Proposed amendments to Division of Marine Fisheries regulations

The following is a list of notices, by date of publication, for proposed Division of Marine Fisheries regulations. Click on the links below to view the hearing notices and proposed regulations.

All persons interested in submitting comments on the proposed regulations may do so in writing by the date indicated in the notice. Refer to the full notice for the mailing address for submitting comments. All comments received by the date indicated in the notice will be reviewed and considered.

Upcoming Public Hearings and Comment Periods

Notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period - Emergency Regulations to Limit Entry into Commercial Striped Bass Fishery, Establish the Striped Bass Permit Endorsement as Owner-Operator and Non-Transferable, and Update the Control Date
Under the provisions of G.L. c. 30A, and pursuant to the authority found at G.L. c. 130 §§ 2, 80, and 104, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is taking public comment on a series of emergency regulations to amend 322 CMR 6.07, 7.01, and 7.04 relevant to the permitting of the commercial striped bass fishery beginning in 2026. Under the provisions of G.L. c. 30A, and pursuant to the authority found at G.L. c. 130 §§ 2, 80, and 104, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is taking public comment on a series of emergency regulations to amend 322 CMR 6.07, 7.01, and 7.04 relevant to the permitting of the commercial striped bass fishery beginning in 2026. This includes: (1) establishing the striped bass regulated fishery permit endorsement as limited entry for 2026 and limiting issuance only to  those who held the endorsement in 2024 or 2025; (2) requiring the named permit holder be present when commercial striped bass fishing is occurring under the authority of their endorsement; (3) making the endorsement non-transferable; and (4) updating the Control Date for the endorsement from June 14, 2022 to December 31, 2025.

DMF will accept written public comment through 5PM on Friday, December 12, 2025. Please submit written comments to Director Daniel McKiernan by e-mail ([e-mail]). Additionally, DMF will host a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6PM via Zoom. You can register to attend this public hearing via this Zoom registration link.

For more information, please view these documents: 

• Public Hearing Notice
• Strikethrough Regulations
• Memorandum to Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission