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2026 Advisories

DMF Advisories provide official announcements of updates to permits, public hearings, opening & closing of fishing seasons, and other important news.
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September

9/1/2026: Annual Fall Trawl Survey to Begin September 8, 2026

August

8/28/26: Commercial Summer Flounder Limits to Increase on September 1
8/28/26: Adjustments to Commercial Black Sea Bass Limits Effective September 1
8/28/26: Atlantic Menhaden Trip Limit Reduction Effective September 1
8/25/26: Fixed-gear fishers encouraged to monitor dissolved oxygen in Cape Cod Bay following algal bloom
8/20/26: DMF to Host Public Meeting on Nantucket Regarding Shore-Based Shark Fishing Restrictions
8/14/26: Applicants Sought for Potential Pilot Program Authorizing a Weekly Aggregate Spiny Dogfish Limit
8/11/26: Best Practices for Recreational Anglers to Handle Sharks
8/4/26: 2026 Commercial Striped Bass Fishery to Close Effective August 5

July

7/31/26: Emergency Regulations Expand Shore-Based White Shark Fishing Restrictions to Town of Nantucket
07/27/26: Commercial Menhaden Fishery to Transition to Episodic Event Set Aside

June

6/30/26: New England Fishery Management Council Appointments Announced
6/18/26: Summertime Commercial Black Sea Bass Fishery to Open on July 1
6/16/26: Know Before You Go! Reminder about MA’s Recreational Striped Bass Fishing Rules
6/11/26: 2026 Commercial Striped Bass Fishery to Open on June 16
6/8/26: Small Mesh Trawl Squid Fishery Scheduled to Close June 10
6/5/26: Limited Access Menhaden Trip Limit Reduced to 25,000 Pounds Effective June 9
6/1/26: Reminder: Virtual Public Hearing Scheduled for 6 pm on June 2

May

5/18/26: Reminder: Virtual Public Hearing Scheduled for 6PM on May 19
Open PDF file, 186.29 KB,  5/8/26: Area 1A (Gloucester/Rockport) Closed to Mobile Gear Fishing (English, PDF 186.29 KB)
Open PDF file, 218.81 KB,  5/8/26: Trap and Gillnet Gear Fishery Closures to Open Effective Saturday, May 9th (English, PDF 218.81 KB)
5/8/26: Surf Clam Public Hearing Advisory
5/7/26: DMF Amends Commercial Fishing Rules for Black Sea Bass and Scup
5/1/26: Reminder: Seasonal Trap and Gillnet Gear Closure to Protect Right Whales Remains in Effect

April

4/30/26: 2026 North Shore State Waters Sea Scallop Pilot Program to Conclude on May 1 and Update on Other North Shore Mobile Gear Fishing Exemption Areas
4/28/26: Public Meetings Scheduled to Provide Information and Training to Harvesters Regarding the 2026 Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Control Plan for Oysters
4/27/26: 2026 Commercial Menhaden Management Program
4/26/26: Notice to Lobster Fishers and Mariners: Persistent Aggregation of North Atlantic Right Whales Present off Gloucester
4/23/26: DMF Adjusts Recreational Fishing Limits for Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, and Gulf of Maine Haddock and Commercial and Recreational Fishing Limits for Atlantic Mackerel and Schedules Public Hearing
4/23/26: DMF to Renew Pilot Program Allowing Trawlers in State Waters Groundfish Fishery to Land Consecutive Daily Limits of Flounder Species
4/22/26: Update on 2026 Commercial Summer Flounder Management
4/18/26: Bay Scallop Season in Wellfleet Harbor Extended
4/17/26: Annual Spring Trawl Survey to Begin May 4, 2026
4/3/26: Update on Management of Area 1A Herring Fishery - Annual Participation Declaration and Upcoming ASMFC Meeting on Days Out

March

Open PDF file, 214.54 KB,  3/16/26: Update: The March Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission Meeting Now Available in a Hybrid Format (English, PDF 214.54 KB)
3/13/26: Winter I Period Scup Closure
3/13/26: Reminder - MFAC to Meet on March 17
3/13/26: Anticipated 2026-2027 Recreational Black Sea Bass Measures
3/6/26: Decrease to Summer Flounder Limits Effective March 9, 2026

February

2/25/26: DMF Adds Second Virtual Public Hearing and Extends Public Comment Period on Draft Proposals Relevant to Commercial and Recreational Fishing Limits
2/23/26: Public Hearing Postponed to February 26 via Zoom
2/20/26: Reminder: Public Hearing on February 24 on Draft Rules Affecting Commercial and Recreational Fishing
2/6/26: Update on Efforts to Limit Access to the Commercial Striped Bass Fishery
2/4/26: February Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission Business Meeting is Rescheduled for February 11 via Zoom
2/3/26: DMF to Close Application Period for North Shore State Waters Sea Scallop Pilot Program

January

1/30/2026: Public Hearing and Public Comment Period Scheduled for Draft Regulations Affecting Commercial and Recreational Fishing
1/29/2026: DMF Adopts New Regulatory Framework to Manage and Authorize the Clean Up of Fishing Gear Debris
1/22/2026: Reminder: Seasonal Closures Affecting Trap Gear Fishing Effective February 1st
1/20/2026: DMF Announces North Shore State Waters Sea Scallop Pilot Program for Winter of 2026
1/13/26: Public Input Sought on 2026 Recreational Black Sea Bass Measures
1/8/26: Applicants Sought for New England Fishery Management Council

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