learn about the quota outlook for various species in 2024.

Read on to find the changes made to DMF fishing rules by regulation, emergency action, and in-season adjustment from July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. 

Read on to learn about the adjudicatory hearings that took place in the latter half of 2023.